The Local Story from Elmhurst Farmers Market opening this June 4 from 7am-1pm--Jake's Country Meats

Elmhurst Farmer's Market opens this June 4, 2014 from 7am-1pm and runs June through October.

Renata's Kitchen Stories talks with Jake's Country Meats, a local Michigan farm selling pork and other products at the Elmhurst Farmers Market

 http://www.jakescountrymeats.com/

I have been ordering Jake’s Country Meats products ever since I first found them at the Elmhurst Farmers Market. Their pork chops, sausages and pork loin have all tasted fantastic, really much different than any other grocery store purchase I have ever made.

Since I have become more interested in the origin and sources for all of my food, I thought I would write to Jake’s Country Meats and ask them a few questions about their farm.  They were most helpful!

Since I was a little girl, I have only wanted to ever be three things: a writer, a farmer, and a gymnast.  Now, the gymnast fever was only because I loved Nadia Comaneci so much, so that passion has died out!  But the writer and farm lover in me still lives on. 

It was truly a pleasure to get to know a little bit about Jake’s Country Meats and their animal husbandry practice.  They will be coming to the Elmhurst Farmer’s Market this Wednesday for opening day from 7am-1pm.  So if you see them, tell them Renata sent ya! You may even see me and my friend Joy there too.  We can’t wait for opening day and our local food paradise!

I have one small note about any Farmers Market.  Sometimes I hear such phrases as,

“This isn’t as cheap as Jewel!” or

“I can get it cheaper at Costco!”

I do not shop at Farmers Markets in order to get the cheapest food ever.  I shop at these markets in order to support our local farmers.  These are farmers who are doing all they can to stay vital in an industry that is controlled by fewer, enormous companies. The short distance traveled also eases my mind that not as much energy was spent getting the food from farm to fork.

At the Farmer’s Market I also love to see small children staring wide eyed as they hold a freshly picked heirloom tomato, and listen to their father or mother explain why there are so many funny colors and shapes. There is something glorious about seeing a knobby piece of fruit in the chubby pink fingers of a wide eyed toddler that just dazzles my senses.

I also shop at these markets in order to support the choices farmers make to plant organic seeds, non GMO seeds, and to find meats that are sourced from animal husbandry practice I find compatible with my own values.

Mostly, I look forward to the stories I hear under the bright blue skies from farmers who are in neighboring states.  I love looking at the hands of the people who carefully planned and cultivated their small patch of land in the great Midwest.  Somehow, I believe this makes a small difference.

Surely you have your own reasons for shopping at your local Farmer’s Market, and I would love to hear about them! See you under the blue skies this Wednesday, June 4 for the opening day of Elmhurst Farmer’s Market at the corner of Valette and York Road (next to Mindy’s Classic Finds, an adorable resale shop!)

I leave you with my Q and A from Renee at Jake’s Country Meats. 

This week Renata’s Kitchen Stories come straight from the farmer’s heart!

1) Who owns Jake's Country Meats? Can you tell me a little bit about your family/company? How did your company evolve?

Jake's Country Meats is owned by Nate and Lou Ann Robinson. Nate is a 6th generation hog farmer.  He always knew he had something special grazing his land and wanted to find a way to go directly to the customer eating his pork.  So Jake's Country Meats was born in 1998.  This was before "farm to table" or "pasture-raised" pork meant anything to the average consumer. 

This was also before the buzz-words of "all-natural" and "anti-biotic free" were commonly used.  Nate and Lou Ann only sold a handful of hogs from their farm through Jake's Country Meats at their local farmers market and to some neighbors for many years. They then decided to take the next step and saw a need in Chicago, IL. 

Since 2008 the demand continued to increase for high quality pork raised without antibiotics and outside on pasture.  Since the farm was already established, the business needed some TLC from other family members to keep up with demands.  Each year we grew more and more.  We now supply not only your local farmers market, but many different restaurants, stores, co-ops, distributors, etc.    

2) Where is JCM located? How is the local farming in your area? Do you have anything special you would like to share about your geographical location that makes your farm unique? 

We are located in Cassopolis, MI.  Cassopolis is a very small town in Southwest Michigan.  Our county used to be the largest hog producing county in Michigan.  Now we are one of the last standing in outdoor hog production.

3) What do you think makes JCM and your products/methods special? I would love to shine a light on anything that makes you different. This would be a good place to inform us how your pigs roam free (if they all do), what they eat, how they are treated, etc. 

It is a rarity to see pigs roaming hills freely but that is the way we operate at Jake’s Country Meats.  Because of the ambiance throughout our fields, we have hundreds of visitors each year. Some people stop in to buy some pork.  Some visitors just come to take in the sights and learn a little more about what we do and why we do it.   

We are also Animal Welfare Approved and face an audit every year by the organization to keep us updated and completely grounded to our farming practices.  We treat our animals and our land with respect.  Our ultimate goal is to leave the land just as good or in better condition for future generations.  Our family will continue this legacy.

Our unique use of heritage breed pigs is another reason why Jake's Country Meats is a continued success.  We know no matter what farming practices you have, taste and quality wins all when approaching our customers. We have some of the finest tasting pork around.  It is a bonus that we also take optimum care of our animals at the same time ;)

Can you tell me how you are related to the company?

I am Renee Robinson.  I am Nate and Lou Ann's youngest daughter.  After receiving my Bachelor of Business Administration and Majoring in Marketing, I really saw a need at the farm for my skills and created a full-time position for myself working with my parents.  I have a sincere passion for keeping the family farm alive and creating unique ways to touch other people's lives with what we do.