US consumers are eating more meat and showing a renewed interest in protein, creating a favorable environment for animal agriculture. But for pork producers, that broader protein momentum comes with an important caveat: pork has not captured the same demand growth as the overall meat category.
That distinction is increasingly important as US pork production moves toward record levels while producer margins tighten.
Dr. Glynn Tonsor, professor of agricultural economics at Kansas State University, outlined the changing US pork market and the central role of consumer demand during the 2026 Four Star Veterinary Service Pork Industry Conference in Muncie, Indiana. His presentation, US Pork Market Outlook: Never a Dull Day, examined pork supplies, prices and returns before turning to what Tonsor sees as an increasingly important industry priority: strengthening consumer pork demand.
Meat is having a moment
Tonsor began with a positive development for the broader meat industry: Americans are not walking away from meat.
US per capita red meat and poultry consumption reached 213 pounds in 2025, up 16% from 184 pounds in 2014. Consumption is forecast to remain around 213 pounds in 2026 and 2027.
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