Teams from the Caribbean, Mexico and Japan and supported by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) competed over the weekend in the World Food Championships in Indianapolis. Each team prepared three dishes for a tailgate-style barbecue contest featuring U.S. beef and pork. 

USMEF Caribbean Representative Liz Wunderlich says the teams highlight the soaring popularity of American-style barbecue around the globe, which is helping grow demand for U.S. beef and pork. 

It’s a sentiment echoed by Micro, a hip-hop artist from Japan who leads the Wagyu Boys Barbecue Team. He says he learned American-style smoking while growing up in the U.S. and is working with the chefs on his team to expand high quality barbecue in Japan.