Leopold Center guides pork niche working group

A new value chain for differentiated pork products is growing in Iowa, one link at a time. A group that grew out of a September 2001 Leopold Center-sponsored conference to explore opportunities for pork niche markets now has a name, a mission and a part-time coordinator.

The new group is the Pork Niche Market Working Group, a coalition of pork producers, processors, distributors, retailers, agency representatives and ISU faculty. Their new coordinator is Gary Huber of Practical Farmers of Iowa.

The working group has had participation from 27 organizations, including seven partners pledging more than $40,000 to begin work. Direct support comes from the Leopold Center, the ISU Cooperative Development Center and ISU Extension's Value-Added Agriculture program, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Farmers Union, Iowa Institute for Cooperatives, Practical Farmers of Iowa and the Greater Des Moines Partnership.

The working group has set three major goals:

• To help establish highly differentiated pork value chains that provide fair returns to small and midsize Iowa farmers (and that incorporate farmer ownership and control),
• To use environmentally sensitive approaches to pork production, and
• To help revitalize rural communities.

The working group will focus on markets for hogs that are raised according to humane animal husbandry practices with no animal by-products, artificial growth promotants or antibiotics. This market was chosen for its potential for new partnerships and opportunities throughout the food system. Preliminary discussions have been held with Sysco Corporation, the largest marketer and distributor of food service products in North America.

The working group's new coordinator will report to the working group's steering team, chaired by Rich Pirog of the Leopold Center. Huber will continue to co-direct PFI's Food Systems Program, a position he has held since 1998, and help launch activities of the new pork niche group. He will be housed at PFI's offices in downtown Ames, 232-5649.