Indianapolis, IN - In response to the plight of the state's pork farmers, Indiana Lt. Governor Joe Kernan announced a private initiative designed to help relieve the oversupply of Indiana's beleaguered pork producers, by increasing the consumption of Indiana pork by up to 500,000 pounds.
On Friday, over 300 Indiana McDonald's restaurants will bring back the McRib sandwich for seven weeks using pork from Indiana farms, according to McDonald's owner/operator David Sleppy, past president of the Central Indiana McDonald's Restaurants owner/operators cooperative. "We anticipate using up to half a million pounds of pork, and our suppliers will purchase all the pork from Indiana farmers," Sleppy said.
The current pork crisis resulted from an oversupply of hogs which led to a liquidity crisis on the part of the country's hog producers, who cannot afford to buy feed for their pigs because they are getting such low cash hog prices, according to Donna Reifschneider, president of the National Pork Producers Association. Jerry Mennin, Indiana pork farmer, and president-elect of the Indiana Pork Producers Association said, "We welcome this initiative on the part of Lt. Governor Kernan and the Indiana McDonald's owner/operators. It raises the awareness of our plight, and also encourages the public to enjoy more pork."
The lieutenant governor who is Indiana's Commissioner of Agriculture, has been seeking initiatives to assist Indiana pork farmers. He has been asked by Indiana Governor Frank O'Bannon to chair a task force for pork producers called the Agriculture Crisis Working Group. Kernan said, "This is a great example of how small business owners, can help small business owners -- neighbors helping neighbors in the State of Indiana. We salute this McDonald's effort. They have worked hard to get this promotion out of the gate as fast as possible. We will continue to explore and initiate other types of relief."
David Sleppy said that the McRib sandwich will be available starting on Friday, February 5, in most Indiana McDonald's restaurants at a reduced price. "Because pork prices are low at this time of crisis, we are passing on the savings to our customers."
Meat Industry Insights News Service
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