Page 14 - APN July 2017

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Restauranteurs and caterers connect with US pork at Foodservice Australia
WORKING to distin- guish US pork from competitors’ prod- ucts and create interest among potential new customers in the Oce- ania region, the U.S. Meat Export Federation offered tastings of vari- ous pork dishes at Food- service Australia, an an- nual food and hospitality event that alternates be- tween Sydney and Mel- bourne.
Funded by the United States Department of Ag- riculture Market Access Program and the Pork Checkoff, USMEF also distributed informational brochures on US pork, along with pre-cooked ba- con pamphlets and food- service guide fact sheets.
This year’s show in Mel- bourne attracted nearly 9000 visitors, a 69 per- cent increase compared to last year.
USMEF-ASEAN direc- tor Sabrina Yin said, “US- MEF participated in the 2016 show and found it to be an event where we can gain good insight into the foodservice sector in Aus- tralia and learn where the market is headed.”
“Although it is a smaller- scale show compared to the annual Fine Food Austral- ia, this event focuses more specifically on buyers from the restaurant, bar, catering and bakery sectors, and this is where we see continued growth.”
USMEF’s booth fea- tured a chiller filled with a wide range of cooked US pork products import- ed by Colby International, one of the region’s top red
meat importers.
Among the US items
presented were pre- cooked bacon, pulled pork with barbecue sauce, braised pork belly, pork rib patties and pork meat- balls with various sauces.
Show attendees, many of them foodservice man- agers and buyers, tasted pre-cooked products and learnt about US pork.
“We received many fa- vourable comments at the
sampling sessions as oper- ators from a diverse field of restaurants throughout Australia discussed their preferences for pork prod- ucts,” Ms Yin said.
“We were able to iden- tify US pork cuts and pre- cooked products that fit their needs, and in many cases we were able to of- fer them a sample of these US pork products.”
Ms Yin said Colby In- ternational will follow up
with visitors to the US- MEF booth and that ar- rangements were made to send additional US pork samples to foodservice operators and chefs – ei- ther directly or through their distributors – follow- ing the show.
Ms Yin also noted that USMEF plans to recon- nect with some of these potential new customers at Fine Food Australia in Sydney in September.
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Many parts of Queensland still affected by drought
NEW drought declara- tion details highlight that farming families in more than two-thirds of Queensland are still battling the devastating impact of drought while primary producers in the northwest are now enter- ing the recovery phase.
The State Government recently announced that Queensland is 69.75 per- cent drought declared, down from a record 87.47 percent in March, with several areas in the north of the state and the shire of Southern Downs coming off the drought- declared list.
AgForce general presi- dent Grant Maudsley said the changes announced were based on the rec- ommendations of Lo- cal Drought Committees taking into consideration their local conditions.
“The prolonged and se- vere drought has taken an enormous financial, envi- ronmental and emotional toll on farming families right throughout Queens- land,” he said.
“Many regions in west-
ern Queensland were first officially drought declared in early to mid- 2013, so producers in those areas have effec- tively had five years with rainfall deficits.
“Drought declarations have now been revoked in the northwest after one of their best wet seasons in years, but primary pro- ducers up there will still need support as they move into the recovery phase after years of drought.
“This announcement also highlights the fact that while cyclone Debbie delivered welcome rain in some areas, it followed another very hot and dry summer and there still hasn’t been enough rain to break the drought in the majority of the state.”
Drought-declared pri- mary producers can ac- cess fodder and water freight subsidies and emergency water infra- structure rebates, as well as relief from electricity charges, land rent rebates and water licence waivers if they are eligible.
Primary producers in ar-
eas where drought decla- rations have been revoked can apply for an individ- ual droughted property declaration if they still require assistance.
Mr Maudsley said Ag- Force had developed a new approach to drought policy based on the agri- cultural business cycle that aimed to put produc- ers in the driver’s seat in managing climate risks, and to deliver better out- comes for producers and governments.
“AgForce stands ready to work with the govern- ment to ensure drought policy works to improve resilience and prepared- ness while also delivering effective assistance during extended, severe events like the one currently being experienced in more than two-thirds of the state,” Mr Maudsley said.
Primary producers seeking more informa- tion about drought dec- larations and assistance measures available can visit daf.qld.gov.au or call 13 25 23.
Page 14 – Australian Pork Newspaper, July 2017
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