Pork Decision Looms As Shops Await Word

The U.S. Supreme Court could determine the fate of the National Pork Board’s $10 million ad account as soon as today, even as 15 Midwestern shops await word on the next step in a review.

Last October, a federal court ruled the mandatory checkoff for pork producers that finances the board is unconstitutional. If the Supreme Court picks up the board’s appeal, a process that could take up to a year, RFPs will be issued to a small group of agencies and the review will proceed, said Jeff Hartz, client director of marketing communications.