National Pork Board’s “Chop Fest” Based on New 145°F Cooking Temp

Juicy pork chops are just 145°F away, according to the National Pork Board. A new cooking temperature for fresh pork that produces moist, medium-rare pork is a key part of a new promotion encouraging consumers to put plenty of fresh pork on the grill this spring. The National Pork Board’s “Chop Fest” retail promotion uses mouthwatering photos and recipes of grilled pork chops to entice shoppers to purchase fresh pork for the grill from April through June. Promotion materials also feature a “145°F is Perfect” message to remind consumers to cook fresh pork to the new temperature, followed by a three-minute rest time, for moist, juicy, safe results. The sizzling, perfectly-seared pork chop image is featured on various point-of-sale elements, including posters, meat case signs, recipe brochures and coupons for fresh pork purchases. Consumers can scan a Quick Response (QR) code on the posters to link to the Pork.Be Inspired website, where they can download recipes and cooking tips. According to Patrick Fleming, director of retailer marketing for the National Pork Board, “We developed the Chop Fest promotion to position pork chops cooked to 145°F as a juicy, delicious option for spring grilling. The appealing in-store materials help our retailers keep consumers focused on fresh pork to ensure strong chop sales during the spring timeframe.” National Pork Board's Chop Fest www.porkbeinspired.com