United States-Selling pork in summer.

UNITED STATES-SELING PORK IN SUMMER.

With grilling season here — in the southern half of the country, anyway — the National Pork Board is rolling out two Checkoff-funded marketing initiatives designed to foster a sense of excitement around the protein and its grilling possibilities.

First is a grilling contest featuring celebrity chef Guy Fieri that will culminate in the choice of the "Next Pork Personality" ay a live grill-off in New York City. Through August 31, consumers are invited to submit a video to TheOtherWhiteMeat.com that includes their best tip for grilling pork, is creative and original, and demonstrates "pork love." Three finalists will prepare their dish for Fieri and a panel of judges.

"I want to see an awesome tip, an amazing pork recipe with off-the-hook flavor and a personality that’s bigger than mine!" Fieri says in a release.

The "Next Pork Personality" winner will be awarded $5,000, a Char-Broil Grill and grilling accessories.

Meanwhile, The Other White Meat Tour will again travel cross-country this summer, visiting 27 cities from Sacramento to New York. The tour offers pork samples, and a local contest to find "Pork’s No. 1 Fan" at each stop. To win, contestants get up on stage and make their passion for pork known by any means they choose — a song, poem, rap, recipe demonstration, or some other entertaining performance.

Each city’s winner will receive a $500 gift card to a local retailer. Also, for each contest entrant, pork producer will donate 10 pounds of the protein to a local food bank.