COLOGNE, GERMANY -- The US Meat Export Federation (USMEF) is participating this week in the Anuga food exhibition in Cologne, Germany. Anuga is one of the world’s largest and most important food exhibitions and an outstanding venue for exporters of US red meat, said John Brook, USMEF regional director for Europe, Russia and the Middle East. USMEF’s participation in Anuga is made possible through support from the Pork Checkoff and Beef Checkoff Programs, and the USDA Market Access Program (MAP).

“The Anuga food show is one of the world’s biggest international food fairs,” he said. “And it brings together operators from all over the world. And for US meat companies it’s an amazing opportunity to meet in one place clients from many regions of the world. It has a strong European base with all European operators in countries resented but also excellent attendance from Eastern Europe and Russia, the Middle East, Africa and the suppliers from the United States. It’s a very important show.”


Brooks said it has been an outstanding year in Europe for US beef sales and the region is showing more promise as a pork market as it struggles with its own pork production.

“Exports of US beef to the EU went extremely well through the EU quota year up to end through the end of June more or less double the quantity the year before...so it is fantastic to see that thanks to the hard work done by US producers and exporters, the quality of this beef is being more and more widely recognized across the EU. And there is great potential to continue to expand this market.

“European pork production of course is very substantial. That said, the EU is struggling with both the very high costs of feed cereals and stricter and stricter animal welfare regulations. The impact on the European’s capacity to be self sufficient remains to be seen.”