During the Ninth Annual Animal Care Summit organized by Perdue Farms, a session was organized on increasing consumption of dark meat in the U.S. Participants stressed the cost differential and nutritional quality of dark meat, preferred in many nations. Leg quarters represent 98 percent of chicken exports comprising 15 percent of annual U.S. RTC at an average price of $1,300 per metric ton.
CHICK-NEWS has long advocated for domestic consumption of dark meat. This will require product innovation and the development of menu items that incorporate dark meat. U.S. integrators will encounter increased competition from exporters including Brazil and also the national production in traditional importing nations. Producers will face the prospect of tariff barriers if the U.S. pursues a program of placing high tariffs on imports.
The balancing act will involve marketing more dark meat in the U.S. without detracting from consumption of higher-priced white meat.