Weve been reporting on shortages in U.S. supermarkets with meat processing plants closed after workers were getting sick from the coronavirus. Poultry value 2019: $53.4 billion, Amount of poultry produced in 2019: 19 million tons Since 2013 China has confirmed 1,557 human cases of AH7N9 flu and 370 deaths. Fresh chicken is injected with a solution of saltwater so it stays juicier and more flavorful (so they say). Please do not hesitate to contact me. Wuchang rice is extremely aromatic,soft, slightly sweet and slightly sticky. I will only buy American grown and processed food. Under the Pilgrims brand are also labels like Just BARE Chicken, Goldn Plump, Pierce Chicken, and Savoro. China, along with a number of other Asian nations, blocked US beef imports in 2003 after a . As a pork producer, Im especially concerned about the future of U.S.-raised pork. Now, data has emerged that U.S. meat is still being shipped overseas, especially to China. 2021 sales: $47.049 billion. If so, why does FSIS believe this? But why is insulin so expensive in the first place? The company announced on Sunday in a news release that their Sioux Falls facility, which accounts for four to five percent of U.S. pork production, will remain closed until further noticeafter 238 Smithfield employees accounted for about half of Minnehaha Countys 438 COVID-19 cases. They employ over 35,000 people across their factories and divisions. They cover all steps in poultry production, running hatcheries, feed mills, finishing farms, and processing facilities. "USDA Approves Import of Poultry Processed in China." The USDA's action in approving Chinese poultry exports to the U.S. raised concerns among many American consumers, especially given China's spotty record for product safety, the absence of on-site USDA inspectors, and the lack of a requirement for Chinese poultry exports to bear labels identifying their country of origin: China does not have the best track record for food safety, and its chicken products in particular have raised questions. While a too-thick coating leaves some brands of orange chicken with Our namesake H-E-B brand products are made for the love of Texans and deliver uncompromising quality. Foodborne exposure to this virus is not known to be a route of transmission.. The country has had frequent outbreaks of deadly avian influenza, which it sometimes has been slow to report. Subscribe today to receive the weekly TechTalk e-newsletter that provides timely agronomic tips and product information from Latham Hi-Tech Seeds. Although the August 2013 FSIS report theoretically paved the way for China to process U.S.-raised chickens and ship them back to America, processing giant Tyson Foods told us they are not shipping poultry to China and then re-importing it as claimed in the examples reproduced above: All of the chicken we sell in the U.S. is raised and processed here in the U.S. The US is the leader of poultry production in the world, so its no surprise that Tyson Foods ranks as the largest American and global poultry producer. Marketplace is a division of MPR's 501 (c)(3). They employ around 21,000 people across their locations, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, North Carolina, and Kentucky. "Food Activist Goes to the Mat Again." Trader Joe's Mandarin Orange Chicken consistently tops their annual Customer Choice Awards as the best entre in their store. If so, how does the department justify the determination? Back in August 2013, the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a final report regarding the food safety system governing the processing of chicken for export in the People's Republic of China (PRC). If not, what is FSISs justification for not doing so. Theres a lot happening in the world. Note; "American" Chinese dishes primarily; there's basically 4 that are breaded; Sweet&Sour, General Tso's. Orange, and Sesame chicken are all breaded. How can we guaranteed that an organically raised chicken from the U.S. thats sent to China for processing will be the same chicken thats returned to the U.S. for consumption? They employ over 140,000 employees across their plants in 24 states including Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin. Their products are sold to retailers for consumers to buy directly and to food service operators for food preparation. 6-ranked Wayne Farms raised RTC chicken production from 45.39 million to 47.68 million pounds weekly or by 5.0 percent. I heard that that the U.S. may soon begin importing cooked chicken from China. The new Raised Cage-Free in the US Process Verified Program covers the brands further-processed products, extending the assurance of American chicken across all PERDUE products. In substance, these rumors echoed another issue from the same timeframe regarding the acquisition of Smithfield Foods by a Chinese company, Shuanghui International Holdings, which led to similar claims that U.S.