The folks in Des Moines pigged out last week, quite literally. An estimated 35,000 people gathered at the Iowa State Fairgrounds for "The Great Pork BarbeQlossal," and in a single day consumed 13 tons of barbecued pork served by 100 amateur and professional barbecue cooks who were competing for more than $20,000 in prizes.
The feast kicked off the first World Pork Expo trade show, organized by the National Pork Producers Council as part of a campaign to boost pork's popularity. Last year U.S. pork consumption was up only 1.6%, to 7.5 million tons, compared with chicken's 9% rise, to 9.5...