12/17/07 Checkoff helps promote international exports

Using beef checkoff dollars the US Meat Export Federation is trying to increase the sales of US beef on the international market. Montana producer and USMEF vice chairman Jim Peterson says they're regaining beef markets that were lost with the BSE scare in 2003. PETERSON "We had a jump of about 78 percent in volume in 2007 and a 28 percent jump in value in fiscal 2007 compared to 2006." Except for Mexico and Taiwan growth in all export markets meant the year end volume was 58 percent of the same period in 2003 when markets were closed by the BSE case. USMEF recently held seminars in Taiwan to show food service operators and chefs alternative US beef products. PETERSON "After these chefs learned how to cut and prepare US beef at the seminar at least a dozen steak restaurants replaced New Zealand rib eye with US beef chuck eye roll on their menus." USMEF continues to make every effort to strengthen relationships with customers in international markets by leveraging beef checkoff dollars and pointing out the value of high-quality US beef products. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott