Illinois Pork Tour Begins Today w/Stop Planned in Teutopolis

The Illinois Department of Agriculture is hosting 33 international buyers from China, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Thailand and Vietnam, today through Wednesday, in an effort to increase export sales for the Illinois pork industry. Over the last 19 years, the tour has generated over $10 million in sales.

One of the stops will be in Teutopolis this afternoon. The stop will be at Farmweld, a company on the forefront of wean-to-finish technology, and a leader in the design of products that reduce waste and promote pig comfort and labor savings. The Farmweld team has developed strong relationships with veterinarians, builders and distributors, which help Farmweld better serve its customers.

Illinois Agriculture Director Philip Nelson said, "Exporting Illinois agriculture is vital to the growth of our industry, and the Illinois Pork Tour is an integral part of our marketing plan. Illinois ranks fourth in the nation among pork-producing states. Through the Illinois Pork Tour, we can facilitate relationships between foreign buyers and Illinois agribusinesses and reinforce the strength of transactions."