May 2009 by Kansas Pork Association

Direct Line Keeping Our Members Informed kpa@kspork.org • www.kspork.org

Volume XXVIII

2601 Farm Bureau Road • Manhattan, KS 66502 • (785) 776-0442

May 2009

Kansas Pork Association Hosts “Pork is Safe” Day at the Capitol “We have a bipartisan group of pork eaters,” stated Gov. Mark Parkinson lightheartedly as 500 legislators, staff and various media outlets enjoyed a freshly grilled slice of pork loin on a warm bun outside the Capitol on Wednesday, May 6. The Kansas Pork Association sponsored the “Pork is Safe” event in response to the recent negative press due to the H1N1 virus. Attendees heard remarks from the Governor, Secretary of Agriculture Adrian Polansky, Senator Mark Taddiken, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Rep. Larry Powell, who leads the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. Each commented on the safety of eating and handling pork. Polansky said the H1N1 had characteristics of a series of flu strains. It was misleading to tag it with the “swine” name, he said. And, he said, people should realize they can’t get sick from consuming pork products. “It’s absolutely not a food-borne illness,” Polansky said. Tim Stroda, chief executive officer of the Kansas Pork Association, said the market price for hogs has taken a hit as the flu moved from Mexico to the United States and elsewhere. That same negative press led to a temporary drop in supermarket sales

Governor Mark Parkinson addresses the attendees to the “Pork is Safe” Day at the Capitol.

Senator Mark Taddiken, Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, helps reassure consumers that “Pork is Safe.”

of pork products and triggered an international pork scare that led to bans on importation of U.S. pork and the slaughter of swine herds overseas. “It’s a serious situation,” Stroda said. “Our industry is working hard to reassure consumers that pork is safe to eat and handle.” Kansas pork producers were on hand to help prepare and serve the pork. Materials provided to the attendees included recipes, Kansas swine industry facts and information about the H1N1 flu.

Kansas Pork Association members that worked to serve sandwiches included Josh Borhn, Sedgwick; Alan Haverkamp, Bern; Roy Henry, Longford; Jerry Morris, Sedgwick; Michael Springer, Sycamore; Pete Sherlock, Washington; Christy Springer, Sycamore; and Tim Stroda Kansas Pork Association CEO.

Kansas Hosts a Record-Breaking Tour in Wichita

Hy-Vee, Hormel, Pork Checkoff, MPA and KPA Partner for Promotion

It was a record-breaking weekend for The Other White Meat Tour in Wichita! From May 8-10th at the Wichita River Festival the tour grilled almost 1,000 pounds of pork loin, handed out 25,760 pork loin samples (about 92 whole loins) and had over 1,000 people enter to win the Big Easy Oil-less fryer from Char-Broil. Also record-breaking were the energetic, creative and generous people who auditioned for “Wichita’s #1 Pork Fan” contest. The 50 pork fans were taped singing, dancing and reciting tips for preparing their favorite pork recipes. The fans competed to win a $500 gift card from Dillons Food Stores. With each entry, the National Pork Board donated 10 pounds of pork to the Kansas Food Banks – that’s equivalent to 50 meals per entry.

Thanks to HyVee, Hormel and the Pork Checkoff, the Missouri and Kansas Pork Associations were offered the opportunity to place full page ads in the Kansas City Star on May 13th and 17th. The ads focused on PORK IS SAFE messaging and included very aggressive retail prices set for items featured in the ad. The Kansas City Star has a 90% metro circulation, reaches 874,100 adult readers and 260,209 readers in the Kansas City area.

Direct Line Keeping Our Members Informed

Let’s keep pork– and all the facts – on the table. As America’s pork producers, we go to work every day recognizing a serious responsibility to provide safe, wholesome food for a growing population. And while we all need to be appropriately concerned about the flu that is currently spreading, we want you to know we go to great lengths to ensure the safety of every pork product you serve to your family. Simply put, pork is safe. This is a fact supported by the experts: “You cannot get this flu from eating pork or pork products.” –Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

We invite you to keep enjoying delicious and versatile pork, as we do with our families. Because as America’s pork producers, we’re dedicated to making sure pork is – and will continue to be – safe. Get the facts about pork at FactsAboutPork.com.

Steve Weaver President, National Pork Board California Pork Producer

HyVee is proud to support America’s Pork Producers.

Hormeltm Always Tender® Whole Boneless Pork Loins $1.69 / lb

Hormeltm Always Tender® Boneless Pork Center Cut Country Style Ribs $1.99 / lb

Hormeltm Always Tender® Butterfly Chops or Americas Cut Pork Chops 4 for $500 (8 oz.) From your Full-Service Meatcase

Hormeltm Always Tender® Boneless Pork Ribeye Chops 88¢ each (5 oz.)

Cut and wrapped free!

From your Full-Service Meatcase

KPA Prices in effect May 13 through 19, 2009.