Kicking off Porktober in the largest pork producing state, learn how Iowa pork is feeding families halfway around the globe from an Iowa producer who traveled with the U.S. Meat Export Federation on a recent trip. National Pork Board Past President and Iowa Pork Producer Gene Noem said this was an opportunity to talk about the industry from a sustainability perspective, how the animal is raised and treated, and the quality of the product.
“We met and saw those that had a high level of interest in imported meat products. They see what we have is really high quality and quality is defined as consistency but consistency in color, marbling, freshness, and supply.”
Noem said the European Union is probably the biggest competitor of high-quality pork, but transporting fresh product from there is the challenge.
“EU has to come around through the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal down around India and there’s no way that they can sell chilled product. We however can do that going directly across the Pacific and so we’re positioned to be really good to provide that idea of freshness the Asians really like.”
He adds that type of in-market promotion on the ground cannot be done any other way and provides great value as far as usage of check-off dollars. He also notices that while meat consumption is based on tradition, Noem said there are trends more commonly associated with U.S. customs. Consumers buy the meat and gather picnic style and cook their selection, which allowed them to teach some American grilling techniques with racks of ribs.
