Farmer Fridays - Where can you buy our pork?

Where can you buy our pork is a question I often get asked by family members and friends so I thought I would address it for this week's Farmer Fridays. 

As a family farm, we sell the majority of our pigs to Tyson Foods who then distributes the pork in grocery stores across the country.  So there is a good chance when we sell our pigs to Tyson Foods in Indiana, our meat ends up in a grocery store near you especially if you are in the Midwest.    

Pork chops I recently purchased at our local Walmart ... could be ours.

My mother-in-law and I do sell a few pigs each year at the Farmer's Market in our local community as a way to educate others about modern pork production and to raise money to help pay for Big Sissy, Bubby, and Little Sissy's college.  (Have you seen what they are projecting college to cost in 10-15 years?  It's a little scary.)

Any way, I recently had a conversation with some individuals that asked me if I thought my pork (the pork we sell at the farmer's market) was safer and better than the pork they could buy at the local grocery store.  I have to admit I almost fell out of my chair because the fact of the matter is the pork at the grocery store is our pork.  Whether we sell a pig to Tyson Foods or through our local Farmer's Market, we provide that pig with the best care possible. 

We raise all of our pigs the same in climate controlled buildings that allow us to keep them comfortable year round and protected from the elements and predators.  We provide them with access to fresh water and feed, feed that we make for them ourselves in our own feed mill.  I often joke that we take better care of our pigs than we do ourselves as our veterinarian comes once a month for a routine herd visit and more often if needed.  I know that none of us are going to the doctor for a monthly check-up.  How about you? 

Raising pigs is our family's livelihood so taking care of them is our top priority just like it is for every other family farmer out there so just know that when you buy that pork chop, you are supporting family farms just like mine that have put a lot of care and hard work into getting that pork to your family's table.  So go ahead and Be Inspired by Pork the next time you cook.