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            in union is strength

FEBRUARY 24, 1999


PORK LINKS KICKS OFF TODAY


SASKATOON, Sask.-"Current low prices for hogs will discourage most producers and bankrupt many. Maybe Pork Links can make a difference. For small hog producers, the answer cannot come too soon," said Delisle-area hog producer James Kearnen. James and his wife Carol run a family-farm hog operation along with James' brother and nephew. The Kearnan family was hard-hit when hog prices dipped to under $50 per market-weight hog. Despite some rebound, they continue to struggle with prices far below the cost of production.

Pork Links-a project of the National Farmers Union (NFU), Child Hunger and Education Program (CHEP), Food Future, and the Council of Canadians (C of C)-will link Saskatoon families with hog farmers. The result will be locally-grown pork for city families and fair and adequate returns for farm families. At its kickoff, Kearnan delivered the pork from two hogs to the sixteen families who had previously paid him for it.

CHEP Executive Director Karen Archibald compared the economics of the traditional, commercial system with those of Pork Links:

Commercial system
Pork Links


Farmer's price
$45-$95
$217


Processor (cut & wrap)
???
$80-$95


Retailer's share
???
-


The consumer pays
$450
$307


By working together, urban families can receive locally-grown pork at a 25% saving and rural families can sell hogs at twice the market price. "This is a win-win situation for family farms and urban residents. In addition, urban families come to know farmers and understand their situation," said Archibald.

NFU Women's president Shannon Story pointed out that the farmers share of the consumer dollar is tiny and shrinking. She pointed out that wheat prices have fallen and bread prices have doubled. The situation is the same for corn and corn flakes, barley and beer. "For hogs and other commodities, the market chronically fails to provide a fair and adequate return to farmers. The processor's and retailer's shares are expanding while the farmer's is shrinking," said Storey.

The Pork Links program is expected to grow as awareness increases and more urban families take advantage of it.

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