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Diversifying export markets crucial to supporting US pork producers

The National Pork Board continues to invest checkoff funds to expand US pork access on the global market.

Minnesota pork producer Blake Holden says that provides long-term certainty to the market. “We know we make a good product, we know we make competitively, but you have to sell it at the end of the day,” he says.  “We need people and teams and companies out in market and developing these relationships to try to help you that for us, because the producers are busy producing pigs. We need other people to help us do the hard part.”

Courtney Knupp, vice president of international market development, with the National Pork Board tells Brownfield the goal is to differentiate US pork from its competitors. “And we’re playing the long game here because market dynamics internationally always will change and we want a pivot to make sure we have a home for our products, through our relationship and our established supply chains at any time,” she says. 

Representatives of the US pork industry were recently in Chile, Holden says much of the trip was dedicated to relationship building.  “To make sure that we have a consistent trading partner to buy our product,” he says. “And to understand what they want to make the product that that is a good product market fit.”

The National Pork Board’s international market diversification strategy task force leverages strategic partnerships with the US Meat Export Federation, the USDA, Gira, a global strategic market consulting firm, and the National Pork Producers Council to continue to build demand for US pork.

AUDIO: Interview with Minnesota Pork Producer Blake Holden and NPB’s Courtney Knupp