The ham is everywhere — in every deli in America — but what’s its real deal? Hams weigh about 30 pounds. Every pig has two hams on him or her. For an average sized pig (about 200 lbs), the hams represent 1/3 of their overall weight. That’s a big portion, especially when you consider that the center cut pork loin only weighs about 8lbs for a total of 16lb per animal. It’s easy to understand the reasoning behind the axiom that pig profits go the way of the ham.
Ben Machin grew up in Vermont on a small organic homestead where his family grew their own food and produced apple juice, apple cider vinegar, and maple syrup for market. After some years working for the US Forest Service as a Smokejumper, Ben came back to Vermont to study and work on various natural conservation projects. Eventually he rekindled his interest in farming. The post Ben Machin & Grace Bowmer of Tamarack Vermont Sheep Farm appeared first on HERITAGE FOODS USA.
Lamb Breed Histories and Tasting Notes Want a hot recipe? Choose a lovely, well- sourced piece of meat — from a farm you know, and from a breed you have come to love, and add fire. Et voilà! There’s your recipe. Just remember, the fire is the constant, the meat is the variable.
We love hearing from our customers! We want to know what inspires you, and what we can do to be a part of it. Share with us your stories, recipes, and techniques, and we will work hard to do the same! Reilly, from California, shared with us a recipe for Asian Inspired Glazed Porterhouse Chops. […] The post A Pork Chop Recipe from the West Coast! appeared first on HERITAGE FOODS USA.
This Wednesday the team at Heritage skipped breakfast and didn’t bring in any snacks to work so that their pallets would be truly ready to uncover the words that describe the tastes of the various breeds of pork that we sell. Italians and French people have no trouble finding words to describe the un-describable. In the U.S. the wine people have it down but for fruits and vegetables and meat it’s hard to find words to explain what our mouths and pleasure centers are experiencing.... The post Heritage Breed Tasting Chart! appeared first on HERITAGE FOODS USA.
Doug Metzger works his 1500-acre farm, which grows corn, sorghum, wheat, alfalfa, oats, barley, Reese turkeys (he has worked with turkeys since 1951) and pigs with wife Betty, son Mark, daughter Marilyn, son in law Stan and their three kids. Farming has become more challenging for Doug in recent years as he struggles to remain independent in an era of commercialization. “The chicken industry and the turkey industry went the way of industry,” Doug explains, ” and I’m working hard so that the same doesn’t happen to the pork industry”. Doug has raised purebred, certified Berkshire pigs since 1954 and learned the art from his grandfather Fred, father Wilhelm and father-in-law Japhet. These elder statesmen also taught Doug how to raise the now endangered Tamworth pig (as of 1961) and the Hampshire pig.
Larry and Madonna Sorell have been farmers since 1970 when they purchased 200 acres of land in Cloud County, Kansas. Larry Sorell continues a family tradition that was passed down from his grandfather to his father and then to him. Today, the farm is a bit smaller but they still maintain true biodiversity. Madonna fondly recalls how Larry would often return home with a surprise in his truck – once a few lambs, another time a beautiful horse. The couple raises numerous heritage breeds including a handful of Highland cattle, Katahdin and CVM-Columbian crossed lamb, work horses and several pig varieties including Red Wattle, Berkshire, Gloucestershire Old Spot, Mule Foot, and a few Large Blacks.
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