Spanish Ham takes centre stage in Miami
In Spain, around 42.9 million hams and shoulders were produced in 2023, of which around 29.5 million were white pork and just over 14 million were Iberian. Approximately 25% of the total production is destined for foreign markets.
The total value of international trade in hams and shoulders amounted to 743 million euros in 2023. The United States is the largest non-European importer of ham worldwide. Spain exported more than 34 million euros worth of hams and shoulders, both Iberian and from white-coated pigs, to this country in 2023 .
INTERPORC and ASICI continue their work to promote pork products, highlighting their nutritional value, incomparable flavour and versatility in the kitchen. Through campaigns such as "Slices of Happiness", developed in collaboration with ICEX Spain Export and Investments, these organisations seek to bring the experience and culture of ham produced in Spain to all corners of the world.
This time, the initiative has landed at one of the most important gastronomic events in the United States: the Americas Food & Beverage Show. During the fair, attendees have been able to enjoy a day full of flavour and learning thanks to the cutting workshop that has been given to operators of distribution, restaurants and catering companies, with the aim of showing them how new techniques allow them to make the most of the pieces of ham in their daily activities.
For Jesús Pérez, deputy director of Asici, "the development of joint actions between the two interprofessional associations of Spanish Ham in a market such as the North American one is necessary to help companies to make their way in a country as important as the United States, a potential market of more than 330 million people".
In addition, the fair's demonstration area has opened its activities with a sensory tasting of ham, before the first showcooking of other Spanish products, to show attendees through practice that the campaign slogan, Slices of Happiness, is a reality and that the consumption of this product brings happiness to those who enjoy it.
For his part, Alberto Herranz, director general of INTERPORC, has pointed out that "it will be 20 years since the United States authorized the import of the first ham from Spain and producers are convinced of the opportunity that this country represents for them". "These types of actions are aimed at getting importers, distributors and restaurants to opt for Spanish ham over other hams from other parts of the world that cannot compete with us in terms of taste, price and, of course, quality".
This action is part of the Slices Of Happiness campaign, www.slicesofhappiness.food, which also includes other activities aimed at promoting the consumption of ham in American hospitality venues, such as #SpanishJamonWeekUS, which will take place in October of this year in a good number of establishments covered by the Restaurants From Spain seal.
Slices of Happiness is a promotional initiative that aims to share the happiness that Spanish ham generates among American consumers. Promoted by INTERPORC and ASICI, this initiative aims to join the Restaurants From Spain projects of ICEX Spain Export and Investments and Spain Food Nation, promoted by ICEX together with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, to promote the consumption of Spanish foods, including ham, a product highly appreciated in the United States.
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