Audio with Pork Board CEO

As he prepares for this week’s 2009 Pork Industry Forum, National Pork Board CEO Chris Novak says the performance of U.S. pork in international markets is high on the list of discussion topics. With the U.S. pork industry exporting almost 25 percent of its total production in 2008, Novak feels pork producers are more in tune than ever to the importance of exports to their bottom line.

Audio Clip #1               :31        Outcue: (…have seen in exports)

But Novak is quick to point out that this rapid growth in export markets has not simply happened on its own. He emphasizes that cooperative efforts by all sectors of the pork industry have been essential to increasing the presence of U.S. pork in the global marketplace. In particular, he views the constructive working relationship between the National Pork Board, the U.S. Meat Export Federation and the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) as an important element behind the industry’s success.

Audio Clip #2               :46        Outcue: (…in the trade area)

Novak brings a strong background in international marketing to his role as National Pork CEO. He not only worked extensively on agricultural trade policy as a Capitol Hill staffer and as a pork industry lobbyist, but also bolstered the grain industry’s emphasis on meat exports during his recent tenure as executive director of the Indiana Soybean Alliance and Indiana’s corn organizations.

For more information on the Pork Industry Forum, please visit: 2009 Pork Industry Forum.

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The U.S. Meat Export Federation (www.USMEF.org) is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded by USDA, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, corn and soybean checkoff programs.