Beef Industry Japan Relief Effort
So much of our new is focused on wars, political upheavals and disasters both natural and manmade, so it’s nice to host a forum where I get to share something positive once in a while. I’m Susan Allen, this is Open Range after the break how the Beef Industry is helping fund relief in Japan. Earlier this month the Beef Promotion Operating Committee moved quickly to amend a foreign marketing proposal that would allow them to earmark funds towards relief efforts in Japan. (Wouldn’t it be nice our government would be this creative and fast on budgetary issues.) Anyway the Beef Board worked diligently to find funds remaining from 2010 projects that then could be designated towards helping the Japanese’s people. By the time they were finished, the board’s budget combined with selected Check Off funds created a Japan Relief Program account in the amount of $200,000. The money will be used to distribute U.S. beef in Japan but that’s not all, once the meat is shipped overseas the foreign marketing program will work with established key accounts in both food service and retail to develop actual meals that can be delivered to those left homeless and destitute. Once again your check off dollars at work. It’s a win win for our cattle producers as well in the words of Tom Jones Beef Board Chairmen “the program will deal with the immediate needs in Japan, at the same time strengthening ties with those folks by delivering the nutritious sustenance that we know our U.S beef provides."
