HASTINGS, NEBRASKA (VINnews)— Nebraska’s beef industry is making headlines worldwide, with a kosher processing plant in Hastings earning the unique distinction of being the only facility in the United States approved to export beef to Israel.
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Fischel Ziegelheim, manager of WR Reserve, joined a recent state trade delegation to promote the plant’s high-quality Black Angus beef. The Hastings operation has secured a coveted spot in Israel’s tightly regulated kosher market, a milestone that underscores Nebraska’s role in feeding global consumers.
WR Reserve’s Israeli distributor is capitalizing on the partnership, plastering delivery trucks with bold advertisements touting “fresh, juicy, marbled Black Angus beef from Nebraska.” The Hebrew slogan beneath the English text drives the message home to local customers.
“Nebraska ranchers, feeders and processors continue to prove they can meet the world’s toughest standards,” Ziegelheim said during the trade mission. “This approval opens doors not just to Israel, but to kosher markets everywhere.”
The plant’s certification required rigorous adherence to both U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines and Israel’s Chief Rabbinate standards for kosher slaughter and processing. WR Reserve now ships premium cuts to Israeli retailers and restaurants, where demand for marbled, grain-finished beef remains strong.
State agriculture officials say the achievement highlights Nebraska’s position as a powerhouse in the global beef trade, with exports reaching dozens of countries annually. The Israel deal adds a prestigious niche to an industry already known for volume and quality.
For Ziegelheim and the WR Reserve team, the bragging rights are well earned — and the trucks rolling through Israeli cities are proof that Nebraska beef truly feeds the world.
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