The U.S. Meat Export Federation hosted a group of four representatives from the Nebraska Soybean Board in Japan this week, in an effort to promote U.S. beef and pork in one of our most critical export markets. The team has now completed its industry meetings in Japan, and is preparing to return to Nebraska. Three members of the delegation gave reports by telephone during their stay in Japan, offering their observations of the market:
Audio Link: Nebraska Soybean Team Reports from Japan
Nebraska Soybean Board Treasurer Duane Lee, who operates a soybean, corn and cattle operation near Albion, Nebr., says the first day of the trade mission offered a great opportunity to interact with Japanese consumers and educate them about the attributes of U.S. beef and pork.
Lee Audio Clip #1 1:10 Outcue: (…kids and the families.)
Lee said he sees terrific enthusiasm for both U.S. beef and pork among consumers in Japan, but feels the 20-month cattle age limit for beef exported to Japan must be addressed in order for the beef market to reach its full potential.
Lee Audio Clip #2 :31 Outcue: (…be more receptive.)
Nebraska Soybean Board Chairman Gregg Fujan (pron. FOO-Yen), a soybean and corn producer from Weston, Nebr., reported that the group’s second day of activities in Japan included a visit to the Joshi Daigaku (YO-SHEE DA-GU-KOO) cooking school where U.S. pork is prominently featured.
Fujan Audio Clip #1 :57 Outcue: (…respond well to us.)
Later in the day, the group held meetings with Ito (EE-TOE) Ham - Japan’s second-largest ham and sausage manufacturer - and with national retail chain Daiei (DIE-YAY).
Fujan Audio Clip #2 :35 Outcue: (…it’s pretty exciting.)
Auburn, Neb., farmer Mark Caspers, who represents southeastern Nebraska on the Soybean Board, said his experience in Japan has shown him the importance of building and maintaining a strong connection between U.S. farmers and ranchers and their overseas customers.
Caspers Audio Clip #1 :58 Outcue: (…the Japanese people.)
Japan is consistently the No. 1 value market for U.S. pork, and has imported more than $800 million worth of U.S. pork through the first six months of this year. While U.S. beef exports are up nearly 20 percent so far this year – making Japan the third-largest beef export market - Caspers agrees that the 20-month cattle age limit on U.S. exports is definitely limiting growth opportunities for U.S. beef. He says that while expanded market access must make its way through Japan’s political process, importers and distributors are eagerly anticipating a larger and steadier supply of U.S. beef.
Caspers Audio Clip #2 :36 Outcue: (…get that change made.)
If you have any questions or would like to conduct further interviews with the Nebraska Soybean team, please don’t hesitate to contact :
Joe Schuele
Communications Director
U.S. Meat Export Federation
jschuele@usmef.org
303-226-7309
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The U.S. Meat Export Federation (www.USMEF.org) is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded by USDA, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, corn and soybean checkoff programs.
USMEF complies with all equal opportunity, non-discrimination and affirmative action measures applicable to it by contract, government rule or regulation or as otherwise provided by law.