Keith Nunes, executive director of MEAT&POULTRY magazine, will open the board of director’s meeting with a keynote address Wednesday May 24 on the challenges faced when dealing with media, why it is not enough to rely on others to get your message out and what your company can do to get better coverage in the media.

He will also discuss trends he sees affecting the meat industry in the next decade. Nunes has served as an editor with MEAT&POULTRY magazine for 15 years and has covered many aspects of the meat business in North America.

The international buyers conference Thursday May 25 is designed to help international buyers identify profitability and benefits of U.S. meat. One session will discuss economics, such as price, supply and demand of using U.S. meat. Another session will show how to make better use of versatile U.S. beef and pork value cuts, including a cutting and cooking demonstration by chefs using the value cuts.

A showcase featuring products from U.S. meat exporters will cap off the day for international buyers by introducing them to U.S. meat suppliers who can show them products onsite and answer any questions.

Also Thursday May 25, the future direction of the beef and pork industries will also be discussed at committee meetings and a town hall meeting will provide a forum for conference attendees to ask questions. USMEF staff will be on hand to address marketing programs, new market developments and trade issues.

USMEF Chairman John Bellinger will chair the business session Friday May 26 where updates will be provided by representatives from USDA Foreign Agriculture Service, National Pork Board, Cattlemen’s Beef Board and American Lamb Board.

The U.S. Meat Export Federation is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded by USDA, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, lamb, corn, sorghum and soybean checkoff programs.

Source: US Meat Export Federation - 10th March 2006