Indiana's agricultural leaders are championing U.S. meat in Vietnam's culinary competitions, supporting farmers and driving crop demand.
The Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) and the Indiana Corn Marketing Council (ICMC) recently participated in two culinary competitions in Vietnam, showcasing the quality of U.S. poultry and pork. These events provide an opportunity for Indiana's agricultural community to connect with international buyers and promote their products.
At the 2023 Pork Stars Challenge in Ho Chi Minh City, eight esteemed Vietnamese chefs created delectable dishes using U.S. pork spareribs. The competition emphasized pork as a culinary centerpiece, showcasing its versatility and flavor.
Tran Van Tuan won first place with his inventive U.S. pork simmered in sugarcane and mulberry sauce, followed by a creative pork cartilage dish rolled in coconut pepper sauce. Le Nguyen Anh Khoi secured second place with his U.S. grilled five-spice pork ribs and charcoal sticky rice, accompanied by a U.S. pork cartilage salad with crispy vegetables. Nguyen Chanh Than claimed third prize with his mouthwatering curry pork rib and vegetable dish, served with pandan leaf rice, along with stuffed pork and ground mushroom wrapped in flower dough leaves.
ISA and ICMC are committed to supporting export programs like the Pork Stars Competition, which benefit Indiana's corn and soybean growers by driving demand for their crops. As the global appetite for U.S. meat products increases, so too does the demand for Indiana's high-quality agricultural products.
A delegation of farmer leaders from Indiana actively participated in the Pork Stars Competition, recognizing Vietnam as an emerging market with a growing middle class that demands quality U.S. products. Developing and nurturing these relationships is critical for expanding and sustaining markets.
In 2022, U.S. red meat exports consumed nearly 38 million bushels of Indiana corn, contributing $1 per corn bushel in value. U.S. pork exports used seven million bushels of Indiana soybeans, adding $1.94 per soybean bushel in value.
These culinary competitions celebrate the excellence of U.S. poultry and pork while strengthening ties between U.S. producers and emerging markets. By promoting Indiana's agricultural products on the global stage, these events help to foster Indiana's agricultural prosperity and global presence.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-eugenesergeev
Categories: Indiana, Business