By David Newman, meat scientist at Arkansas State University
For years we have taught about the tremendous value of ground products in the meat industry, with annual retail sales in the billions. This typically refers to either ground beef, poultry and other proteins such lamb, veal and bison.
Fresh pork burger has traditionally taken a back seat in retail stores for consumers who are looking for a grilling item or diverse meal option. But ground pork is making a comeback in a big way. The original ‘ham’ burger is back?! But why?
The answer is in consumer behavior. While ground items have been a big part of retail sales for a long time, they skyrocketed on sales and volume during the COVID-19 pandemic. Consumers dusted off cookbooks and searched for new recipes, going beyond their traditional comfort foods and looking for new experiences. For ground pork specifically, this created a new opportunity beyond the traditional pork burger. It is now an everyday ingredient that is gaining traction.
The data speaks for itself: ground pork is the winning story with a year-on-year volume increase of 16.8%. Ground pork is up 30.1% in pounds in 2022 versus 2019 according to 210 Analytics. The recently completed 2022 National Pork Board Retail Benchmark Audit captured another great statistic: retailer brands offering a ground pork item in-store is up nearly 29% versus 2018.
Additionally, at the appropriate fat-to-lean ratio, ground pork items are moving off the shelf. There is specific opportunity on 80/20 and 90/10 fat to lean ratios working together on shelf to create organic category growth and attract consumers.
This can all be big news in finding additional value out of pork primals. Will we someday see an increase in grinding loins and hams as a means to improve on both volume and value? That is a topic for another column in the future!
In the meantime, purchase some ground pork items and get creative in the kitchen or at the grill. The flavor will not disappoint. And remember, the safe internal temperature for ground items is 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
Check out the recipe for Cuban Style Pork Burgers on Yummly.com
More from Farm Journal’s PORK:
Want Better Pork? Use a Meat Thermometer
