By DEBORAH GERTZ HUSAR

Herald-Whig Staff Writer

A new pork producers group hopes to spread the word about its industry by pooling resources and connecting with consumers.

"We just want to be visible to the community, help promote the pork product a little bit," said Matthew Starr, a Nauvoo pork producer and president of Western Illinois Pork Producers. "We're local people. Hopefully we'll get some local connections with the consumer so we can promote our own quality, food safety and animal welfare issues. These are the guys that know the business. Most of them are proud of the job they do."

The Western Illinois Pork Producers, formed last month, combined the former pork producers groups from Adams, Hancock and Pike counties.

"With a decreasing number of producers in the area, this new group is a great way to combine resources from the individual counties in an overall effort to enhance the pork industry in western Illinois," Starr said. "With a tri-county type organization, we cover a lot bigger area, have more producers involved and hopefully get some better ideas."

The board consists of two members from each of the three counties; three at-large directors; and David Dedert, the Illinois Pork Producers Association District 6 director. In addition to Starr, other officers are Vice President Darren Sims of Liberty, Treasurer Christine Morey of Sutter and Secretary Jerri Woods of Baylis.

The new group will continue to serve communities in the three counties, and it also will offer more opportunities for producers to network and for the public to learn more about the pork industry.

"A lot of what we do is promotion," Starr said. "We do that a lot of times by cooking at different community functions. Groups will call us to come and cook for their events."

The group has at least 10 events scheduled for this summer, including the Hancock County 4-H Fair and several nights at the grill during the Adams County Fair.

Starr said the events are good for consumers because the people doing the cooking are the ones who raise the pork.

"You don't get to see that direct connection where food products come from," he said. "Hopefully it will help keep people's confidence in food systems, and the guys are open to answering questions."

-- dhusar@whig.com/221-3379