The phrase “farm to table” has become increasingly popular in recent years, emphasizing fresh, locally sourced food that’s minimally processed. However, while many consumers might appreciate the end product, few fully understand the intricate journey involved. This article aims to provide a behind-the-scenes look at how our eggs and meat move from the farm to your dinner table, underlining the dedication, care, and commitment to quality at each stage.
1. Birth and Early Life
Whether it’s poultry or livestock, the journey begins with birth. On our farm:
- Chicks, Ducklings, and Kits: Kits are typically birthed in a natural environment on our property, where we strive to mimic their natural habitat as much as possible, ensuring minimal stress for both the mother and the newborn. We provide nest boxes in the does’ cages and allow them to birth and care for their kits in a setting that prioritizes their comfort and well-being. Chicks and ducklings, however, are sourced from a mixture of breeders and McMurray Hatchery to ensure a healthy and diverse stock. 2024 will be the first year that we will be hatching our own birds.
- First Diet: Young animals receive a carefully balanced, nutritious diet. This often includes mother’s milk for mammals like kits, and a complete starter feed for chicks and ducklings, encompassing a mix of grains and proteins.
2. Pasture-raised Growth
Our commitment is to allow every animal the freedom to graze, roam, and express natural behaviors.
- Natural Foraging: Animals graze on natural pastures, accessing a diverse range of nutrients from grass, insects, and plants. Our rabbits, in particular, are also provided with ample access to grass, allowing them to indulge in a natural diet while exhibiting instinctual behaviors such as digging, all within the safety of our farm environment, free from the threat of predators.
- Healthy Living Conditions: Adequate shelter, clean water, and regular health checks ensure that our animals are always in the best of health. Additionally, we prioritize the well-being of our birds by incorporating a mix of beneficial herbs into their feed. This blend includes Oregano, Marjoram, Thyme, Basil, Rosemary, Sage, Garlic, and Red Pepper Flakes, chosen for their natural health-boosting properties. By integrating these herbs into their diet, we aim to support the overall health and vitality of our feathered residents, contributing to their welfare and happiness on our farm.
3. Ethical and Humane Treatment
From birth to maturity, ethical treatment remains paramount.
- Conscious Confinement: While our overarching philosophy is to allow animals the freedom to move, play, and socialize, there are instances where confinement becomes necessary. These occasions may include coop training to a new enclosure, when an animal is sick or injured, introducing new stock, or during transportation. Additionally, for the safety and well-being of our rabbits, they are routinely confined in various-sized enclosures, ranging from individual cages to large fenced-in areas. This practice aims to protect them from potential predators, recognizing their natural role as prey animals in the ecosystem. Our approach balances the need for protection with providing as much space and freedom as possible within these parameters, ensuring the welfare and safety of all our animals.
- Natural Life Cycle: Our commitment extends to ensuring that animals experience a natural growth cycle, free from the use of growth hormones or artificial enhancements. From birth to maturity, we prioritize allowing animals to develop at their own pace, in accordance with their natural instincts and biology. This approach not only promotes the physical health and well-being of the animals but also contributes to the overall integrity and quality of our products. By upholding a natural life cycle for our animals, we strive to maintain the highest standards of ethical and sustainable farming practices while providing our customers with the healthiest and most wholesome products possible.
4. Processing and Butchery
This is a crucial stage, and we ensure it’s done humanely and professionally.
- Ethical Methods: We prioritize the well-being of our animals throughout the processing journey. Whether handled on-site or by a USDA processor, we adopt the most humane methods available for slaughtering to ensure that the animal experiences minimal stress. We never use drawn-out killing methods, ensuring that each animal is treated with respect and care, honoring them the way our ancestors did.
- Hygiene: We maintain stringent hygiene standards during the processing of our meat, regardless of location. Whether in our kitchen or at a USDA processor, the meat is handled in hygienic conditions to preserve its freshness and quality, providing our customers with the highest standards of safety and cleanliness.
- Artisan Butchery: Our butchers are skilled artisans who deeply respect the animal and its sacrifice. They skillfully utilize every part of the animal, minimizing waste and maximizing the value of what it provides. Whether on-site or through a professional processor, we ensure that every aspect of the butchering process is conducted with care, skill, and reverence.
