Prominent Illinois pig farmer Julie Maschhoff to lead panel of judges at this week's Swine, Wine & Spirits event at SOBEWFF®

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MIAMI, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- Julie Maschhoff, co-owner of The Maschhoffs LLC and one of the nation's largest and most successful pork producers, will lead the judging panel at this week'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 will select the best pork dish from about a dozen competing chef entries at Sunday's Swine, Wine & Spirits event. She will also be available at the various National Pork Board-sponsored events throughout the week to share 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 will take place on Sunday, February 25, at the Biltmore Hotel and will be hosted by local chef and restaurateur, Giorgio Rapicavoli. Additional judges include: 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 runs from Wednesday, February 21 through Sunday, February 25, 2018, and features culinary events at a variety of venues throughout Miami and the beaches.

Attendees can find the National Pork Board's 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® is the perfect setting to engage with consumers who love pork and are 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 excited to share everything about pork with 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.

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SOURCE National Pork Board