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Initiative helps pork industryBy Jennifer Bremer The need for a proactive way to protect the hog industry is the reason National Pork Producers Council formed the pork initiative. An advisory group made up of 16 people from all aspects of the industry -- packers, processors, producers, organizations and governmental agencies -- will work to make consumers understand the pork industry. Chairman of the pork initiative committee R.C. Hunt said the committee is willing to take a risk for the first time, to allow customers to have input into the process the pork industry goes through from beginning to end. "We want to have high scores with consumers and change things in the industry that the consumers don't feel comfortable with," said Hunt. "It is about public need and perception and developing trust." Arkansas veterinarian Gene Nemechek said the initiative has set up six ethical principles for veterinarians to use to define pork producers and examine how the industry is doing. First, it is important to provide and produce a safe food product, which is the beginning for the market. Second is to protect and promote animal well-being on the farm. Next is to safeguard farms and natural resources to protect the environment. Fourth is to protect and ensure the public health and make hog production safe for the public. Fifth is a safe work environment, consistent with ethical standards. The final principle is for hog producers to contribute to a better way of life for their communities. "It's about defining who we are as pork producers," said Nemechek. Dallas Hockman, vice president of industry relations for the National Pork Board, said the group is mostly targeting the initiative and the ongoing process to industry alignment, brand segments, legislatures and lawmakers and consumers. "We are very driven by the third party processors. We need to educate them so they can educate consumers," he said. "We want to become offensive, so we aren't needing to be defensive." Hockman said it is important to understand the consumers and make sure they are aware of what the pork industry is doing. "We have to be sure to use the vocabulary to explain things in a manner consumers will understand," he said. "We have to prove our industry on paper to give these people the understanding of the industry." Hockman said the initiative is an industry group committed to educate both the industry and consumers. Jennifer Bremer can be reached by phone at 515-833-2120 or by e-mail at jbremermaj@hotmail.com. 6/30/08 Date: 6/25/08 Advertisement
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