At every step, from dispatch to processing, we honor the animals for the contributions they make in life and in death, recognizing their role in enriching our lives and providing sustenance for our families. This ethos guides our approach to butchery, ensuring that each animal is treated with the dignity and gratitude it deserves, in the tradition of our ancestors.
5. Fresh Eggs Collection
For egg collection:
- Daily Rounds: Eggs are meticulously collected multiple times a day, ensuring they are as fresh as possible and allowing us to organize them by both collection and laying dates for optimal freshness and quality assurance.
- Natural Laying: Our hens have the freedom to lay their eggs in cozy nests, which reduces stress and results in healthier eggs. We provide a variety of nest options, including reclaimed items such as milk crates and repurposed dog crates, ensuring our hens have a comfortable and safe environment to lay their eggs.
- Cleaning and Sorting: Eggs are gently handled and sorted by size, maintaining their integrity and ensuring uniformity. Unlike commercial practices, we refrain from washing our eggs to preserve the natural protective coating, known as the bloom, applied by the hen during the laying process. This protective barrier helps seal the eggs, allowing them to maintain freshness and quality for an extended period. As a result, our eggs can be stored at room temperature for up to two months or more, without refrigeration, while still retaining their freshness and nutritional value.
6. Packaging and Transportation
- Eco-friendly Packaging: We are committed to sustainability, utilizing minimal packaging options to minimize our environmental impact. Our choice of pulp-paper cartons for sales and flats for storage aligns with this ethos, as they are not only environmentally friendly but also compostable. By opting for compostable packaging, we ensure that even if the packaging is torn or damaged, it can be composted rather than ending up in landfills. This closed-loop approach not only reduces waste but also allows the packaging to give back to our organization by enriching our soil and contributing to our overall sustainability efforts.
- Cold Chain: Meats are traditionally immediately refrigerated or frozen to maintain freshness during transportation. However, we are dedicated to continuously improving our processes. As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of our products, we are implementing a new approach. After processing, meats will now undergo a resting period of approximately 24 hours in ice water before being frozen or sold. This additional step not only helps maintain freshness but also allows the meat to become more tender, enhancing the overall eating experience for our customers. By prioritizing quality and innovation, we aim to deliver the finest products while ensuring the highest standards of food safety and freshness throughout our cold chain process.
- Swift Delivery: Our commitment to prompt delivery extends directly to homes within a 30-mile radius of the farm, ensuring our products remain fresh upon arrival. While we currently deliver directly to homes and individuals, we are not certified through the state to supply restaurants. Additionally, until we transition to using a USDA processor later this year, we will not be offering meat at farmers’ markets or events. Despite these limitations, we remain dedicated to providing convenient and timely delivery options for our customers, ensuring that they can enjoy our products with confidence and convenience. Customers also have the option to pick up their orders directly from the farm, offering another convenient way to access our products.
7. Your Dinner Table
Finally, after meticulous care and ethical treatment throughout every stage of production, these premium products find their way to your table. Their journey from our farm to your plate not only reflects the unwavering dedication of our farmers but also mirrors the evolving preferences of consumers towards transparency, ethics, and quality in their food sources.
Each step of this journey embodies our commitment to sustainability, humane practices, and the highest standards of quality. From the fertile fields where our animals graze freely, to the meticulous processing and packaging methods we employ, we ensure that every product reflects our values and meets the expectations of discerning consumers like you.
By choosing our farm-fresh offerings, you’re not just indulging in delicious flavors; you’re supporting a movement towards greater integrity and sustainability in the food industry. With every bite, you’re embracing a commitment to ethical farming practices, environmental stewardship, and the well-being of both animals and consumers alike.
We’re proud to be a part of this journey, and we’re honored to bring the fruits of our labor to your table, knowing that each bite represents a shared dedication to a healthier, more sustainable future.
At Huckleberry Farms, we’re passionate about providing you with the highest quality, ethically raised products straight from our farm to your table. Join us in supporting sustainable farming practices and enjoying delicious, wholesome food.
Ready to experience the difference for yourself? Visit our marketplace to explore our range of products and place your order today. Whether you’re looking for farm-fresh eggs, tender meats, or handcrafted goods, we have something to satisfy every palate.
Thank you for choosing Huckleberry Farms as your trusted source for ethical, sustainable, and delicious food. Together, we’re making a difference—one bite at a time.