-raised hogs would be shipped to China, slaughtered and packaged for sale there, and sent back to the U.S. "The 10 Largest Poultry Companies In The United States" Zippia.com. By special request, todays blog will not be about pigs but chicken! 8 Amazing Types of Italian Cookies You Need To Know, 6 Different Types of Cream Cheese Pie and How to Cook Them, Gorgeous Philly Cheesesteak Recipe in 2021, Everything about Smoked Pulled Pork in 2021, CRACKER BARREL CHICKEN FRIED CHICKEN RECIPES, PASTA SALAD WITH SHRIMP AND ITALIAN DRESSING RECIPES, CREAM CHEESE AND SOUR CREAM CHEESECAKE RECIPES, JOY OF COOKING SCALLOPED POTATOES RECIPES, MAID RITE RECIPE WITH CHICKEN BROTH RECIPES, DIPPING SAUCE FOR CHICKEN MEATBALLS RECIPES, HOW TO KEEP APPETIZERS WARM AT A PARTY RECIPES, TEXAS COLESLAW WITH RANCH DRESSING RECIPES, CHOCOLATE CHERRY CHEESECAKE RECIPE RECIPES, HOMEMADE CRANBERRY RELISH WITH ORANGE RECIPES, MARINADE FOR FRIED CHICKEN TENDERS RECIPES. We have no plans to raise or process chicken in China to be returned to the U.S. Any post that claims otherwise is a hoax. I heard that that the U.S. may soon begin importing cooked chicken from China. As the infographic notes, the food trade between China and the United States is interconnected. When it comes to their poultry, they are known for selling a wide variety alongside chicken and turkey, plus they are able to sell specialty meats and cuts. Join Us Get in touch with us. Americans eat over 8 billion chickens per year. They provide both retail and wholesale products for various businesses. The company produces raw meat products to sell in grocery stores as well as ready-made products like chicken nuggets and grilled chicken. Get the best reports to understand your industry. It came after a trade deal, supported by then-President Donald Trump, to send more U.S. beef to China while receiving more Chinese poultry inthe U.S.,the Post reported. The FDA confirmed products such as Starkist Tuna, Green Giant vegetables and garlic are indeed safe. The global poultry industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.5% through 2030. Were any of these newly certified Chinese poultry processing plants recently inspected by the CNCA, or similar authority? Enter your email address to subscribe to the MAM blog & receive notifications of new posts by email. The PERDUE brand is now the first brand of chicken with USDA Process Verified Programs assuring consumers that all of its products, and not just those covered by Country of Origin labeling regulations, are made exclusively with U.S.-raised chicken. Super said there "have not been any shipments of US chicken sent to China to be processed and sent back here.". Then, well cover some facts about international poultry production. Market size of chicken essence in China's market 2010-2020. The email exchange seems to show that FSIS accepted the response from Chinas Certification and Accreditation Administration and moved forward with the certification of the new plants, DeLauro contends. The gist of that report was that four Chinese poultry processors were approved to begin shipping a limited amount of processed chicken products to the United States, provided those products were derived from chickens raised in countries that met FSIS standards: The PRC was added to the list of countries eligible to export processed poultry to the United States with the following stipulation: processed heat-treated poultry products must be derived from flocks slaughtered under (1) the U.S. inspection system or (2) the inspection system of another country eligible to export slaughtered poultry products to the United States. The FDA warned U.S. pet owners not to feed their pets jerky treats from China. Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. If not, why? If so when will these audit reports be publicly available? We feel consumers deserved the same level of transparency about where their chicken was raised, whether they buy fresh chicken breast, frozen hot wings or chicken nuggets, said Chairman Jim Perdue. Local CQIs (Chinas Inspection and Quarantine) and animal husbandry and veterinary departments take individual responsibility for supervision and conduct official oversight on all poultry establishments including those two potential poultry export establishments CNCA said in a Dec 10, 2017, email to FSIS. The most important key figures provide you with a compact summary of the topic of "Meat industry in China" and take you straight to the corresponding statistics. 