Prominent Illinois pig farmer Julie Maschhoff led panel of judges at the 2018 Swine, Wine & Spirits event at SOBEWFF
Julie Maschhoff, co-owner of The Maschhoffs LLC and one of the nation’s largest and most successful pork producers, led the judging panel at this year’s Swine, Wine & Spirits event as part of the South Beach Wine and Food Festival (SOBEWFF) in Miami. The Maschhoff family is the fourth largest pork producer in the United States, marketing 5 million pigs each year.
Maschhoff and the panel selected the best pork dish from about a dozen competing chef entries at Sunday’s Swine, Wine & Spirits event. She was also available at the various National Pork Board-sponsored events throughout the week where she shared her insight with consumers and media on all things pork, including pork quality and safety, animal welfare and sustainability.
“Growing up on a livestock farm, we have always focused on providing good animal care – keeping them healthy – and sound environmental stewardship,” said Maschhoff. “Today, as our farm feeds not just our family but other families around the world, it is even more imperative that we share our story of stewardship with consumers. We want consumers to know and have confidence that the pork we produce is a great, safe, healthy choice for their family.”
Through the years, Maschhoff and her husband, Ken, have been strong and consistent voices in educating and informing consumers about the importance of animal agriculture. Maschhoff has been a frequent spokesperson for pig farming through her work with the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance.
The Swine, Wine & Spirits event took place on Sunday, February 25, at the Biltmore Hotel and was hosted by local chef and restaurateur, Giorgio Rapicavoli. Additional judges included: National Pork Board Ambassador and celebrity chef, Richard Ingraham; Executive Chef of Goya Foods, Fernando Desa; and Eddie Zamora of The Yum Yum Foodie online fame.
This is the third year the National Pork Board has been the festival’s official pork sponsor, with pork featured as the event’s preferred protein. The five-day festival ran from Wednesday, February 21 through Sunday, February 25, 2018, and featured culinary events at a variety of venues throughout Miami and the beaches.
Attendees found the National Pork Board at other signature events: Tacos After Dark on Thursday, February 22; Burger Bash on Friday, February 23; and Swine, Wine & Spirits on Sunday, February 25.
“South Beach Wine & Food Festival was the perfect setting to engage with consumers who love pork and have been looking for additional ways to enjoy it,” said Jose de Jesus, director of multicultural marketing at the National Pork Board. “We know that the word ‘pork’ is synonymous with flavor and we are pleased to have had the opportunity to bring such amazing flavor to the festival attendees.”
For more information on the South Beach Wine and Food Festival, visit sobewff.org. Join the conversation with the National Pork Board via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or by using the hashtag #SabrososMomentos. Visit Pork Te Inspira for more on the National Pork Board.
