U.S. Red Meat Demand Expands in Central America on Reputation for Quality, Safety

Lucia Ruano, USMEF’s Central America representative, discusses what is driving demand for U.S. beef and pork in the region.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (RFD-TV) — The American meat industry is working to build on Central America’s strong demand for U.S. red meat, a key topic at the U.S. Meat Export Federation’s (USMEF) annual conference taking place this week in Indianapolis.

Lucia Ruano, USMEF’s Central America representative, joined RFD-TV’s Market Day Report to share insights from the event and discuss what’s driving demand for U.S. beef and pork in the region.

Ruano highlighted the factors driving rising consumer demand, as well as how USMEF is engaging with buyers and consumers to strengthen awareness and loyalty for U.S. red meat products. She also discussed this summer’s Latin American Product Showcase in Guatemala, which brought together buyers from across the region. Ruano said the event demonstrated strong interest and readiness among buyers to expand purchases of U.S. beef and pork.

Related Stories
USDA says growing soybean output and expanding biofuel demand are helping drive the increase.
Industry leaders say restored access is a major step forward, though exports remain well below previous levels.
For farmers, better data may not solve every local rail problem, but it can make service failures easier to document.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Lane Howard and Adam Andrews with the National Corn Growers Association joined us in the studio discuss EPA’s approval of summer E15 sales, ongoing fuel market concerns, and the industry’s push for a long-term biofuels solution for farmers.
Alan Bjerga with the National Milk Producers Federation discusses how stewardship is driving efficiency, profitability, and competitiveness in the dairy industry.
Farm Bureau officials say the findings underscore mounting pressure on producers heading into the 2026 growing season, with input costs continuing to outpace farm income.
Corey Rosenbusch with The Fertilizer Institute joined us to discuss supply chain disruptions and what farmers should watch as global tensions impact fertilizer markets.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the availability of over $275 million in grant funding in FY2026 for the specialty crop industry in the United States through three USDA programs.
Natalie Roy from AgriSafe Network talks about women’s role in agriculture and the increasing need to address their unique health and safety needs as they form a larger part of the workforce.
In honor of Oral Cancer Awareness Month, Dr. Jeffrey Gold shares how disparities in dental care impact rural Americans and why early detection is important.