2023 Minnesota Public Radio. Hopefully other manufactures will make the same commitment and not like to us, Naive?? And if no such labeling is required, then how else will U.S. consumers be able to make informed decisions about the chicken or poultry product that they put into their bodies? Jul. The US may be the biggest poultry producer in the world, but there are other countries that come close. The best of the best: the portal for top lists & rankings: Strategy and business building for the data-driven economy: Processed meat market size worldwide 2020 & 2026, Revenue of the fresh meat market in China 2013-2026, by segment, Sales channel share of the fresh meat market in China 2017-2025, Meat production volume in China 2012-2022, Per capita consumption of meat in China 2017-2029, Per capita consumption of meat products in China 2017-2029, by type, Production of meat worldwide from 2016 to 2022 (in million metric tons), Production of meat worldwide 2021, by region, Production of meat worldwide in 2021, by region (in million metric tons), Global meat retail volume 2020, by region, Meat retail sales volume worldwide in 2020, by region (in million kilogram), Global per capita meat consumption 2021-2031, Projected per capita meat consumption worldwide from 2021 to 2031 (in kilograms)*, Per capita consumption of meat worldwide 2019-2031, by region, Per capita consumption of meat worldwide from 2019 to 2021, with a forecast for 2031, by region (in kilos), Producer Price Index for livestock in China Q4 2019-Q4 2022, Producer Price Index (PPI) for livestock products in China from 4th quarter 2019 to 4th quarter 2022, Meat production volume in China from 2012 to 2022 (in million metric tons), Meat production volume share in China 2022, by type, Share of meat production volume in China in 2022, by segment, Pork production volume in China 2011-2021, Volume of pork produced in China from 2011 to 2021 (in million metric tons), Beef and veal production volume in China 2011-2021, Volume of beef and veal produced in China from 2011 to 2021 (in 1,000 metric tons), Mutton and lamb production volume in China 2011-2021, Volume of mutton and lamb produced in China from 2011 to 2021 (in 1,000 metric tons), Monthly import of meat products in China 2021-2022, China's monthly import of meat products from December 2021 to December 2022 (in million U.S. dollars), Volume of pork imported to China from 2014 to 2022 (in 1,000 metric tons), Volume of beef imported to China from 2014 to 2022 (in 1,000 metric tons), Poultry meat import volume in China 2014-2022, Volume of poultry meat imported to China from 2014 to 2022 (in 1,000 metric tons), Mutton and lamb import volume in China 2014-2022, Volume of mutton and lamb imported to China from 2014 to 2022 (in 1,000 metric tons), Retail turnover of meat, poultry, eggs in China 2011-2021, Annual turnover value of retail of meat, poultry and eggs in China from 2011 to 2021 (in billion yuan), Revenue of the fresh meat market in China from 2013 to 2026, by segment (in million U.S. dollars), Sales channel share of the fresh meat market in China from 2017 to 2025, Average price per unit in the fresh meat market in China 2013-2026, by segment, Average price per unit of fresh meat in China from 2013 to 2026, by segment (in U.S. dollars), Breakdown of meat product market in China 2019, by brand, Distribution of the meat product market in China in 2019, by manufacturer, Per capita consumption of meat in China from 2017 to 2021 with forecasts until 2029 (in kilograms), Per capita consumption of meat products in China from 2017 to 2021 with forecasts until 2029, by type (in kilograms), Beef purchase criteria among wealthy consumers in China 2020, Leading factors consumers considered when purchasing beef in China as of March 2020, Most popular plant-based food product types in China 2021, by consumer gender, Most popular plant-based food alternative types among respondents in China as of November 2021, by gender, Opinion on plant-based meat replacing meat in China 2020, Attitude towards meat replacing with plant-based meat products in China as of April 2020, Preferred organic food products in China 2021, Preference of food products to be organic in China as of September 2021. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you. "Economically, it doesn't make much sense," Super said. Amanda is a writer with experience in various industries, including travel, real estate, and career advice. Most recently, researchers have identified multiple antibiotic-resistant genes being carried by the countrys commercial chicken flock. In 2015, . Chinese poultry supplier provided Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants in China with chicken fattened by large quantities of illegal drugs. Keep in mind, there are things being shipped that Americans dont eat, such as pigs feet. Is that true? Why China wants to stock more than 200,000 tons of pork, Local butchers seen as key to bolstering the food supply chain, As inflation mounts, a prime culprit is the price of meat. Im concerned about what precedent this sets. 3. Consumers are increasingly interested in knowing where their food comes from, and were proud to the be first and so far only poultry brand that has asked the USDA to verify that all of our products are made from chickens raised on farms here in the United States, said Chairman Jim Perdue. Countries classifiedas adequately performing would be audited every year, average performing countries every two years, and well-performing countries every three years. With all