by Ken Root
Listen Here: Agribusiness Matters 10-25-16
The pork industry has identified a consumer complaint against their product: Consumers have no reference as to the quality of the pork based on texture, tenderness and marbling. The challenge for the packing industry is that no measuring apparatus is capable of making those determinations at line speed. Investment by the Pork Board may change that.
As part of the Pork Checkoff 2020 Strategic Plan, there has been a specialized focus on pork quality. With this priority, Pork Checkoff assistant vice president Steve Larsen says there has been a need to measure pork quality characteristics
“As part of putting that in our plan the committee said to find research to identify technology to identify pork quality, Larson said.”
The National Pork Board is now evaluating standards to improve pork quality. This topic will be discussed at the National Pork Board meeting next month.
“I do believe that the industry is going to have some kind of standard out there again, all to improve the consistency that consumers are looking for. Right now, pork based on quality is not labelled, so consumers don’t know how to pick a good piece of pork, Larson concluded.”
For more information, producers can contact the Pork Checkoff Service Center. Go to Pork.org or call 800-456-PORK.
