Organizers of a recent four-day barbecue know it won’t solve hog producers’ problems, but they’re hoping it will raise awareness of their plight.
The Alberta Pork Cookout Rally, held in the UFA farm supply store parking lot in Camrose, was designed to focus attention on the pork industry, said rally organizer Dallas Ramey.
“It’s the same as BSE. It will draw attention to the fact Alberta produces some of the best pork on earth,” said Ramey, who organized beef barbecues earlier in the decade to support cattle producers after BSE was discovered in Canada.
Read Also
Know what costs are involved in keeping crops in the bin
When you’re looking at full bins and rising calf prices, the human reflex is to hold on and hope for more. That’s not a plan. It’s a bet. Storage has a price tag.
“I knew it was a way to help.”
Joan Kulawsky and her husband came early to buy and eat pork on a bun.
“We’re here to support pork producers. We’re farmers, too.”
Alberta Conservative MP Leon Benoit said one of the keys to helping the industry is to encourage consumers to eat their way through the glut of pork.
“We need to reduce supplies and remind people to include more pork in their diet,” he said.
“This is the toughest I’ve ever seen the pork industry. As a government, we have done what we can. Is it enough? No, but there are limits …. We’ll continue to do what we can to keep the industry viable.”
Alberta Pork chair Herman Simons said he doesn’t know if Albertans can eat enough pork to dramatically increase prices, but the barbecue is an important way to let producers know consumers support their industry.
The combination of a high Canadian dollar, American country-of-origin labelling legislation, the H1N1 virus, drought and a labour shortage have created a serious financial problem for producers.
“We find ourselves in very dire, dire straits,” Simons said.
“The H1N1 was dropped over us and took the living spirit out of farmers to stay in business. The situation isn’t just bad, it’s horrible.”
Alberta agriculture minister George Groeneveld said the pork industry was top priority at a recent trilateral meeting of agriculture officials from Canada, the United States and Mexico.
Officials from each country pledged to encourage the media to call the disease H1N1 rather than swine flu as a way to reduce the stigma attached to the hog industry.
“Why are they still calling it by the wrong name?” Groeneveld said.
“The media won’t give these poor people a break. It’s maybe a more catchy phrase, but it’s hurting the hog industry.”
Paul Hodgman, executive director of Alberta Pork, said it’s a positive sign to see consumer support for the industry.
“It’s nice to see people stepping up to help out our industry.”
Alberta Pork director Peter Entz said public awareness is key, especially in the grocery store.
“People need to make sure it’s local pork. If it’s not labelled, people should ask where it’s from.”
