Spencer, Iowa — More Iowa companies, including one with a facility in Spencer, are beginning to sell beef to China, which started allowing imports of U.S. Beef in late June. China placed a ban on U.S. beef in 2003 after a scare over mad cow disease.
Chris Freland is executive director of the Iowa Beef Industry Council.
Iowa Premium in Tama was among the first companies certified by the USDA to send beef to China. Recently, at least three other Iowa companies received USDA approval, including Quality Refrigerated Services in Spencer, as well as Pacific Processors in Des Moines, and Thunder Ridge Beef Company in Sigourney. Freland notes there are a lot of restrictions on the beef China will accept.
Beef exported to China cannot include certain growth drugs and must be traced to cattle that were born, raised and slaughtered in the U.S. Demand for beef has been growing rapidly in China.
Nearly a dozen companies in Nebraska have been certified to ship beef to China. Around 24 companies in 10 other states are also approved.
