Dr. Oscar Ferrara, joined the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) earlier this month as the organization’s new regional director for Mexico, Central America and the Dominican Republic and sees strong potential for further export growth to those areas.

Capitalizing on duty-free access achieved through NAFTA and the lower duties negotiated in the U.S.-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), U.S. red meat exports to this region have grown substantially in recent years, with the U.S. being the dominant foreign supplier. But Ferrara notes that there is still significant room to expand demand for U.S. products among the region’s growing middle class, and he intends to build on USMEF’s success by educating customers about the full range of pork, beef and lamb products available from U.S. suppliers.

“There are a lot of areas in which we can expand our offerings in the region, and what I hope to do in this capacity is to expand customers’ knowledge of the products we are exporting to these countries,” Ferrara explained. “Many people know that the U.S. offers safe, high-quality meat products, but we can further educate them on the options and choices available, as well as the unique attributes of U.S. meat and the different methods of preparation and cooking. This will reinforce the great value these products deliver and build even greater customer loyalty.”

“Trade servicing is absolutely critical, even in a region in which USMEF has a longtime presence,” he noted. “Buyers want reliability and consistency from their suppliers, and USMEF serves as an important resource for them, helping ensure they can access the products that meet their needs. This is true whether we are working in established markets like Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala, or in emerging destinations such as Nicaragua and El Salvador – there are many exciting opportunities for the U.S. meat industry.”

“I had the pleasure of working with USMEF on many issues during my time at FAS, and the level of cooperation was outstanding,” he explained. “When we were seeking to gain full access to Mexico for U.S. beef, for example, we accompanied Mexican regulators to U.S. plants and other production facilities in the United States. USDA and USMEF worked extremely well together in organizing these visits and ensuring that we communicated effectively and constructively with these officials. These efforts are very important for eliminating trade barriers and expanding markets for U.S. meat.”