The Florida Cattle Enhancement Board continues to provide vital funding for research, promotion, and educational efforts within the state’s beef industry. This support helps programs that aim to educate both the public and professionals about beef production, quality, and safety standards.
Rick Hartman, chairman of the Florida Beef Council, highlighted some of the food service educational events made possible through this funding. Hartman explained, “So we’ve done a Beef 101 with some food service industry, those companies that provide the beef to the restaurants and that sort of thing.” These programs are designed to inform industry partners about best practices and the quality standards behind Florida beef.
In addition to Beef 101, the Florida Beef Council has organized immersive experiences such as the Ranch to Ribeye tour. Hartman described the program, saying, “We’ve also done a ranch to ribeye tour with some chefs. There again, those folks don’t know about our BQA practices and how these cattle and animals are treated and how they’re handled. Once they get done, they feel a whole lot more comfortable.” By giving chefs and food service professionals firsthand knowledge of beef quality assurance (BQA) practices, the program helps build confidence in Florida beef products.
Hartman emphasized that these educational programs are a multiplier for outreach. “I feel like that’s a great opportunity to get our message out, where we can’t always be. We can take three of us and teach 18 or answer questions from 18 or 30 people, and they can go off and spread it even further, and they’re probably the ones that are going to get more of those questions than what we are when we stay maybe a little more remote.”
He also noted the ongoing potential for future initiatives, saying, “We’ve got so many things that we could do and so many more promotions that we could do in educating people that this is the safest, best protein quality out there.”
Through programs funded by the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board, the Florida Beef Council continues to expand the reach of its educational and promotional efforts. By connecting directly with chefs, food service providers, and other industry stakeholders, these initiatives help reinforce the safety, quality, and sustainability of Florida beef, while ensuring that the state’s cattle industry remains well-represented and understood in the broader market.
Audio Reporting by Dale Sandlin for Southeast AgNet.