The federal government has renewed funding to promote Canadian beef exports to Asia and Mexico.
The $1.5 million announcement from agriculture minister Gerry Ritz Sept. 21 was confirmation of existing money that the Canada Beef Export Federation uses for promotions such as trade shows, food fairs and seminars, said Kee Jim, vice-president of the federation’s finance committee.
“It pays for a broad range of activity in markets,” he said.
Last year the government provided $1.3 million for the same purpose.
In 2006 the federation participated in 368 food shows, seminars and trade missions and worked with federation staff and clients to reopen markets and create renewed interest in Canadian beef after being banned from trade in 2003 due to BSE.
Promotions cost $5.14 million with the largest share spent in Mexico and Japan. About $1.48 million was spent in Japan and $1.08 million in Mexico.
The 2007-08 budget is $7.5 million and pays for 17 people working in six countries.
CBEF is a nonprofit agency promoting Canadian beef in markets outside the United States and has 58 members representing government, processors, packers and cattle producers’ organizations.
