USMEF Hosts Trade Teams from Latin America, Saudi Arabia in Miami

USMEF led five trade teams with 28 buyers from Central and South America, Mexico and Saudi Arabia to Miami for a special industry reception, Americas Food & Beverage Show, supplier meetings, production tours and market visits.

Americas Food & Beverage Show, which attracts about 12,000 attendees to Miami each year, also serves as a valuable steppingstone for potential red meat buyers to meet U.S. suppliers and see U.S. production firsthand. Buyer participation also makes it possible to celebrate their interest in U.S. red meat, which USMEF did in a joint reception with USA Poultry and Egg Export Council prior to the show.

While all the teams attended the reception and participated in the show, a separate itinerary was developed for the team from Saudi Arabia. It was the first buyers' team from Saudi Arabia since before 2012, when a strict export verification (EV) program was put in place for U.S. beef. The EV program was officially removed this spring, making a larger share of U.S. beef production eligible for the market.

USMEF forecasts that Saudi Arabia could import $100 to $150 million of U.S. beef annually.

Funding support was provided by the National Pork Board, the Beef Checkoff Program and USDA export programs.