Hosted by the Virginia Pork Council with support from the Iowa Pork Producers Association, North Carolina Pork Council and the National Restaurant Association, it is now open for restaurants in the Capital Beltway area to sign up for the inaugural #100kporkchop competition, which will identify the area’s best pork chop and award the winner with a $100,000 cash prize. Additionally, as part of the competition, pork producers will donate $100,000 worth of pork products to food banks in the Capital Beltway area.

“With generous support from pork producers across the country, we are excited to host this competition that will support local restaurants and food banks in need,” said Roy Lee Lindsey, executive director of the Virginia Pork Council. “Pork is one of the most versatile and affordable meats on the market, and we hope to showcase that through this fun, albeit highly competitive challenge.”

Once registration is closed on June 17, the #100kporkchop challenge will run in two phases and begin on June 19. The public will have from June 19 to July 3 to visit participating restaurants and vote in the People’s Pork Chop Awards for their favorite chop. A complete list of competitors will be listed on on June 19. A minimum of three and a maximum of five (in case of ties) vote-getters will move on as finalists and compete in front of a panel of culinary professionals and pork producers from Virginia, Iowa and North Carolina in the D.C. area from July 11-12.

The winner of the #100kporkchop challenge will be announced on July 23 during the food bank donation presentation.

Starting June 3, restaurants interested in signing up as a competitors can do so by visiting the website until June 17. Restaurants must have a permanent location to be eligible to compete. Mobile operations like food trucks are not eligible. Details of participating restaurants and how to vote during the People’s Pork Chop Awards are also listed on the website.

“As pork producers from one of the largest producing states in the country, we take pride in what we do and the products we raise,” said Trish Cook, past-president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association. “We follow tight biosecurity measures and implement sustainable farming practices to ensure our products are not only safe and healthy to eat but good for the environment – and delicious too. We are excited to work with some of the country’s finest chefs to showcase what we all do.”