In April of 2011 the Agribusiness Project supported a small group of six meat processing company owners to undertake a study tour to the USA to visit the American Meat Institute (AMI) convention in Chicago, and to visit meat processors, livestock growers and other meat related sites in Wisconsin.
The six processors that participated in this tour, all representing companies from southern Serbia, spent two days at the AMI convention where they were able to visit with suppliers of processing and packaging equipment, and other service providers for the meat industry. While in Chicago the group also made contact with companies from the Chicago area that specialize in importing food products from the Balkan region. Some of the participating companies may have an opportunity to supply products to the American market in the future via these contacts.
Following the visit to Chicago the group traveled to Manitowoc, Wisconsin for a four day program of meat plant, livestock farm, and meat industry supplier visits. The group was able to visit two relatively large meat processors in Wisconsin (Cher-Make and Usinger's) where they observed the quality and hygiene requirements imposed on meat companies that sell products in more than one US state. The group also visited a few smaller meat processors, which only sell products in Wisconsin, and they observed the types of products offered and in particular the packaging, branding and promotional activities of these smaller local meat companies. In Manitowoc the group visited Red Arrow, the world's largest supplier of liquid smoke for the meat processing industry. This company already suppliers some of the larger processors in Serbia, and they claim to supply approximately 70% of the liquid smoke sold world wide. In addition to the meat plant and supplier tours the group visited two anaerobic digesters which could be very useful for the meat processing industry in Serbia. One of the digesters was built specifically to deal with slaughterhouse and meat processing waste, which is a particularly difficult environmental problem for the industry. Two of the Serbian companies that participated in the program are very interested in establishing a digester, or digesters, to deal with their own waste.
Following this study tour the Agribusiness Project will continue to provide assistance to the meat industry in Serbia, with a focus on the small to medium scale processing plants in the southern regions of the country.
In April of 2011 the Agribusiness Project supported a small group of six meat processing company owners to undertake a study tour to the USA to visit the American Meat Institute (AMI) convention in Chicago, and to visit meat processors, livestock growers and other meat related sites in Wisconsin.
The six processors that participated in this tour, all representing companies from southern Serbia, spent two days at the AMI convention where they were able to visit with suppliers of processing and packaging equipment, and other service providers for the meat industry. While in Chicago the group also made contact with companies from the Chicago area that specialize in importing food products from the Balkan region. Some of the participating companies may have an opportunity to supply products to the American market in the future via these contacts.
Following the visit to Chicago the group traveled to Manitowoc, Wisconsin for a four day program of meat plant, livestock farm, and meat industry supplier visits. The group was able to visit two relatively large meat processors in Wisconsin (Cher-Make and Usinger's) where they observed the quality and hygiene requirements imposed on meat companies that sell products in more than one US state. The group also visited a few smaller meat processors, which only sell products in Wisconsin, and they observed the types of products offered and in particular the packaging, branding and promotional activities of these smaller local meat companies. In Manitowoc the group visited Red Arrow, the world's largest supplier of liquid smoke for the meat processing industry. This company already suppliers some of the larger processors in Serbia, and they claim to supply approximately 70% of the liquid smoke sold world wide. In addition to the meat plant and supplier tours the group visited two anaerobic digesters which could be very useful for the meat processing industry in Serbia. One of the digesters was built specifically to deal with slaughterhouse and meat processing waste, which is a particularly difficult environmental problem for the industry. Two of the Serbian companies that participated in the program are very interested in establishing a digester, or digesters, to deal with their own waste.
Following this study tour the Agribusiness Project will continue to provide assistance to the meat industry in Serbia, with a focus on the small to medium scale processing plants in the southern regions of the country.
Berry Sector Study Tour in Italy
Date: 2011-05-30
Category: Capacity Building
In compliance with the planned support to the Berry Fruit Sector to establish sales of fresh products, a total of 16 representatives of Southern and Central Serbian producers, ABDS providers & vertically integrated strawberry producers participated in a study tour to Italy, a world leading region in modern berry fruit production for the fresh market.
The study tour took place in May 2011, complementing other technical assistance provided so far by the USAID Agribusiness Project. Guided by the Project’s Sector Lead and the local technical consultant for strawberry production, the group visited Apo Scaligera and SantOrsola Cooperatives, Mazzoni Vivai Nursery, and a number of commercial berry farms in both the hilly-mountainous and flat areas of northern Italy.
The participants learned about the advantages and modalities of the implementation of modern technologies, such as hydroponic, soilless and programmed production, application of poly-tunnels and varieties developed for the fresh market and the organizational and marketing strategies of Italian cooperatives and businesses dealing with fresh berry fruits.
As a result, the study tour participants have already begun negotiations for strawberry plant imports and are making plans to modernize their production and revise their marketing strategies for fresh products.
