WASHINGTON, DC - Julie Anna Potts, president and CEO of the North American Meat Institute, today issued the following statement on President-Elect Joe Biden's selection of former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to resume the role of Secretary of Agriculture in the new Biden Administration:

"Secretary Vilsack brings experience and leadership to the Department of Agriculture at a critical time when the meat and poultry industry works to put food on Americans' tables and to keep the farm economy working in a pandemic. We look forward to working closely with Secretary Vilsack in his new role to ensure our industry remains a valuable partner to livestock producers, an efficient supplier to consumers and competitive in the international marketplace."

The North American Meat Institute is the leading voice for the meat and poultry industry. The Meat Institute's members process the vast majority of U.S. beef, pork, lamb, and poultry, as well as manufacture the equipment and ingredients needed to produce the safest and highest quality meat and poultry products.