Pork’s Opportunity to Reconnect with Consumers

In conjunction with World Pork Expo, the CoBank Knowledge Exchange released a report on pork demand. Lead Economist Brian Earnest said domestic pork demand has been stagnant with the annual per-person consumption rate of 50 pounds per year. To boost consumer demand, Earnest recommends a reimagining of the pork product. “Think about what beef has done in terms of bringing a really high-quality item to the U.S. consumer; I attribute that beef demand to the product that they’re bringing to the table now,” said Earnest. “I wonder if some of that can be brought over into pork with maybe a change in the genetic makeup of the swine.”