outstanding issues resolved, the PRC may certify a list of establishments eligible to export processed (heat-treated/cooked) poultry products to the United States, as long as the raw poultry is sourced from countries that have been determined by FSIS to have an equivalent poultry slaughter inspection system. Wollin said all U.S. products from Smithfield are made in one of its 50 facilities across America and that all of its products are produced in compliance with the standards and regulations of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro, D-CT, senta letterFriday to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue expressing concerns about the situation. Overview and forecasts on trending topics, Industry and market insights and forecasts, Key figures and rankings about companies and products, Consumer and brand insights and preferences in various industries, Detailed information about political and social topics, All key figures about countries and regions, Market forecast and expert KPIs for 600+ segments in 150+ countries, Insights on consumer attitudes and behavior worldwide, Business information on 60m+ public and private companies, Detailed information for 35,000+ online stores and marketplaces. Politico andThe New York Times reported aboutconcerns over Chinese chicken exports reaching the American market, with the latter reporting that the country does not have the best track record for food safety.. Rat and other small mammal meat has been sold to Chinese consumers as lamb. China has been able to process chicken from the United States since 2013, when four chicken processors were approved to export cooked poultry products from birds raised in the U.S., Canada and Chile. USDA recently announced the . When a box of canned chicken goes for $200, it better be some really good chicken. Smithfield Foods is a Virginia-based company and is the worlds largest pork processor and hog producer;it produces a variety of brand name meats and partnered with a Chinese company long before the COVID-19 pandemic. There has been a push in this country for transparency from farm gate to dinner plate. Shelf Life: 18 - 24 Months 12. Furthermore, without a country-of-origin label, how will U.S. consumers know whether or not the chicken or poultry product that they decide to purchase and consume came from China? I strongly believe FSIS must be much more proactive and thorough when it comes to evaluation of other countries food safety systems, which is why I am alarmed by the recent release of emails that show FSIS taking a stunningly passive approach in approving three new Chinese poultry processing as eligible to export to the United States.. This material may not be reproduced without permission. Launched in June 2020, menu items from It's Just Wings are prepared in the kitchens of 1,000 company-operated Chili's . Farhan sheikh August 18, 2022 Poultry Products 24,229 Views. Pilgrims is one of the largest poultry producers in the US that produces poultry exclusively. Most importantly, our H-E-B brand products are approved by folks like you. Many Americans are concerned about food safety and rightly so. Its been more than a year since the USDA announced its controversial chicken arrangement with China. This issue is the headline again this week thanks in part to a recentFacebook post by Erin Brockovich. Eli Lilly announced a cap on insulin costs. Has FSIS ever audited local CIQs? data than referenced in the text. In 2013, several Chinesefacilities were approved to export to the U.S. poultry products from chickensraised in America. US chicken exports to the country could top $2B. We will continue to use only chicken raised on American farms and processed in America for PERDUE brand products sold to American consumers., The documentation for the PERDUE brands Process Verified Programs provides audited traceability from the hatchery to the package. Poultry value 2019: $6.5 billion, Amount of poultry exported in 2019: 1.5 million tons, Amount of poultry produced in 2019: 1.5 million tons, Amount of poultry produced in 2019: 509 thousand tons, Amount of poultry produced in 2019: 493 thousand tons, Amount of poultry produced in 2019: 473 thousand tons, Amount of poultry produced in 2019: 398 thousand tons. David Mikkelson founded the site now known as snopes.com back in 1994. In addition, each PERDUE package of further processed chicken carries the companys Product of the USA seal. (I dont have enough space to delve deeper into this this angle today, but I certainly want to in a future blog post.) Major pork suppliers to China 2020, based on import value, Volume share of leading chicken meat exporting countries to China 2020, Red meat export value from New Zealand 2022, by destination, Share of Australian beef import volume in Greater China FY 2021, by storage/meat type, Per capita meat consumption in China 2021, by region, Per capita beef consumption in China 2021, by region, Average per capita mutton consumption in urban China 