The United States turkey industry has a new trade customer, as the first shipment of U.S.-grown turkey products has been shipped to India.
A shipment that included whole turkeys raised by the Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative was recently exported from the Port of Virginia. The development comes as a result of a recent trade agreement and tariff reduction, announced in September 2023. At the time, India eliminated and reduced retaliatory tariffs on U.S. turkey products, paving the way for increased opportunities for the turkey sector.
The trade development was announced by U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virgina. Warner is also co-chair of the Senate India Caucus.
“This shipment is a tremendous opportunity for Virginia’s poultry producers and a huge step forward for U.S.-India trade," Warner said. "I look forward to the ongoing cooperation between our two nations and to seeing a wealth of new opportunities open up for Virginia’s poultry producers.”
“Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative is excited to be part of this new market opportunity. We thank Sen. Warner and the many dedicated individuals who have worked tirelessly to make this a reality. Their efforts will directly benefit our nearly 200 independent grower owners,” said John King, president of the cooperative.
The opening of trade with India was also hailed by other industry leaders, including the National Turkey Federation (NTF) and Virginia Poultry Federation (VPF).
“Our U.S. turkey producers have long been committed to providing safe, nutritious and versatile protein options worldwide, and we’re excited to see Indian consumers experience the exceptional quality of American turkey. This first shipment is a testament to the strength of U.S.-India trade relations and a reflection of our shared commitment to expanding food diversity and quality,” said NTF CEO Leslee Oden.
“Virginia turkey farmers are pleased to offer high quality, lean protein for export to India, and we are grateful for those who facilitated this opportunity,” VPF President Hobey Bauhan said.
According to Warner, turkey production provides $13.6 billion in economic activity in Virgina.
Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative, according to information from the WATTPoultry.com Top Poultry Companies Database, is the ninth largest turkey producer in the United States. During the past year, the company processed 221 million pounds of turkey.
