Partnerships Help Develop New Uses for Pork and Beef Variety Meats in Mexico
USMEF works directly with importers and distributors in Mexico to develop demand for a wide range of U.S. pork and beef items, including variety meats. Variety meat exports provide critical returns for the U.S. pork and beef industries, and Mexico is a leading customer for these products.
USMEF works with processors, retailers and foodservice customers in Mexico to develop new convenience products and snack items. During the product development phase, the quality and consistency of U.S. pork, achieved through the use of high-quality feed inputs such as U.S. soybean meal, is highlighted for key decision-makers looking for new products that will appeal to their retail and foodservice clientele. To further solidify this message, USMEF hosts demonstrations showcasing new product ideas and recipe applications.
One such demonstration took place in Monterrey, where USMEF introduced new product ideas to the staff of a popular, well-regarded Mexican retail/restaurant chain. Chicharronería Mendez Jr. is a key industry partner in USMEF’s variety meat program, selling up to 3,000 pork jowl bite cones (a stadium concession item jointly developed with USMEF) per game at sporting events in the region. Many of their retail stores also include in-house restaurants where they sell pork jowl “chicharrón” and beef small intestines served in tacos.
USMEF utilized its mobile grill and kitchen trailer to demonstrate new recipe ideas utilizing U.S. pork and beef variety meats, including pickled pork jowl and beef small intestine empanadas. During the demonstration, USMEF also highlighted how the quality of U.S. feed inputs results in superior quality of U.S. pork and beef, including variety meats. USMEF estimates that every pound of U.S. pork exported represents the utilization of nearly a pound of soybeans, and pork variety meat exports are critical for maximizing carcass value and driving further growth in the U.S. hog-feeding sector.
Support for this market development activity was made possible by the United Soybean Board and the Beef Checkoff Program.