Audio: USMEF Hosts Largest-ever Product Showcase

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) hosted a product showcase in conjunction with its board of directors meeting, held May 21-23 in Kansas City. The showcase attracted record-high participation, with 21 exporting companies exhibiting U.S. beef, pork and lamb products to more than 120 international buyers.

One of the exhibitors was Michael Warne, regional sales manager for Rhode Island-based processor Daniele Foods. Warne was extremely impressed with the contacts he developed at the product showcase.

Also interviewed is Heinz Stuhlpfarrer, a meat buyer for Bermuda-based importer/distributor BGA, who discusses the quality and variety of the meat products displayed at the event. Stuhlpfarrer was also very pleased with the in-depth, firsthand look at U.S. meat production he received during his visit to the United States.

Transcript:

Joe Schuele: In this US Meat Export Federation report we look at the product showcase that USMEF hosted in Kansas City. With 21 exporting companies exhibiting beef pork and lamb products for more than 120 international buyers, Michael Warne of Rhode Island-based Daniele Foods was extremely impressed with the contacts he made at the event.

Michael Warne: I have been in this business since 1975 and I have to say that this is probably the best small show, for leads, that I have done in the last 15 years. These were qualified buyers. These were people that we have the product that they’re interested in. we buy strictly high-end commercial pork from Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa, and we make traditional Italian dry-cured sausage and prosciutto ham. It has attracted a lot of interest. They like the fact that we have a 240 – 270 day shelf life and we manage to reach target markets that we are looking for to export. We have a good business in Japan and Korea we expect to be able to augment that from this show. Another thing that is super positive was I didn’t expect to have as many people from the Caribbean and we got some excellent leads and excellent feedback. People that want to see us right away.

Joe Schuele: Heinz Stuhlpfarrer, a meat buyer for Bermuda-based importer/distributor BGA, was pleased not only with the quality of products displayed at the showcase but also with the firsthand look at U.S. meat production that he received during his visit to the United States.

Heinz Stuhlpfarrer: It’s an eye opener for us. When you buy any kind of product and then you actually see what’s behind it, it’s phenomenal. We realize that quality in the United States is a really big focus. Very impressed with the whole operation from the feed to the finished product, very impressive, we are always looking for new products, you know, and right now the demand for the quality is definitely out there.

Joe Schuele: For more on this and other trade issues please visit USMEF.org. For the U.S. Meat Export Federation, I’m Joe Schuele.