By Jamie Martin
The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) recently hosted a significant event that brought several retail teams from Latin America to the U.S., providing them an in-depth look into the American meat industry.
This tour included participation in the 2025 Annual Meat Conference held in Orlando, Florida, where 23 delegates from regions including the Caribbean, Mexico, Central, and South America gathered.
The agenda was packed with engaging activities such as meetings with U.S. suppliers, tours of retail outlets, and visits to a cow/calf operation and a pork plant, giving participants a firsthand experience of the U.S. meat production and supply chain.These visits were designed to enhance the participants' understanding of the market and to foster trade relations.
Following the conference, the group attended a pork workshop at the University of Florida. This session, focusing on retail cuts, utilization, and merchandising of U.S. pork, was part of USMEF’s initiative to promote U.S. meat products internationally.
This educational experience was sponsored by funding from the National Pork Board, the Beef Checkoff Program, the soybean checkoff, and USDA’s Regional Agricultural Promotion Program.
USMEF representatives from various Latin American regions including the Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, Mexico, and South America facilitated these interactions, ensuring a comprehensive educational and cultural exchange.
This initiative not only strengthens trade ties but also enriches knowledge on both sides, proving crucial for future collaborations in the meat industry.
Photo Credit: beef-checkoff
Categories: National