I still get together annually with my two best friends that I first met when I was 4 years old.
Last week, one of them visited us with his family for the afternoon, and after we ate lunch, we walked around the farm together.
They loved seeing the pigs wandering around their paddocks in the fresh spring air, rooting into the soil, and sleeping in the shade.
They noticed immediately how much the farm has evolved since they first saw it 7 years ago and how different it is from what we know about livestock factory “farms” out there.
It’s actually quite striking when you think about it…
Turns out that last year, over 73 million pigs were raised in the US.
Amongst all those living, breathing animals, less than 3% had outdoor access.
A smaller percentage of them were certified organic, which means the vast majority are still consuming and treated with some pretty nasty stuff.
And sadly, even fewer were both certified organic and genuinely pasture-raised like ours are!
Despite how automatic our farming practices may seem after all these years, our methods qualify us as total freaks in the farming world.
Being different isn’t what we’re going for, though. What we’re after, and what I think you’re after, too, is that unparalleled quality and flavor.
And I’m convinced that it’s precisely our farming practices that, YES, set us apart, and, YES, are the only ethical and humane way to do it. But what’s often overlooked is that they are also the KEY to amazing culinary experiences.
Here’s how we get there…
1. Our pigs are with us from the day they’re born to the day they go to the butcher, and they’re handled compassionately by us from start to finish. This keeps their stress hormones low, which has big-time effects on flavor!
2. Our pigs live outdoors in the fresh air 365 days per year. This allows them to get special nutrients from the earth, the sun, and the pastures that pigs from factory farms can never experience.
3. We adhere strictly to organic farming principles (we’ve been certified organic for 7 whole years!), which means our animals are free from antibiotics, pesticides, GMOs, and other things that are harmful to our bodies and the environment.
Once you understand the difference, assuming you have the choice, why would you ever opt to eat food raised any other way?
Your Farmers,
Greg & Jenney
PS – We just brought pigs back from the butcher and have a little of EVERYTHING in stock right now. Order ahead online to reserve your groceries, and remember to check out our website for recipes, cooking ideas, and suggestions!