Industry

Who is the National Pork Board?
National Pork Board Mission Statement - To enhance opportunities for success of U.S. pork producers and other industry stakeholders, by establishing the U.S. Pork Industry as a consistent and responsible supplier of high quality pork to the domestic and world market, making U.S. pork the consumer’s meat of choice.

The National Pork Board is one of the nation's largest livestock commodity organizations. It has 85,000 producer members in 44 affiliated state associations. The Pork Board is involved in national advertising and promotion for pork and is the single unified voice for America's pork producers on a wide range of industry and public policy issues. The National Pork Board is the funding organization for the pork industry's national checkoff program.

What does the Pork Board do?
As the pork industry changes in scope and complexity, the challenge to pork producers is to adapt and continue to be profitable. The Pork Board is meeting those challenges through a series of over 300 major programs addressing issues affecting pork, from production to consumer demand. These programs are designed to fulfill the mission statement. They are all part of a focused, cohesive approach encompassed in the Pork Industry's long-range Strategic Plan that is the framework that guides the organization. The Pork Board also serves as the single unified voice for the nation's pork producers on a wide range of industry and public policy issues.

The National Pork Board coordinates national industry product promotion and marketing efforts that include The Other White Meat® advertising campaign. The Pork Board also carries out production research and producer education projects on behalf of the pork industry.

National Pork Board Foodservice Program
The National Pork Board’s Foodservice Program works with commercial and non-commercial foodservice segments as well as with the distributor community. The Pork Board promotes the use of pork in foodservice through advertising, public relations, direct contact, event marketing and trade shows. These efforts are targeted toward foodservice chains, independent operators, contract management feeders, distributor sales representatives, culinary professionals and packers and processors.

How is the Pork Board funded?
The Pork Board is funded primarily from a national legislative checkoff on all U.S.-produced market hogs, feeder pigs and breeding stock, as well as imported hogs and pork products. A 15-member National Pork Board collects the checkoff funds, an independent body established under provisions of the Pork Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act of 1985. The Pork Board then executes the promotion, research and consumer information programs financed with checkoff funds. The U.S. Meat Export Federation programs that help develop foreign markets for U.S. pork are also funded.

The present checkoff rate is .45 of one percent of the market value of each animal (45 cents per $100 value). The checkoff generates $45-$50 million annually.

What is the World Pork Expo?
World Pork Expo is the pork industry's production/ marketing-oriented event held each summer. Expo, the largest pork-specific event in the nation, offers producers and consumers insight into new and advanced techniques in pork production, processing and marketing from around the world. All of the latest products and services of interest to pork producers are on display at the giant trade show associated with World Pork Expo.

The event, produced by the Pork Board, attracts 60,000-75,000 pork producers, consumers and allied industry representatives annually.

Home-base for Expo is the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa. Occasionally, the event is held at fairgrounds in other states.