Hormel Foods is challenging the trademark application of an Arizona meat company.

Farm to Family Foods, Inc. of Phoenix, Ariz. filed an application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in Dec., 2009, requesting approval of its brand name, Pork on a Fork. After a law office publication review was completed, the meat company’s application was published for opposition.

That’s when Hormel’s challenge came into play.

On June 10, Hormel Foods filed a request for Extension of Time to Oppose for Good Cause with the Trademark Office. On that same day, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Inquiry System granted Hormel’s request, giving the company until September to file an official opposition claim. Hormel has 90 days from the time of the extension to complete its opposition case against Farm to Family Foods, Inc.

At this point, Hormel is not disclosing the reason behind the trademark challenge.

“No additional information is available for this pending matter,” said Julie H. Craven, vice president for corporate communications at Hormel.

Pork on a Fork currently boasts pork products from hogs raised on a fourth generation family-owned farm, located in Nebraska. The meat is shipped to Arizona. The company also claims to produce meat that is free from added antibiotics and growth hormones, according to its website, www.porkonafork.com.