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South Dakota Trade CEO calls Mexico trip 'successful'

SDPB | By Jackson Dircks
Published June 9, 2025 at 6:39 AM CDT
Members on the trip visited a US Meat Export Federation promotional event in a grocery store. The US MEF promotes US meat abroad; this instance was a sample day where they were making kebabs with US ingredients.
1 of 4  — SD Trade Mexico Trip.jpg
Members on the trip visited a US Meat Export Federation promotional event in a grocery store. The US MEF promotes US meat abroad; this instance was a sample day where they were making kebabs with US ingredients.
Joshua Reynolds / South Dakota Trade
Jesse Fonkert laughing as well as Mr. Larry Stomprud holding the meat at the Mexico City Central Market (Central de Abasto), one of the largest central markets on the planet. If you look closely at the photo, the products came from a Smithfield plant in Iowa. It's possible that South Dakota meat is flowing through the market on a daily basis.
2 of 4  — SD Trade Mexico Trip.jpg
Jesse Fonkert laughing as well as Mr. Larry Stomprud holding the meat at the Mexico City Central Market (Central de Abasto), one of the largest central markets on the planet. If you look closely at the photo, the products came from a Smithfield plant in Iowa. It's possible that South Dakota meat is flowing through the market on a daily basis.
Joshua Reynolds / SD Trade
Jesse Fonkert laughing at the Mexico City Central Market (Central de Abasto), one of the largest central markets on the planet.
3 of 4  — SD Trade Mexico.jpg
Jesse Fonkert laughing at the Mexico City Central Market (Central de Abasto), one of the largest central markets on the planet.
Joshua Reynolds / SD Trade
South Dakota Trade delegation on a tour of Dipcen, a company which processes Beef and Pork. They import beef for processing and export value-added products to the USA.
4 of 4  — SD Trade Mexico.jpg
South Dakota Trade delegation on a tour of Dipcen, a company which processes Beef and Pork. They import beef for processing and export value-added products to the USA.
Joshua Reynolds / SD Trade

South Dakota Trade partnered with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development to lead a trade mission to Mexico in search of expanding the state’s trade markets.

SDPB’s Jackson Dircks sat down with new SD Trade President and CEO Jesse Fonkert to talk about the mission and accomplishments he said went with it.

With trips planned to Israel, Ireland, the UK and Canada, Fonkert said there is more to come for South Dakota Trade’s exporting partners.

Listen to the full interview in the audio player above.
Tags
Business & Economics Top StoriesSouth Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED)
Jackson Dircks
Jackson Dircks is a Freeburg, Illinois, native. He received a degree from Augustana University in English and Journalism. He started at SDPB as an intern before transitioning to a politics, business and everything in-between reporter based in Sioux Falls.
See stories by Jackson Dircks

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