Just another example
- Thread starter Traveler
- Start date
Traveler, don't you want to sell US meats in foreign countries? That is the USMEF (US Meat EXPORT Federation) and it's job is to promote sales of OUR beef, pork, etc. in foreign countries where there may be many other countries competing with us.
There was a recent story on exports, and I believe I saw that tongue was selling for very high prices in Japan, for instance. That probably was leading the 'offal' type meats in price. And doubt it sells well in the USA. While that and heart are things I like, my family won't eat them, and liver isn't an easy sell either. I doubt many families in the USA eat those parts.
However, some of the best and highest quality steaks also sell very well in other countries and I'm glad we have USMEF to promote them.
Don't forget that there are many projects promoting beef to our own citizens. It isn't as if they are being left out.
mrj
There was a recent story on exports, and I believe I saw that tongue was selling for very high prices in Japan, for instance. That probably was leading the 'offal' type meats in price. And doubt it sells well in the USA. While that and heart are things I like, my family won't eat them, and liver isn't an easy sell either. I doubt many families in the USA eat those parts.
However, some of the best and highest quality steaks also sell very well in other countries and I'm glad we have USMEF to promote them.
Don't forget that there are many projects promoting beef to our own citizens. It isn't as if they are being left out.
mrj
Why in the world would you think I don't want to export US beef, or support the work of the USMEF? Ridiculous. What all of these articles tell me is that these countries at least know where their meat is from and the value of US products is being promoted..........and I'm not talking about the offal. Israel is next. And to Canada's credit, they've gotten China.mrj said:
What's being left out is a certain bit of information, that obviously the people of even the Dominican Republic have.
http://www.cattletradercenter.com/us-beef-imports-33-2015
http://www.usmef.org/news-statistics/member-news-archive/u-s-beefs-quality-promoted-to-consumers-in-uae-kuwait-and-oman/
http://www.usmef.org/news-statistics/member-news-archive/supermarket-promotions-showcase-u-s-beef-dubai-abu-dhabi/
http://www.usmef.org/news-statistics/member-news-archive/supermarket-promotions-showcase-u-s-beef-dubai-abu-dhabi/
First, I sure do believe in the importance of BQA. I also realize that not every US beef producer uses it. And given human nature, some people may not be honest about it. There may be other reasons as well, but it is just a sad fact that not ALL beef produced in the USA is of high quality. What is that consumer going to think when they buy cuts of poor quality beef carrying that 'made in the USA label' proponents of COOL insists is always of top quality???
Isn't it likely that store managers arrange meats of like quality together in the displays? It looks like that is the case in the places I've shopped, though we do have our own beef processed, and I buy beef pretty rarely. Re. the beef from other countries: it is required to have comparable rules for processing, inspections, etc. with the USA system. Isn't it better to work to assure that happens, and that trade is equalized with rules? I really don't believe it is realistic, nor am I sure I want to give up products such as cocoa and coffee, for instance, which aren't grown here, as we would if we closed our borders to products from the rest of the world. Isolationism doesn't seem compatible with freedoms our country is supposed to stand for, imo. I believe a 'trust, but verify' system of at the least, random checking at multiple points in the systems.
I'm also glad that the some of the Beef Check Off projects done in big city stores are in-store demonstrations showing consumers how to pick the right cuts of beef for various recipes so that they will know how to prepare tasty, wholesome meals with various cuts of beef ranging from stew meat and hamburger to roasts and nice steaks. People with little time or opportunity to learn the not so simple art of choosing meat to make the best meal at the price point they are willing to pay, is one of the problems we have taken too long to tackle in a sensible way, imo.
mrj
Isn't it likely that store managers arrange meats of like quality together in the displays? It looks like that is the case in the places I've shopped, though we do have our own beef processed, and I buy beef pretty rarely. Re. the beef from other countries: it is required to have comparable rules for processing, inspections, etc. with the USA system. Isn't it better to work to assure that happens, and that trade is equalized with rules? I really don't believe it is realistic, nor am I sure I want to give up products such as cocoa and coffee, for instance, which aren't grown here, as we would if we closed our borders to products from the rest of the world. Isolationism doesn't seem compatible with freedoms our country is supposed to stand for, imo. I believe a 'trust, but verify' system of at the least, random checking at multiple points in the systems.
I'm also glad that the some of the Beef Check Off projects done in big city stores are in-store demonstrations showing consumers how to pick the right cuts of beef for various recipes so that they will know how to prepare tasty, wholesome meals with various cuts of beef ranging from stew meat and hamburger to roasts and nice steaks. People with little time or opportunity to learn the not so simple art of choosing meat to make the best meal at the price point they are willing to pay, is one of the problems we have taken too long to tackle in a sensible way, imo.
mrj
It isn't as if people in the USA have no access to beef indicating country of origin. With considerably more than 100 brands of beef sold in the country, it seems to me private enterprise is the best way to handle 'country of origin'. It seems government reasonably should have oversight or even control of health issues such as inspection of meat processing, while choices such as country of origin are best handled by businesses, with government only having oversight to assure accuracy of any labels.
Re. "North American Beef", I believe the beef industry was pretty well along the way toward that end, until that flawed COOL law fouled things up with added costs due to government mandated labels. No government mandates, just private enterprise giving it a try and letting consumers decide the outcome.
mrj
Re. "North American Beef", I believe the beef industry was pretty well along the way toward that end, until that flawed COOL law fouled things up with added costs due to government mandated labels. No government mandates, just private enterprise giving it a try and letting consumers decide the outcome.
mrj
I don't like laws or government intervention any more than you likely do, but don't think any more information will usually be on a label than what is required. It's unfortunate that the law was written poorly, and that information to the consumer is almost seen as a punishment, rather than a bonus for doing good business.mrj said:
Many consumers, such as families with children, likely don't have the budget to consume specialty meats with much frequency, or access to locally grown. Yet they're being denied information on a wide variety of foods.
Would you be comfortable feeding your grandchildren Tilapia from China, and not knowing it? I'm making the assumption you know the reports of that during the last decade.
Are you comfortable feeding your family chicken that was processed in China, and not knowing it?
http://www.forbes.com/sites/panosmourdoukoutas/2015/07/19/processing-american-chicken-in-china-smart-business-or-ruthless-profiteering/#77c4cda5637b
Do you care to know if you're buying beef from a country with Foot and Mouth disease, even though NCBA isn't on board with it? http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/08/us/argentina-beef-ban-lifted/
Would you like to know if your fresh produce is from a country that's had recent problems with Ecoli, which has been a big deal at times? I recall a problem with human feces from farm workers, and a number of other such problems.
If you're comfortable with less information, and trust hit and miss government inspections, then that's okay. We just have a difference of opinion.
Traveler said:
x Probably we won't change much on that score! However, I would like to have all the labeling, etc. IF any of us could afford the costs inherent in government programs.......and trust????? Not much! I just know that private enterprise is better at most anything than the federal government is. Consumers say they want to know farm/ranch of origin. Promoters of COOL absolutely refused to allow that! Some said it was because packers would blame the rancher for any health problems. With that attitude, it's pretty hard to make progress on producing better, healthier beef, imo.
x I believe working to make what we have the best it can be, applying BQA and other information properly, and more widely across ALL segments from seed stock on through to the grocery store, food service, restaurant, and right down to home cooks is the best for us all, from farm to consumer.
x So far as government inspection, imo, that should be limited to what is necessary to assure food safety, accuracy of claims of the grade of the meat made on that USDA label, and not much else.
Sure hope others are having a great day......in spite of winter weather!
mrj
Another demerit for China, considering especially how we are under scrutiny for any antibiotic use. http://www.forbes.com/sites/judystone/2015/12/10/new-superbug-resistant-to-all-antibiotics-linked-to-imported-meat/#7d209b14925b
Only is another inaccurate assumption. We have some safe guards and producer oversights that aren't necessarily going to be found in other places. Hopefully, it betters our odds.
http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs51.pdf
Unfortunately fresh fruit and salad greens aren't cooked. Be nice to know at least where they're from......as long as it doesn't bring world trade to it's knees. :lol2:
