Colombia

Seminar Seeks to Ease Red Meat Trade Obstacles in Colombia

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 16:54:22 GMT

With support from the National Pork Board and the Beef Checkoff Program, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) recently joined USDA staff in meetings with Colombian officials designed to build a better understanding of the industry both in the U.S. and Colombia, according to a USMEF release. The seminar was an effort to build better relationships and ease red meat export challenges that have risen recently. In April, Columbia banned imports of beef from states where highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been detected in dairy cows.

U.S. officials gave a farm-to-fork view of the U.S. livestock industry, explaining the extensive safeguards that are in place to ensure food safety in the U.S., including mandatory Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Point (HACCP) requirements.

“The difference between Colombia and the U.S. is that Colombia has very few federally inspected plants, and in our country almost every, and especially every large plant, is federally inspected,” says USMEF Director of Export Services Courtney Heller. “And the infrastructure is very large and very effective. Another key difference between our industries is HACCP is not mandatory in many countries, including Colombia, but in the U.S., if you’re federally inspected, every facility is mandatorily using HACCP as part of their day-to-day operations”

Colombia is a major destination for U.S. pork, with exports racing to record pace in 2024. Through the first half of the year, shipments jumped 33% from a year ago to nearly 57,000 metric tons, while value soared 44% to $157.4 million. Beef exports to Colombia posted a strong first quarter but have struggled since HPAI-related restrictions were imposed this spring. First-half beef exports fell 22% year-over-year to 2,224 metric tons, valued at $13.4 million (down 13%).

Seminar participants included regulatory officials, port inspectors and others involved in the import process. Both sides have expressed interest in continuing the seminar on an annual basis.

From Brisket to Coulotte: U.S. Pork and Beef Gains Traction in Colombian Markets

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 15:40:53 GMT

In the bustling streets of Bogotá, where the aroma of grilling meat wafts through the air, Colombian butcher shops have found a new ally in their mission to deliver quality U.S. pork and beef cuts to their customers. With support from the USDA, the National Pork Board and the Beef Checkoff Program, the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) has embarked on a mission to enhance the merchandising of U.S. red meat in Colombia.

Homero Recio, the Latin America Representative of USMEF, recently shared insights into the program, emphasizing the pivotal role played by butcher shops in Colombia’s retail sector. Despite the growth of modern supermarkets, these traditional establishments continue to dominate sales, leaving room for further expansion and collaboration with USMEF.

“Butcher shops in Colombia make up a larger part of sales than in other markets in Latin America,” explained Recio. “There’s still some expansion left in that model for MEF to work in. We have really seen the ability for our products, pork and beef, to take market share because of the individual cuts that we offer, the quality that we offer, the size and consistency that we offer.”

Recio highlighted the importance of moving beyond price considerations, focusing on the evaluation of the butcher shops’ business models. USMEF provides recommendations that result in cost savings, additional point-of-sale materials, and even redesigns of some butcher shops. This approach has created a positive impact on these establishments, empowering them to better serve their consumers.

The program strategically targets beef and pork cuts that are underutilized in the domestic market but hold immense potential in Colombia. On the beef side, the coulotte, the cap of the sirloin, has become a staple, boasting a different quality level than the traditional Colombian cut, Recio says. In recent years, USMEF has introduced secondary cuts like beef short ribs and beef tri-tip, expanding the variety available to consumers.

On the pork side, the emphasis lies on loins, particularly the sirloin end of the loin and the bone-in full loin, Recio notes. However, the true star in the Colombian market is the pork brisket bone, derived from the production of St. Louis ribs. This product, not only sold fresh but increasingly cured and smoked, has become a value-added item in the retail marketplace, capturing the taste buds of Colombian consumers.

As the aroma of sizzling meat continues to draw customers into Colombian butcher shops, the collaboration between USMEF, USDA, the National Pork Board and the Beef Checkoff Program ensures a flavorful journey for meat enthusiasts, introducing them to a diverse range of high-quality U.S. pork and beef cuts.

U.S. Beef and Pork Export Values Near $150 Million to Colombia

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 19:36:27 GMT

Demand for U.S. pork and beef exports in Colombia soar in 2022 with pork ahead of last year’s record pace by 10% , valued at $120 million, and beef exports are up 55% in volume and 78% in value ($26.3 million) over 2021, the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) reports.

Colombia’s consumption of pork on a per capita basis is nearly 26 lbs. and their domestic industry simply cannot keep up, Don Mason, a USMEF representative says. The U.S pork exports have filled the hole in consumer demand, continuing to gain more market share in the country.

While the pork industry aims to fulfill demand, U.S. beef preference in Colombia has evolved in recent years.

“Our beef market used to be a lot of variety meats—liver, tripe, that sort of thing. In the past three or four years, we’ve seen more and more muscle cuts going in there. And then over the past two years, lots of ground beef, because there’s a hamburger craze in Colombia. Hamburger shops are popping up all over, and they love U.S product for their hamburgers,” Mason explains.

Despite inflation that challenges the spending habits of Colombian consumers, Mason explains meat demand has been resilient .

“I think this year looks pretty good for meat exports into Colombia. We’ve got aggressive, optimistic importers, and that’s one of the keys in these countries. Especially in Colombia, we have 20-25 importers who are very convinced that they can buy high quality U.S. product even at a higher price and sell it at a profit,” Mason notes.

The Butcher Shop, Colombia’s Essential Meat Market Asset

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 18:49:16 GMT

When restaurants closed during the pandemic, Colombian consumers looked to substitute high quality eating experiences at home.

With support from the United States Department of Agriculture, the National Pork Board and the Beef Checkoff Program, the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) is partnering with many butcher shops in Colombia to improve the merchandising of U.S. meat.

“About 50% or more of the meat that comes into Colombia is sold through butcher shops owned by, or in a contractual arrangement with, some of our importers. The U.S. livestock industry delivers excellent quality, completely safe products right to the docks in Colombia,” said USMEF’s Colombia representative Don Mason.

Mason explains that USMEF efforts are focused on extending the quality and safety of the meat from the ports to the final customer. This includes helping Colombians understand that meat is frozen to guarantee a better-quality product, given the distribution network in the country, as well as how they should handle and defrost that meat properly.

USMEF has been involved in helping local butcher shops gain sales and encourage sustainability of these businesses. When restaurants were closed, “I saw barbeque grills popping up on balconies all over Bogota. Those folks wanted good quality meat to put on those barbecue grills,” Mason said.

By tiding over consumers during the pandemic, Mason hopes to see an increase in restaurant business and to the desire for high quality meat at home to be maintained.