The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on Friday that 10 additional companies will use the Product of USA label on meat and poultry products that originate from U.S. farms and ranches. The move follows the USDA finalizing an updated standard in 2024 defining what qualifies as American meat.
The voluntary Product of USA label is intended to make it clearer to shoppers that animal products were born, raised, harvested and processed in the United States, the USDA said. The announcement names the firms now adopting the label and clarifies related eligibility rules tied to a new processing program.
Product of USA label: the announcement
The USDA said the 10 companies will begin applying the Product of USA label to qualifying products. Secretary Brooke Rollins was quoted saying the label gives consumers confidence about the origin of meat, poultry and egg products and that the department will continue work to strengthen domestic food production.
The announcement reiterates that the label is voluntary and builds on a broader push by the administration to improve transparency in food labeling.
Which companies joined
The USDA named 10 firms that have committed to the voluntary label. They are listed below with their principal states:
- Harris Ranch — California
- One World Beef — California
- Upper Iowa Beef — Iowa
- American Foods Group — (multistate operations)
- Agri Beef — Idaho
- FPL Food — Georgia
- Hadrick Farms — South Dakota
- Fort Worth Meat Packers — Texas
- Wholestone Farms — Nebraska
- Harrison’s Poultry — Illinois
What changed in the U.S. meat standard
In 2024 the USDA finalized an updated standard that narrows what can be marketed as American meat. The change addresses past practices where some products were labeled as U.S.-made after only being processed domestically, even if the animals were raised abroad.
The revised standard requires that qualifying products meet specific origin criteria, including that birth, raising, harvest and processing occur in the United States. The USDA said the goal is to reduce confusion and ensure labels reflect production realities.
New funding for processors
Alongside the label expansion, the USDA recently launched the Strengthening Processing for U.S. Ranchers Program. That program will make up to $500 million available to help eligible small- and mid-sized beef processors expand domestic operations.
According to USDA materials, eligible applicants must be U.S.-owned firms operating under federal inspection and may not hold a dominant position in the beef processing market. The funding is intended to support domestic capacity and provide opportunities for independent and regionally focused processors.
Why it matters for consumers and producers
For consumers, broader adoption of the Product of USA label could make it easier to choose products with domestic origin. Labels that more strictly reflect where animals were born, raised and processed aim to increase transparency at grocery stores.
For producers and processors, the combination of clearer labeling and dedicated funding is framed by the USDA as a way to strengthen domestic food production and help smaller operations compete. Administration and company statements emphasize benefits to independent ranchers and family farms, though those outcomes will depend on how the program is implemented and how market participants respond.
Source and quotes
USDA officials and company leaders provided statements accompanying the rollout. Secretary Brooke Rollins said the Product of USA label lets consumers “know exactly what they’re getting” and that the department will work “every day to strengthen domestic food production.”
Juan Ramos, founder and CEO of Fort Worth Meat Packers, said the origin of food “should never be a mystery.” Eric Brandt, president of One World Beef, praised the USDA for strengthening transparency and “helping preserve the future of independent ranching for generations to come.” Kyle Zimmerman, co-president and co-owner of Harrison’s Poultry, said honest labels “give consumers the confidence to know exactly what they’re buying.”
What comes next
The Product of USA label remains voluntary. Consumers can expect to see the new label rolling out on qualifying products from the named companies, while the USDA will accept applications and allocate funding under the Strengthening Processing program according to its published eligibility rules.
How much the label shift and the financing will alter supply chains, prices or market concentration is uncertain and will likely play out over months as processors apply for funds and retailers respond to labeling changes.
FAQ
What is the Product of USA label?
The Product of USA label is a voluntary origin label that indicates meat, poultry or egg products were born, raised, harvested and processed in the United States under the USDA’s updated 2024 standard.
Which companies were named in the announcement?
The USDA named Harris Ranch; One World Beef; Upper Iowa Beef; American Foods Group; Agri Beef; FPL Food; Hadrick Farms; Fort Worth Meat Packers; Wholestone Farms; and Harrison’s Poultry.
Who is eligible for the new $500 million processing program?
The Strengthening Processing for U.S. Ranchers Program is open to U.S.-owned, federally inspected small- and mid-sized beef processors that do not hold a dominant position in the beef processing market. The USDA published eligibility details on its website.
Source: Reporting based on USDA and company statements and the original Fox News report — Fox News. For the USDA program details, see the department’s press release: USDA press release.