2013-2021, Facebook: quarterly number of MAU (monthly active users) worldwide 2008-2022, Quarterly smartphone market share worldwide by vendor 2009-2022, Number of apps available in leading app stores Q3 2022. "It makes zero economic sense to do so, especially in light of record input costs, and sky-high shipping and freight costs," Super said. More and more consumers wants to know how food is grown here. Unlike gastrointestinal (GI) viruses like norovirus and hepatitis A that often make people ill through contaminated food, SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, is a virus that causes respiratory illness. Austin, Minnesota If this chicken is raised locally, shipped to China for processing and returned to your local store, will it be labeled as a locally grown chicken? Mar 4, 2022 This statistic shows the total annual import value of processed foods and beverages in China from 2016 to 2020. We are happy to help. If USDA inspectors will not be on site in China, how will U.S. consumers know whether or not the poultry has been mishandled during processing, tampered with, or contaminated? The cost of loneliness: Social isolation holds back workers and costs employers billions, Businesses and consumers are borrowing more, despite rising interest rates, Why a Guarneri violin is expected to fetch $10 million at auction. Should equivalency be granted to the slaughter system, the PRC would be eligible to export its own poultry to the U.S, F&WW told Perdue. This action followed years of wrangling between the U.S. and China over the export of meat products to each other: The poultry trade between the United States and China has been contentious for years. Whether youre buying prepared chicken, like frozen nuggets, or youre shopping for fresh raw turkey, most poultry in the US comes from a few major producers. the closure of Smithfield Foods South Dakota processing plant, Forbes,China's Hunger For Pork Will Impact The U.S. Meat Industry, Forbes,Why Chinese Purchase Of Smithfield Could Be Game Changer For Pork Trade, Sioux Falls Argus Leader,Smithfield Foods closes one of nation's largest pork plants as worker COVID-19 cases spike, Smithfield Foods press release,Smithfield Foods To Close Sioux Falls, SD Plant Indefinitely Amid COVID-19, Sioux Falls Argus Leader,Gov. Less than 1% of the chicken we consume is imported from Canada and Chile. Per FSIS policy, each country eligible to export products to the United States should be identified, by performance, as adequate, average, or well-performing to determine the frequency at which FSIS will conduct Ongoing Equivalence Verification Audits. They can send chickens anywhere and as long as they end up here, they can say made in the USA! OSIs products go both directly to consumers through grocery stores and to third party restaurants and food vendors like Subway, Starbucks, Papa Johns Pizza, and Pizza Hut. One cant read the disparities in minimum wage without thinking about the ongoing debate in this country to increase the minimum wage. Join us for a free, virtual event for International Women's Day on March 8! Despite China's long history of livestock production and meat (such as pork, lamb, beef, and poultry) consumption, meat has not always been accessible and affordable for the common population. Remember, the Obama administration has placed an emphasis onhelping the middle class! There is no evidence proving this claim, and officials contacted denied the information in the post; it is, therefore, not supported by our research. Which rose first: the price of chicken or corn? Other top 10 broiler producers with increases. Shuanghui isnt looking to offload Chinese pork in Los Angeles. Wayne Farms employs around 10,000 people and operates facilities in Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Georgia. So whats the fuss? How green is this move? Absolutely right. Strom, Stephanie. In response, over the past several years FSIS has reviewed Chinas poultry food safety system in two parts: one system for processing poultry, and one system for slaughtering poultry. About a third of all U.S. produced pork has been exported so far this year. DeLauro is referring to emails between Chinas Certification and Accreditation Administration (CNCA) and FSIS officials in 2017 that discussed whether China maintains oversight of all its establishments regardless of provincial location. Kristi Noem and Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken urged Smithfield Foods in a letter to cease operations for two weeks to clean the facility and have employees recover from any illness. The first selection on this list is Yoders Fully Cooked Canned Chicken Chunks Case. Some of their famous buyers include Costco (for rotisserie chickens), Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), Walmart, Publix, and Wendys. Part of achieving this mission includes ensuring countries that export these products to the United States have food safety systems in place that are equivalent to our domestic