Thursday, May 28, 2009
For Immediate Release
Contact: Cindy Cunningham (515) 223-2600
CCunningham@Pork.org
Planning for 2010 will continue when the National Pork Board meets Thursday morning during World Pork Expo in Des Moines.
The board earlier this year identified five critical issues it will address during 2010 with resources from the Pork Checkoff. Those issues are: increasing consumer expenditures for pork; improving the trust and image of the production pork industry; developing human capital; safeguarding export opportunities; improving the competitiveness of the U.S. pork industry.
On Thursday, the board will identify some specific objectives it expects to achieve during the year to address the critical issues. Once the objectives are identified, producer-led committees will meet during the summer to create tactics and plans to achieve the specific objectives. The tactics will be part of a 2010 budget that the board will approve in November.
Also Thursday, the board will review the industry's response to the recent H1N1 flu outbreak and discuss next steps.
National Pork Board meetings are open to the public. Those wishing to attend are asked to contact Lorraine Garner, lgarner@pork.org, 515-223-2600.
The National Pork Board has responsibility for Checkoff-funded research, promotion and consumer information projects and for communicating with pork producers and the public. Through a legislative national Pork Checkoff, pork producers invest $0.40 for each $100 value of hogs sold. The Pork Checkoff funds national and state programs in advertising, consumer information, retail and foodservice marketing, export market promotion, production improvement, technology, swine health, pork safety and environmental management. For information on Checkoff-funded programs, pork producers can call the Pork Checkoff Service Center at (800) 456-PORK or check the Internet at www.pork.org.
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