DES MOINES, IOWA — U.S. pork producers are being urged through a National Pork Board-adopted resolution to become certified in the Pork Quality Assurance Plus program by June 30, 2010, to achieve PQA Plus site status by Dec. 31, 2010, and to embrace the ethical principles the industry adopted in 2008.

Steve Weaver, a California pork producer and president of the 15-member board that directs programs funded by the Pork Checkoff, made the announcement during this week’s World Pork Expo in Des Moines.

The board adopted the PQA Plus resolution to give additional momentum to the pork industry's We Care initiative. Including the PQA Plus program as well as other programs, the initiative is part of the industry's desire to earn the trust of its customers, Mr. Weaver said.

"PQA Plus is important because it includes steps that allow us to demonstrate directly to our customers that we are raising animals and producing pork in a socially responsible way," he continued.