U.S. Meat Market Explored by Latin Retail Teams

Annual Meat Conference Draws International Retailers

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) recently facilitated an insightful market visit for retail teams from Latin America, highlighting the robustness of the U.S. meat industry.

The event centered around the 2025 Annual Meat Conference in Orlando, Florida, attracting 23 participants from the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and South America.

This initiative was part of a broader effort to engage international retailers with U.S. suppliers and to showcase the advanced practices of the American meat processing industry.

The visitors participated in a USMEF trade dinner, visited local retail outlets, and toured a cow/calf operation as well as a pork plant. These activities were aimed at providing a comprehensive understanding of the U.S. meat supply chain and production practices.

Post-conference, the attendees were treated to a specialized pork workshop at the University of Florida. This workshop emphasized the practical aspects of meat handling, focusing on the retail cuts, utilization, and merchandising of U.S. pork, further enhancing the educational value of the visit.

The series of events was supported by funding from the National Pork Board, the Beef Checkoff Program, the soybean checkoff, and USDA’s Regional Agricultural Promotion Program.

Representatives from USMEF across Latin American regions were present to guide the participants, ensuring a rich exchange of information and fostering ongoing relationships between U.S. meat suppliers and Latin American retail markets.

This visit underscores the importance of international trade relations and education in the global meat industry, paving the way for future cooperation and mutual growth in this crucial sector.