Family, food, flavor — and pork — are coming together as a winning recipe this holiday season. Jose de Jesus, assistant vice president of consumer marketing for the National Pork Board, says excitement continues to build as pork takes center stage not only at holiday gatherings, but also in everyday meals.
By showcasing pork’s versatility, flavor, and cultural relevance, the campaign is opening the door to new traditions and fresh meal ideas that fit a wide range of tastes and occasions, helping consumers see pork as an easy go-to option well beyond special events..
“That’s what it’s all about. I mean, pork is so versatile, and there are so many different cuts and so many different uses, so the idea is as to when we’re going to market, or as we’re in the market and really working with, you know, whether it’s content creators, some media pushes, social content, it really is how do we make sure that pork is the star of the show this time of year? You know, we have a very robust portfolio, both in the fresh and processed side.”
One key area of focus for increasing pork consumption, according to de Jesus, is engaging younger consumers and meeting them where they are with relevant, flavorful, and convenient meal ideas.
“And to do that, you know, you have to make pork cool, right? And that’s one of the things that is so embedded in our strategy. And really, how do you come up with dishes that are easy to prepare, that have many different functionalities from the standpoint of versatility, and then obviously, dishes that kind of hit on flavor, because that’s our number one attribute.”
As global flavors and diverse recipes continue to make their way into home kitchens, ground pork is emerging as a go-to, complete protein.
“Ground pork is not just delicious, versatile, and easy to prepare, but it’s also affordable, and given where the price point is for other proteins, we believe there’s a huge opportunity for ground pork to shine, now and into 2026. We’re focused, and we’ll continue to be focused on ground pork year-round, and we’re working with our partners, like retailers, to ensure that it is featured more often at the meat case.”
Visit tastewhatporkcando.org for inspiration on how to incorporate pork into your holiday gatherings and beyond.