Direct Line Keeping Our Members Informed kpa@kspork.org • www.kspork.org
Volume XXVIII
2601 Farm Bureau Road • Manhattan, KS 66502 • (785) 776-0442
USDA Agrees To Help U.S. Pork Producers Agency Will Purchase Additional Pork Products For Federal Food Programs On September 3, The National Pork Producers Council commended U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack for his decision to lend assistance to the U.S. pork industry to help it weather a nearly 2-year-old economic crisis that has put some producers out of business. The U.S. Department of Agriculture agreed to purchase up to $30 million of pork products, which will be used for various federal food programs. Secretary Vilsack, who heard from hundreds of hurting pork producers, announced the pork purchase. USDA also is working to reopen pork export markets that closed in the wake of the H1N1 flu outbreak. “The action by USDA to buy additional pork will benefit America’s pork producers, the U.S. economy and the people who benefit from government food programs,” said NPPC President Don Butler. “NPPC is extremely grateful to Secretary Vilsack for recognizing the plight of our producers and for taking action to help them. The pork purchase and the ongoing efforts to reopen export markets are important steps that will help our industry bring pork supply and demand back into balance and allow producers to continue providing consumers worldwide with economical, nutritious pork products.”
Emmitt’s in the Party Zone with Pork! Are you ready for some football and tailgating with pork? Emmitt Smith, professional football’s all-time leading rusher, Pro Football Hall of Fame nominee and “Dancing with the Stars” champion, is teaming up with America’s pork producers to share his love of tailgating and grilling with fans nationwide and pork is the menu MVP. On Sept. 2, Emmitt and his wife Pat hosted a satellite media tour with ribs and chops on the grill to kickoff the tailgate season and the “Great Pork Recipe Playoffs” recipe contest that will search for the best tailgate recipes. From Sept. 2 until Nov. 16, consumers can submit their favorite regionally-inspired pork recipe on TheOtherWhiteMeat. com. Eight regional finalists will be selected and America will visit the site and vote from Dec. 1 until the 25 to
September 2009
choose the grand prize winner. The winner will win a tailgate party with Emmitt in Miami and tickets for the big game. Emmitt is also featured in a new recipe brochure with ribs, chops, brats and pork steaks as well as in retail pointof-sale materials for retail promotions across the country this season. Emmitt and Pat will also demonstrate their two recipes for videos that will be showcased on TheOtherWhiteMeat.com.
Pork Promotion Highlights Hy-Vee Grand Opening in Manhattan The KPA, The National Pork Board and Hormel were packing plenty of porktastic promotions for the first Hy-Vee Chefs prepared various pork dishes 2-3 times daily during the Grand store in Manhattan, which Opening of the Hy-Vee opened Tuesday, August store in Manhattan. 11th. The store is located in the vicinity of Bluemont Avenue & Tuttle Creek Boulevard. To kick off the grand opening, the KPA worked with the National Pork Board and Hormel to offer $1.00 off coupons on fresh pork. The coupons were handed out by KPA and Pork Board staff at the store front or located by fresh pork products and tasting stations. Hy-Vee also worked to boost sales by slashing pork prices and utilizing multiple chefs during the busiest shopping hours. To see more pictures of the event, become a fan of KPA Facebook page. To get your Facebook page started, go to http://www.facebook.com/ and create an account. After creating an account, in the top right hand corner of the page, look for box that says“search.” Type in Kansas Pork Association (make sure you use capital letters) and click “search.” The Kansas Pork Association page should appear as one of your options. Click “Become a Fan” on the right side of the page. After that, you will be able to look at the page. Don’t forget to look through the tabs at the top of the page. Tabs available will include Info, Photos, Discussion, Boxes and Video. This page will be updated regularly so check back frequently.