07/24/06 NW Heritage Pork

Every cattleman in the Pacific Northwest is familiar with the success story of Oregon Country Beef, a branded natural beef program that has been modeled by many ranching co-ops. Natural meat is no longer considered a novelty but has emerged into one the fastest growing food categories, beef and chicken initiated the movement but now other meats are following suite. The NW can boast to being home to the only USDA certified quality branded natural pork in the United States, NW Heritage Pork. Pork producer Ben Cunningham, owner of NW Heritage Pork has set the bar high by pursuing his passion of creating a free-range hog that is well marbled , flavorful and healthy. It has paid off with a discriminating clients list that includes Caesar's Palace and Mandellay Bay in Las Vegas. To meet growing demand Cunningham was instrumental in forming the Oregon Pork Producers a hog farmer co-op for specialty pork, rewarding farmers with premium prices for meeting NW Heritage Porks stringent guidelines.