Diversifying international destinations for beef livers and other variety meats is an important priority for the U.S. beef industry, because it will add value to U.S. cattle and bolster returns for producers. Dan Halstrom, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) senior vice president for marketing, explained that a very large share of U.S. beef livers are currently exported to Egypt, especially since the Russian market closed to U.S. beef in 2013.

To ensure continued success in exporting livers, he said it is important to grow demand in alternative markets such as Mexico, Central and South America and sub-Saharan Africa.

Atlanta, Ga.-based Mirasco Inc. is a major exporter of beef livers and other variety meats. While exhibiting beef liver sandwiches as a street food item at the USMEF Latin American Product Showcase in Panama City, Panama, Mirasco president Sami Rizk offered his thoughts on how this concept’s success in Egypt can potentially be replicated in Central and South America.