Alice in Dairyland shares the possibilities with pork!

Fire up the grill! Summer may be winding down, but there are still plenty of grilling options left this Labor Day Weekend.

73^rd Alice in Dairyland Julia Nunes joined Phil and Kaitlyn on KQ98 to offer some ideas that can carry into National Pork Month this October. Before biting into the details, Nunes shared promising news from Passion for Pork.

Passion for Pork was started by the Wisconsin Pork Producers Association and Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection to connect pork farmers with local meat processors.

“They get meat products into food pantries and food shelves to help people with food insecurity during this time of uncertainty,” Nunes said. “It not only benefits farmers but also benefits people who are put in a situation that nobody saw coming.”

The program processed more than 59,000 pounds of pork so far, according to Nunes.

She added pork can be a nutrient powerhouse and is one of the most widely consumed proteins in the world.

“What I love about it is there are so many different ways that you can use this whether you make a pork loin or use ground pork to make tacos, pork brats, ribs, which are one of my personal favorites,” Nunes said. “There’s so much you can do with this meat, and it’s good for you. It’s lean. It’s got tons of vitamins and minerals, and I think I should be using it more often when I’m cooking dinner.”

Nunes notes seven common cuts of pork are 16 percent leaner and have 27 percent less saturated fat than 20 years ago, letting consumers eat healthy while enjoying plenty of flavor.

“I’m a big advocate for buying local products,” Nunes said. “It doesn’t only support the farmers, but also gives back to the community because when you buy something from your local community, you’re feeding back into the strength of Wisconsin.”

She recommended visiting a community meat market to find locally-raised pork or visiting the pork checkoff website for producer information, pork facts, nutrition information, and recipes.