County is part of Pork in the Pantry Program

   Jones County was one of 40 Iowa counties that participated in the Pork in the Pantry Program, which provided more than 50,000 meals for underprivileged Iowans over the past few months.

   County pork producer organizations worked with the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) to donate pork to local food pantries. The IPPA matched up to $1,000 for each county, totaling nearly $40,000 statewide.

   “I am so proud of the way county pork producers organizations stepped up and delivered for Iowans in a time of need,” said IPPA president Trish Cook, a pig farmer from Winthrop.

   The pork donations included bacon, brats, chops, ground pork, hams, loins, roasts, sausage and tenderloins; as well as convenience meals like precooked deli ham. Many groups purchased the pork from area meat lockers and grocery stores, helping to keep the dollars in their local communities.

   “Iowa pork producers’ support of the Pork in the Pantry program shows their commitment to making their communities better and enriching the lives of the food-insecure with high-quality protein meals,” said Joyce Hoppes, IPPA consumer information director.

   Surrounding counties that also took part included Delaware, Cedar and Johnson.