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OHIO HOG FARMERS GIVE BACK TO HUNGRY OHIOANS DURING TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES, REACH NEW MILESTONE
Hog farmers have provided nearly 65,000 pounds of pork, or 325,000 meals, to Ohio families

COLUMBUS – Ohio’s hog farmers recently reached a new milestone in their statewide effort to combat hunger in Ohio. However, after the results of a new USDA study were released this week, it is clear there is still a long way to go to ensure that no Ohioan has to worry where their next meal will come from.

Since September 2009, 12 Ohio hog farmers have donated nearly 65,000 pounds, or 325,000 meals, valued at more than $174,000. The effort, Pork Power: Partnering to Fight Hunger in Ohio, is a partnership between the Ohio Pork Producers Council (OPPC), the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks (OASHF), the Ohio Association of Meat Processors (OAMP) and the Ohio Corn Marketing Program.  READ MORE...

 

OMS Speakers Celebrate National Pork Month with Open Barn Event

More than 150 people, including county commissioners and township trustees, showed up Oct. 16 for an Open Barn event at the Clinton County, Ohio, farm of OMS speakers John and Connie Surber. With the help of the Ohio Pork Producers Council, the Surbers invited their neighbors and community leaders in a three county area to take a look inside a new breed-to-wean barn they had just finished building.

The Surbers gave tours of the new barn and described the steps they have taken to provide the highest standards of care for their animals and to run an operation that is environmentally safe for the community. They also showed a video of their Operation Main Street presentation and celebrated National Pork Month by treating everyone to a pork loin sandwich.

 

10/1/2010 2:25:00 PM - Featured at wnewsj.com
Local Hog Farmers Celebrate Pork Month by Telling Their Stories Online

October is National Pork Month, which is dedicated to celebrating and enjoying the world’s most widely consumed meat — pork — and the Ohio hog farmers, like the John and Connie Surber family of Sabina, who produce it.

With 3,700 hog farms in the state, Ohio ranks ninth in the nation for pork production. These farms have a tremendous impact, creating over 10,860 jobs that generate $1.3 billion influence on the economy in the Buckeye state.

“On our family farm, we work each day to provide a safe and wholesome product for our consumers,” said John. “We do this by caring for our animals, the environment and supporting our local community.”

Eager to share their story, and help others better understand and learn about their farm, the Surbers worked with the Ohio Pork Producers Council to create a video about what pigs eat on today’s farms, rather than ‘slop’ feeding like the past, which is featured at www.OhioPork.org. To learn more about the Surber family, and to get their favorite ham loaf recipe, visit www.OhioPork.org.

To illustrate their commitment, the Surbers practice responsible pork production, participate in quality assurance programs and acknowledge responsible producer initiatives. One program they are involved in is called “We Care,” which was introduced by the Ohio Pork Producers Council and the National Pork Board.

This program involves farm families, like the Surbers, committing to six guiding principles that include: produce safe food; safeguard natural resources in all industry practices; provide a work environment that is safe and consistent with the industry’s other ethical principles; contribute to a better quality of life in communities; protect and promote animal well-being; and ensure practices to protect public health.

“These principles define who we are and what the pork industry’s values are,” said Connie. “At our farm, we want our consumers to understand that we are doing the right thing to provide safe food by caring for our animals and the environment.”