Irish beef showcase in US is good for Meath farmers – Butler

Fine Gael Meath West TD, Ray Butler, has welcomed the Irish beef showcase in New York, saying that the promotion of Irish beef in the US is good for Meath farmers.

“The visit of the Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney, to the United States this week, aims to showcase Irish beef to American consumers, restaurants and suppliers. This is great news for Meath beef farmers who are looking to expand into the US market.

“Ireland is the first European country to export beef to the US in 15 years, since they banned beef due to BSE concerns.

“Minister Coveney has hosted an event in New York featuring top international chefs, including Michelin chefs, providing demonstrations of Irish beef. The event was attended by a large number of key US buyers and food writers with the aim of increasing the profile of Irish beef as a quality premium product.

“US consumers are now looking for high quality premium beef and they increasingly take into account the welfare of the animals. The Irish beef product is attractive to this market, and is something different for the US consumer as it is fed on grass as opposed to grain as it is in the US.

“Currently we are far too reliant on the UK market, with over half of our beef being exported there. Finding new markets is crucial to the sustainability of our beef farming sector and the US presents an exciting opportunity for Meath beef farmers. The announcement this week that ABP Foods Group have secured a deal with Sysco to sell Irish beef in the US, is just one example of the kinds of deals that will boost Irish beef sales in the US into the future.”