“Patrick has dedicated his entire career to championing the cause of pork producers across the U.S., and his legacy will be felt for years to come,” says Michael Uetz, co-principal of Midan Marketing in a recent statement.
Fleming’s interest in the meat industry began at a young age while helping his dad as a retail meat cutter, the statement explains. Holding a variety of key positions in the industry and currently serving as Midan Marketing’s brand specialist, Fleming “has an exceptional knowledge of the pork industry and a vision that continually challenges the status quo,” Uetz says.
Fleming’s work has included the support and initiation of a national meat case survey and the establishment of the Uniform Retail Meat Identity Standards (URMIS). Working to improve consumers’ perceptions of pork, as well as providing feedback to pork producers by establishing incremental pork quality standards have been part of Fleming’s career contributions.
To honor Fleming for his lifelong contribution to the industry, Midan Marketing, along with the American Meat Science Association (AMSA), announced the establishment of the Patrick Fleming Mentor Recognition Fund at the AMSA Reciprocal Meat Conference in Des Moines, Iowa on June 15.
The fund will establish a $25,000 scholarship endowment to support meat science graduate students pursuing careers related to improving pork quality and the pork eating experience, the statement explains.
The statement noted “generous donations from across the meat industry showcase the impact Fleming has made in mentoring colleagues throughout his career.”
