Tyson Fresh Meats announced that the company has become the first beef processor to license the Progressive Beef program, a cattle management and sustainability program for feedlot operators.

The Progressive Beef program helps heighten accountability and transparency through a verification system that involves USDA-approved auditors. The feedyards certified in the program focus efforts in three areas: cattle care, food safety and environmental sustainability, and are verified twice per year. Each audit is a report card, and the metrics involved play a key role in the path of continuous improvement.

Currently, more than one million head of cattle are cared for annually through the program at certified feedyards, primarily located in the Midwest and Pacific Northwest.

“Now more than ever, consumers are demanding to know more about the beef they buy,” said Steve Stouffer, President, Tyson Fresh Meats, “We want to not only help our customers answer questions from consumers, but also help the beef industry address these questions.”

“We see an opportunity to lead efforts to more quickly gain adoption of these proven best production practices throughout the entire beef industry,” Stouffer added.

“We know that by licensing the Progressive Beef program, we will begin to reshape how we do business. said Chad Martin, Sr. Vice President, Beef, Tyson Fresh Meats, who is heading up the collaboration.  We welcome others to join us in raising the standard so we can all confidently address consumers concerns.”

The license will also allow Tyson Fresh Meats to work with their customers to fulfill a need to offer a beef program that creates a higher confidence level for consumers while differentiating themselves from other beef programs.

“We are pleased to have Tyson Fresh Meats join us in our effort to grow the number of certified feedyards and therefore increase the pool of cattle available under this program,” said John Butler, Chief Executive Officer of Progressive Beef, LLC. 

For more information on this program and how it will help retailers and foodservice operators differentiate their beef program, visit TysonFreshMeats.com/Progressive Beef.

Tyson Fresh Meats is the beef and pork subsidiary of Tyson Foods.

Source: Tyson Fresh Meats