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Growing domestic and global demand for US pork

The CEO of the National Pork Board says the pork industry needs to increase market share both domestically and globally.

Bill Even says the Pork Checkoff is investing money to market pork in the growing Hispanic population in the US. “Eighteen percent of the US population today is Hispanic – about 58 million people,” he says.  “The exciting thing for the pork industry is that the Hispanic culture loves pork.  They love the product, they love to eat it, and it is part of their family culture and tradition.”

Twenty-five percent of US pork is exported.  He tells Brownfield trade will continue to be important to support pork prices as producers continue to face tight margins.

Which is why he says talks of renegotiating free trade agreements – like NAFTA – are cause for concern.  “Those markets are – in order: it’s Mexico, it’s Japan, it’s China/Hong Kong, Canada, and South Korea,” he says.  “Two of those markets, Canada and Mexico, are part of NAFTA.  And Mexico is the number one importer of US pork.”

Even says pork exports to Mexico that began in the fourth quarter of 2016 and have carried over to the first quarter of this year are one of the reasons hog prices are higher than they were originally projected.

Audio: Bill Even, CEO, National Pork Board

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