Not only am I a registered dietitian nutritionist, but I am also a proud Latino that loves food, culture, and tradition. Both my Latin roots and professional passion tie in together with my love for pork. I have partnered with the National Pork Board, to share with you some major findings from their most recent study titled Time to Tango: Latinos are Pork’s Future.
This study highlights the importance of the purchasing power that Latinos and Hispanics have and key insights to better cater to their shopping needs. According to the study, the more integrated Hispanics become within American culture, the less pork they consume. Another reason pork consumption in the Latino and Hispanic community is on the decline is because they often can’t find the cuts they want for traditional dishes. When Latinos and Hispanics cannot find the right cuts in mainstream grocery stores, this leads 44% of Hispanics to choose to buy their fresh protein at non-mainstream stores.
In terms of health, 63% of Hispanics mistakenly believe pork is unhealthy which is another factor that prevents them from eating a protein that is so prevalent in their culture. This means we must focus on the nutritional value of specific cuts of pork, especially the protein profile, by offering lean cuts, such as pork tenderloin and pork chops, and focusing on label claims. Latinos are a higher risk group for obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. However, educating them that pork is a healthy protein option that can be paired with fruits and vegetables is important and can actually play a role in helping to lower risk for these diseases. Furthermore, education that pork is not only safe to eat, but healthy to eat also allows them to continue preparing their favorite dishes while still preserving their culture and improving diet quality.
By next year, Hispanics and Latinos in the United States will have more than $1.7 trillion in buying power, which is growing at twice the rate of Non-Hispanics. With this data in mind, it is extremely important for businesses to meet the shopping needs of Latinos in order to keep this group as a key consumer by connecting them back to their culture through food.
To learn more about pork, its health benefits, and to get inspired with healthy recipes, visit porkessabor.com.
And if you are a dietitian like me, download the report at Pork.org/marketing.
