"You're not going to get a mattress or a new car, but you're going to want to have lunch or dinner tomorrow," Pope said. He also noted that with consumers trading down to more affordable products in many cases, items such as hot dogs have seen higher sales.

Pope called the current economic climate "the scariest time in my entire professional career," although he said from Smithfield's perspective, skyrocketing corn prices have caused the greatest problems, the Virginian-Pilot reported.

Pope also questioned how helpful the stimulus packages approved by Congress will be in terms of job creation, and he voiced his opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act, which would allow workers to be represented by unions if a majority sign cards.

For more stories, go to www.meatingplace.com.