More Iowa companies are beginning to sell beef to China, which started allowing imports of U.S. beef in late June. China placed a ban on U.S. beef in 2003 after a scare over mad cow disease.
Chris Freland is executive director of the Iowa Beef Industry Council. “Having been out of a market for 14 years…this is an exciting opportunity for cattle producers,” Freland says.
Iowa Premium in Tama was among the first companies certified by the USDA to send beef to China. Recently, at least three other Iowa companies received USDA approval. They are Pacific Processors in Des Moines, Thunder Ridge Beef Company in Sigourney, and Quality Refrigerated Services, an Omaha-based business with a plant in Spencer.
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