Where is the Heartland Meats of pork?

Hello all,

We buy nearly all our beef from Heartland Meats (http://www.heartlandmeats.com/)for the following reasons:

1. Great product, delicious meat from a non-industrial variety (in this case, Piedmontese).
2. Wide selection of cuts available. Beyond steaks, they have dozens of cuts, including tongue, tri-tip, flank steak, brisket, etc, etc. I love to check out what they have and "discover" a new cut-- like flatiron steak.
3. Non-industrial family farm with good people whom I am happy to support.

Can anyone recommend the pig-farming equivalent? I have not browsed the Green City Market or other farmers markets since I subscribed to the CSA, so I am not current on pork offerings. The last time I looked, the pork producers seemed to satisfy critera 1 and 3, but failed #2 by offering only chops and tenderloins, then grinding the rest up for sausage.

I look forward to your replies, as I am heartily tired of industrial pork.

Cheers, Jen

We purchase pork from Arnold's Farm regularly.

From the website:

We strive to farm in harmony with the natural environment and use systems that need few commercial inputs, such as rotational grazing for the livestock and crop rotations for the fields.

We believe our chemical and antibiotic-free meat is pure, wholesome, and tender with excellent flavor. We use no growth hormones, animal byproducts, or GMO corn in our animal feed rations.

Our beef, pork, lamb, and poultry are processed locally at USDA-inspected plants with excellent reputations and packaged in easy to use portions. Irradiation is not used nor is water added. We offer whole animals, sides, quantity packages, and individual cuts. Products may be purchased at our farm (open by appointment), at selected northwestern Illinois farmer's markets, or by delivery to the Chicago area (call or email for monthly newsletter and details).

Can't vouch for them personally, but Chicago Magazine had a feature on local meat producers and purveyors and this was their pork recommendation:

WETTSTEIN'S ORGANIC FARM
If the throngs at area farmers’ markets are any indication, buying local is taking off. Meat lovers—including Paul Kahan of Blackbird—have long sought out the hand-raised meats from Dennis and Emily Wettstein of Wettstein’s Organic Farm in Carlock, Illinois (east of Bloomington-Normal). Their certified organic and pasture-grazed beef, pork, lamb, and chicken can be yours, too. On the second and fourth Saturdays during the summer, the Wettsteins make the long trek to the Oak Park Farmers’ Market (at Lake Street and Elmwood Avenue, now through October), where they sell their popular bacon, pork chops, ground beef, chicken breasts, flank steak, and lamb chops. At other times of the year, they’ll take phone orders and deliver via personal rendezvous to the Buzz Cafe in Oak Park at 905 South Lombard Avenue. 2100 U.S. Highway 150, Carlock; 309-376-7291

Also these guys in Michigan (about 1-1/2 hours from Chicago):

http://www.localharvest.org/farms/M23500

Thanks everyone! I see the thread about Wettsteins, and will try their stuff-- I like that they have poultry too.
viewtopic.php?t=11349

I will check out the other ones too-- I look forward to more suggestions.

Cheers, Jen

Edited to add: I see that you can get a side of pork from Arnolds farm-- that sounds excellent!! That is really what I'm looking for. Foodnut, have you done that? It seems to be a lot of ham steaks. I see you live in Avondale, we are in Hermosa.

I highly recommend Willow Creek Farm in Loganville, WI. You can pick up their stuff at the farmers' market in Madison.

I had their pork a couple of times, and then decided to buy a half hog. While I was there, I picked up halves for two other LTH'rs and a few cuts for ViewsAskew who really seemed to like it. I wasn't thrilled with the butchering job* of my half hog, but the quality of the pork is fantastic.

-Dan

* Tony and Sue, who own Willow Creek, mentioned that they were down to only one local slaughterhouse option (who butchered my pig) and were planning on opening their own, on-site facilities.

Edited to add: I see that you can get a side of pork from Arnolds farm-- that sounds excellent!! That is really what I'm looking for. Foodnut, have you done that? It seems to be a lot of ham steaks. I see you live in Avondale, we are in Hermosa.

I have not done a side, though looking at the price per pound I might reconsider. If you look at the diagram, it appears as though the ham would be the largest portion. Picnic is also called picnic ham. Since you are actually purchasing a live animal, it would seem to make sense that the ham would be abundant. If you buy the cuts by the piece, I assume it would be a higher rate per pound. The delivery fee is added per pound I believe. I've been to the farm. Tom Arnold is friendly and his kids sometimes man the check out. When we were there last some of the piglets were totally "free range"--running around and squealing with delight. They had escaped from wherever the rest of the pigs were currently being held...and Tom hadn't gotten around to rustling them back to where they belonged yet. Oh, and, we've also gotten a turkey from him in the past. They have to be pre-ordered. My mom thought it too gamey....sigh. It was quite pleasant in my opinion.


Arnold's Farm‎ (in the rolling hills of Jo Daviess Co.)
997 N Salem Rd
Elizabeth, IL 61028
(815)858-2407
Arnoldfarm@juno.com

I find eatwild.com to be a great resource for finding things of this nature. There are any number of sources for locally grown meat that I'm also very curious about: for instance, C and D Family Farms, which has a number of pick-up locations around the City on different days.

Personally, I'v become addicted to fresh pork roasts and chops from the DUROC line of the Compart Family farms in Minnesota.

Compart Family Farms™, Inc.

Phone: 507-246-5179
Toll-Free: 877-441-2627
Fax: 507-246-5339

Email: Click Here

Mailing Address:
45198 400th St.
Nicollet, MN 56074

You can find them at Treasure Islands and Fox and Obel.
They have a well informed website. Google for Compart family farms

Twin Oak Meats, right across the aisle at the Green City Market from Heartland, has pork:
http://www.chicagogreencitymarket.org/f ... .asp?id=35

I presume you can get any cut you want from them, though they may not have every cut in stock at any particular market. Their price list seems have more than just chops and tenderloins.

Liberty Family Farm also has pork, and is located at the east end of the Green City Market.
http://www.chicagogreencitymarket.org/f ... .asp?id=38

I've gotten eggs and meat from Grassfields, also a Michigan farm but maybe a bit of a hike from here.

Food Nut wrote:We purchase pork from Arnold's Farm regularly.

We just had our first meat from our 30# pork package from Arnold's farm, and it was excellent. Here are the pork chops, brined and grilled with Chinese Five Spice rub (recipe from Fine Cooking):


Thank you for the recommendation!

Jen

I have really enjoyed the pork from Slagel Farms. Ordering is simple and meat is delivered to Mado on Wednesday evening.

What could be better: great pork and avoiding SHEAM by having another reason to go there?

Just an update and further query. I enjoyed our meat from Arnold farm, but I found their hams to be extremely chewy-- I expect some texture from active pigs, but this was too much. I eventually settled on C&D family farms-- they have an excellent product and are very friendly-- plus I love the baby pig updates on FB.

Now I am considering buying a whole pig for the freezer. I emailed Crystal from C&D, but got no response-- has anyone gotten a whole pig from them, or are they strictly a la carte?

A friend recommends Hasselmann family farm (http://www.hasselmannfamilyfarm.com/). Does anyone have experience with them? She got a half-pig and was very satisfied.

Cheers, Jen

We buy from Jake's Country Meats at the Logan Square Farmer's Market. Have never gotten anything we didn't love from them.

http://www.jakescountrymeats.com/

They are also on Facebook.

Jamie

Further reporting back, I did indeed get a whole pig from C&D and it is delicious. I have found Crystal's communication to be less-than-stellar. Also, I requested that the butcher include the head, but no head arrived with the meat. When I emailed Crystal, no reply. So, the next pig will probably be from Hasselmann (http://hasselmannfarm.com/)-- I had some of their bacon and it was great.

Okay, so I split the pig with a friend. Now she wants to split a lamb. Any thoughts-- Wettstein?

Cheers, Jen

Standard Market has Duroc and Berkshire pork that is outstanding and reasonably priced.

http://www.standardmarket.com/
333 East Ogden Avenue
Westmont, Illinois 60559
630 366 7030
Open Daily: Coffee 7am–8pm
Market 8am–9pm
Grill 11am–9pm