Pork producers across Iowa donated more than $43,000 worth of pork to local food pantries during the past few months. It was done in conjunction with the Pork in the Pantry program, organized by the Iowa Pork Producers Association.

Now in its second year, Pork in the Pantry provides funding of up to $1,000 to each county pork producer organization that participates. Counties are responsible for purchasing the pork and donating it, and IPPA reimburses them. This year, 38 county producer organizations participated in Pork in the Pantry.

“Food insecurity remains a major issue in Iowa and these donations to local food pantries will help,” said Matt Gent, president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association. “Pork producers care a lot about their communities, and this is one of the many ways we show it.”

Along with donating much-needed protein to local food pantries, many county producer organizations purchased the pork from local vendors. So not only is Pork in the Pantry helping those in need, the program is also supporting local businesses. Food pantries are frequently short of meat products, so this is a great way to get nutritious protein into the diets of food-insecure Iowans.

“Hunger is rising in Iowa,” said Linda Gorkow, executive director of the Iowa Food Bank Association. “This Pork in the Pantry program is an incredible opportunity to ensure greatly needed protein is provided to families, individuals and seniors who don’t have enough food to eat. Protein is one of the highest requested items at food banks and pantries across the state so every ounce of the pork donated to the pantries serving Iowans will make an incredible impact.”

The $43,000 worth of pork will provide an estimated 55,000 servings of protein for Iowans who are facing food insecurity.

“What a tremendous opportunity for pork producers to help support needs throughout the state of Iowa,” said Gregg Hora, president of the Webster County Pork Producers, who participated in Pork in the Pantry for the second time. They donated to five different organizations in the county, four in Ft. Dodge and one in Gowrie.

“The needs not only in Webster County, but in rural Iowa are there,” Hora said. “You look at the rising cost of food in a lot of different areas. Pork is still a high-quality product at a very reasonable price in the stores. The sense that we have families out here or kids out here that don’t get enough quality protein is real and by providing this pork loin product, that’s just one way to help from a nutritional aspect.”

Last year’s Pork in the Pantry program resulted in more than $40,000 worth of pork being donated to local food pantries.

The county pork producer organizations that participated in Pork in the Pantry in 2024 are: