2.26.2008 - 08:27am ET

(CSRwire) DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Pork Board (NPB), representing America's more than 70,000 pork producers, announces its partnership with Share Our Strength(R), a national organization working to make sure no kid in America grows up hungry. NPB is proud to be the official protein sponsor of Share Our Strength's 2008 Taste of the Nation(R) events in six cities:

-- Atlanta (May 1) -- Chicago (June) -- Houston (May 4)
-- Charlotte, N.C. (April 16) -- Dallas (June) -- New Orleans (July 13)


In announcing the partnership, Lynn Harrison, president of the National Pork Board and a producer from Elk Mound, Wis., said, "America's pork producers help to feed the world. So it is a natural fit for us to work with Share our Strength in its vision of ending childhood hunger. Share Our Strength's solid reputation with chefs and food professionals inspired us to look at how we could work together on a local level."

Each spring and summer, the nation's hottest chefs and mixologists donate their time, talent and passion at Taste of the Nation events with one goal in mind: to raise the critical funds needed to end childhood hunger. NPB will support these events through media relations efforts and on-site participation showcasing trend-setting recipes and a variety of pork products. The pork products used by event chefs will be generously donated by Grateful Growers Farm of Denver, N.C. in Charlotte, N.C. and by Vande Rose Farms of Oskaloosa, Iowa in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and New Orleans. In addition, potential pork partners hope to make a donation of pork product to a local food bank based on the attendance numbers at each event.

"Through Taste of the Nation, Share Our Strength raises funds to support our efforts to make sure no child in America grows up hungry," said Bill Shore, Founder and Executive Director of Share Our Strength. "We salute the National Pork Board for its engagement in this important mission and for its producers' commitment to working with communities to make a tangible difference."

This year, Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation will celebrate its 20th anniversary with events in more than 55 cities across the United States and Canada. Applauded as the first-ever culinary benefit in the nation and the model for successful fundraisers throughout the country, Taste of the Nation has raised more than $70 million, and has grown significantly over the last 20 years, bringing together thousands of chefs from across the country and Canada to help end childhood hunger.

For more information about NPB's partnership with Share Our Strength, and for a chance to ask Shore a question on the Pork "N" Friends blog, visit TheOtherWhiteMeat.com.

About The National Pork Board

The National Pork Board has responsibility for Checkoff-funded research, promotion and consumer information projects and for communicating with pork producers and the public. Through a legislative national Pork Checkoff, pork producers invest $0.40 for each $100 value of hogs sold. The Pork Checkoff funds national and state programs in advertising, consumer information, retail and foodservice marketing, export market promotion, production improvement, technology, swine health, pork safety and environmental management. For information on Checkoff-funded programs, pork producers can call the Pork Checkoff Service Center at (800) 456-PORK or check the Internet at www.pork.org.

About Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation(R)

Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation(R), presented by American Express(R), is the nation's largest and finest culinary benefit dedicated to making sure no kid in America grows up hungry. Each spring, the nation's hottest chefs and mixologists donate their time, talent and passion at more than 55 events across the United States and Canada, with one goal in mind: to raise the critical funds needed to end childhood hunger. Taste of the Nation is presented by American Express, with national support from SYSCO Corporation, Food Network, Brown-Forman Corporation, S.Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water, WineStyles and the National Pork Board. Since its inception 20 years ago, Taste of the Nation has raised more than $70 million. Funds raised in 2007 supported 149 organizations in the United States, Canada and abroad. For more information on Taste of the Nation, or to get involved with a Taste of the Nation event in your city, visit http://www.tasteofthenation.org.

For more information please contact: