Chat with my local farmer changed how I source pork

I've been buying from the same hog farm for about 5 years now. Last Tuesday I stopped by to pick up an order and ended up talking to the farmer's daughter who just took over the operation. She asked me why I always request the same cuts and never ask for stuff like pork shoulder or belly in smaller batches. I told her it's just habit from my old supplier. She said I could request custom sizes on anything if I give her a week's notice. That stuck with me because I've been wasting time trimming down big primals when I could just order them closer to what I need. Has anyone else tried working with smaller farms for custom sizing on orders?

2 comments

2 Comments

patricia3852d ago

Start asking her about the feeding program and slaughter dates. Most people just buy meat without realizing how much the animal's diet and stress levels right before processing affect how the meat cooks and tastes. I found out my farmer's hogs get a special grain mix the last month before slaughter and it changed how I prep everything. You might also ask about the breed if she knows it. Heritage breeds like Tamworth have way different fat distribution than commercial crossbreeds. That custom sizing thing she offered is great but the real gold is understanding why her pork tastes different than store stuff.

gavinwood2d agoMost Upvoted

Would she let you tour the kill floor? That's where cut quality really starts.