A pork in the road


Why Filipinos love their meat 

We love pork. Perennially nominated as national Pinoy favorites are pork dishes like adobo, sinigang, sisig, and lechon. Pork also outsells beef in supermarkets and wet markets.

The Philippines is expected to buy more pork and chicken from the global market as African swine fever (ASF) affects local production and supply. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service estimates  that the Philippines is importing 280,000 metric tons of pork this year—26 percent higher than last year’s 222,000 MT—while domestic production will decline by 8.5 percent to 1.45 million MT. 

In 2018, the Philippines was only 85 percent self-sufficient in pork production.  The US is the largest supplier of agricultural products to the Philippines and an increasingly important source of pork and pork products 

US PORK ON YOUTUBE  

MEAT THE COOK Rosebud Benitez

For the stay-at-home lifestyle, celebrity chef mom Rosebud Benitez shares a series of delectable dishes on US Pork, Eats the Best, the newest e-cooking series on her Youtube channel. Featuring US pork as the main ingredient of the recipes, Rosebud demonstrates her US Pork Belly Casserole recipe, and US Pork Spareribs Sinigang with Watermelon, perfect for every family occasion. 

In the US, pigs are fed with quality corn and soybean that give US pork a unique sweet taste, juiciness, and tenderness, upgrading every dish that comes with it. But there’s more to its taste and tenderness that makes American pork the go-to meat option for family-friendly recipes.

“What I love about the US pork is that the pigs were grain-fed to perfection so it’s definitely a high-quality and delicious meat option for hearty dishes. As a chef, using US pork in the food I cook is also a lot more convenient with its consistent primal and new pork cuts,” says Rosebud.

HIGH QUALITY ASSURED  

HOOKED ON A FILLING. Shepherd Pie made special with US Pork Loin of Chef Benitez.

As US pork is brought into the Philippines by local meat importers, consumers are assured of its very high quality and guaranteed wholesomeness that stems from the most stringent food safety standards monitored by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Another USDA agency, Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), also checks and operates livestock health and welfare programs. Both agencies are recognized by the Philippines’ Department of Agriculture and the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS).

Additionally, when it comes to nutrition, US pork is nutrient-rich with a relatively low calorific value. Aside from providing protein, pork also provides many other important vitamins and minerals and serves as a primary source of vitamins B6, B12, niacin, and riboflavin, and a good source of iron as well. Rosebud also agrees that many cuts of pork are as lean or even leaner than chicken.

Finally, American farmers value sustainability. As seen over the last decade, the US is leading the advancement of animal agriculture’s environmental and conservation efforts. The sustainable agricultural practices of American farmers protect the environment, expand the earth’s natural resource base, and maintain and improve soil fertility.

Authentic US pork, stamped with the US pork logo on its packaging, is available at all leading supermarkets nationwide.

Subscribe to Rosebud Benitez on Youtube and get ready to cook a wide range of appetizing US pork recipes for the entire family to enjoy.

With a presence in more than 80 countries, US Meat Export Federation (USMEF) is the most vertically integrated trade association in the meat and livestock industry. Follow <facebook.com/USMEFASEAN>. www.usmef.org