(NAFB) During the National Agriculture Day event on Tuesday in Washington, D.C., Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins introduced a campaign regarding USDA’s new “Product of the USA” labeling standard that took effect on January 1. Rollins talked about the new voluntary label and what it signifies.
“Our product of the USA rule that governs the labeling of our meat, poultry, and egg producers is in effect. But what does it mean? Now, we launch into the massive outreach phase. It means for meat and poultry products to boast that they are, in fact, a product of the USA, then the animals now have to have been entirely born, raised, harvested, and processed here in this country, which is a change. It all has to happen in this country. Not some of it, not part of it here, and then it goes somewhere else, and then comes back, but every bit of it, and that’s what the label that you see is all about.”
Rollin said there will be no more foreign beef “passed off as American beef.” It’s about competitiveness for producers .
“This new label is about enhancing competitiveness for our producers, our great American producers, by leveling the playing field and increasing transparency through truthful labeling, because what our ranchers raise in this country is the very best in the entire world. It is why, as we’re opening up these markets in the UK and Australia and others, more countries want our beef.”
The campaign will make it clear to consumers where meat products in the stores have come from.
“But also on the flip side, it’s about doing right by our consumers in this country, by clearing up all confusion about what ‘Made in the USA’ actually means. Consumers deserve clear, truthful labels. American ranchers deserve a level playing field, and that’s what we are delivering. But in order to deliver, people need to know about this, which is why we are thrilled today to announce a new public awareness campaign that is sure to go viral, and we have a lot of people in the room who are going to help us do that, entirely focused on supporting American meat, poultry, and egg products that truly are a ‘Product of the USA.’”
Again, that’s Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins.
Audio provided by DeLoss Jahnke, RFD Radio Network, Farmweeknow.com, Bloomington, Illinois
Audio with Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins
