Dive Brief:
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently released its latest pork industry data, which included record volumes for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, Meatingplace reported.
- The agency predicted that pork processors would produce about 3% more than this time last year.
- These totals are unusual in part because this should be one of pork processors' worst quarters; sow fertility rates are generally low during warmer months.
Dive Insight:
Consumers increasingly look for lighter sources of animal protein, which enables pork to better compete with chicken, fish and other light meat products.
Pork processors shouldn't have as much to worry about as long as they continue to monitor exports to other countries. Foreign countries often make up a sizable percentage of U.S. meat sales each year. So as long as the country maintains those relationships, the U.S. shouldn't run aground as a global agricultural power.