The Cooperativa de Porcicultores de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico Pork Producers Cooperative) slaughtered more than 100 pigs at its Guaynabo plant on Friday, November 6, to be processed, cleaned and distributed to the island’s lechoneras (roast-pork eateries) ahead of the rise in demand for roast lechón expected over the coming weeks, so the traditional Christmas dish does not run short. At the peak of the holiday season, the cooperative can produce up to 900 pigs to supply exclusively the 19 certified lechoneras that make 100% Puerto Rican roast lechón.
The cooperative anticipates that any increase in the price of lechón would not be significant. That outlook contrasts with the situation of some ingredients needed to make pasteles, particularly yautía (taro), of which Puerto Rico produces only about 6% of what it consumes.