system. Other top 10 broiler producers reporting increases in chicken production included the following: No. In 2013, shareholders of Smithfield Foods voted to approve a partnership with Shuanghui International Holdings Limited, a private company based in Hong Kong that holds a majority of shares in Chinas largest meat processor,Henan Shuanghui Investment & Development Co. Ltd. Forbes magazine reported that a growing demand due to large populations, rising production costs and repeated concerns about quality formed the basis of Shuanghui Internationals quest to acquire the North American meat producer., Forbes also reported the Chinese acquisition of Smithfield does not mean that Americans will be eating Chinese cuts. Almost 10 years ago, the Department of Agriculture gave Chinese processing plants the greenlightto process raw poultry fromthe U.S.and exportcooked productssuch as canned chicken noodle soup and chicken nuggetsback to America. A report by the USDA said China exported more than 50 metric tons of prepared or preserved chicken meat to the United States in 2021. If not, why? I could even start in on school lunches here. Were going to take a look at the biggest poultry companies in the world. Under the Tyson foods brand are the well-known names Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farm, Ball Park, Wright Brand, Aidells, and State Fair. If our department of ag is for chickens being processed in China, will this be a part of food our kids eat in school? After all, its requiring more energy to ship to and from China! "Chinese Chicken Processors Are Cleared to Ship to U.S."
This includes a new Raised Cage-Free in the USA verification appearing on PERDUE further-processed items, providing consumers added assurance the products were Made with Chicken Raised in the USA.. Find Companies Made in USA, Media inquiries:PR Department More than 99% of the chicken sold in the United States comes from chickens hatched, raised and processed in the United States. Some rice brands from China become available in Asian supermarkets as shown in picture, from left to right. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you. Nor will consumers eating chicken noodle soup from a can or chicken nuggets in a fast-food restaurant know if the chicken came from Chinese processing plants. Ive read where the average wage for chicken processors in the USA is $11 per hour; the average wage in China is $1 to $2 per hour. 20 February 2014. WHY???? M eat processing is a highly automated process. BOYCOTT!! Their wholesale operations are more robust with several different levels and qualities of service, like their Black Label and Gold Label lines for pre-trimmed products, and their halal line, Noor Al-Jabal. For Frequently Asked Questions on USDAs Equivalence of Chinas Poultry Processing and Slaughter Inspection Systems, pleaseclick here. Furthermore, how did the U.S. Department of Agriculture even reach the decision to send U.S. raised chicken to China for processing? For her part, DeLauro is asking Perdue to answer these questions by Aug. 31: Does USDA believe that granting equivalency to the entire Chinese poultry processing system based on a small business of audits in a limited amount of Chinese provinces was a responsible decision? In all, they employ about 14,000 people across their locations in Illinois, Alabama, Ohio, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Georgia. China retaliated by slapping huge tariffs on American chicken. A growing number of chicken foodservice operators - searching for ways to meet growing demand for takeout and delivery during the pandemic - have opened virtual brands.. Brinker International, the parent company of Chili's and Maggiano's, opened It's Just Wings.. Add transportation time and costs, and profits from the trade are likely to be limited or eliminated -- unless there is a secret element to the . Social media users continued to reshare the false claim following the closure of Smithfield Foods South Dakota processing plant after employees experienced anincrease in coronavirus cases. Chinese Chicken Processors Are Cleared to Ship to U.S. subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. DeLauro says most recent audit of China was in July 2016. The groups letter suggests trade considerations may have prompted the FSIS actions. Richards said all products regulated by the FDA must meet the same requirements whether they are produced domestically or imported from abroad and that the FDA works with state and industry partners to issue public noticesabout products that present risks to consumers. A likelier scenario is that any chickens exported to China from America would be processed and sold there for domestic consumption (not reshipped to the U.S.), and China's long-term goal is to export chickens raised and processed there to the U.S.: The notion of sending American chicken to be processed in China and sent back, then, is an interim step in the larger business negotiation.