It’s almost grilling season, there’s plenty of Iowa-raised beef on the market, so marketing efforts are hitting high gear.

The Iowa Beef Industry Coun­cil is working to not only sell more beef during May Beef Month, but expand consumer confidence in buying and cooking beef at home.

One of the strategic goals for the U.S. beef industry is to increase beef demand 2 percent every year for the next five years, said Brooke German, director of marketing for the Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC).

"We’ll utilize May Beef Month by helping consumers understand where their food comes from. Consumers are making decisions based on how products are raised and produced. If we can ensure confidence in what they’re buying and eating,...