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Iowa Pork leader highlights export momentum, growth opportunities overseas

The outgoing president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association says U.S. pork exports are heading in the right direction.

“Everything has been going really well,” said Aaron Juergens. “We’re still getting product moved internationally.”

Juergens, who also farms in western Iowa, says Mexico has been a massive market for U.S. pork but there’s room for growth in other regions.

“Doing a lot with Mexico,” he said. “And we’re trying to get pork into those countries where they have a growing middle class.”

But he tells Brownfield adding to the broader portfolio can be a difficult task.

“There’s a lot of competitors in an international market and we just have to stand out,” Juergens said. “One of the benefits of being the United States is we have the USDA label. Our pork is 100% safe and it’s a good product. That’s our sales tactic.”

Juergens term as IPPA president came to a close at the organization’s annual meeting in Des Moines on January 20^th.

Aaron Juergens Audio Interview: