Cooperative Pork Buying Opportunities

Current Buy

Email us if you are interested in this buy. We must have something in writing or email so we don't forget you!

Prices

Prices for pork buys have typically been around $50 for 1/8th hog. With increasing costs for the producers, we should expect an increase in the coming year. A typical 1/8th portion might include a roast, 2 chop packages (a package usually has 4 chops) - with one chop typically being an Iowa Chop, 3 bacon packages, 3 brat packages, a ham and/or a ham steak. Ribs are limited to persons buying 1/4 of a hog or more.

While there is some disadvantage in receiving some cuts that you are less interested in, the overall savings can be substantial - and you support a local producer who uses sustainable methods.

Pork Producers

John & Jodi Berlage

The Berlage farm is located by Ridgeway in northeast Iowa. John and Jodi purchased an older homestead and, in addition to their careers, they seek to raise some of their own food. Typically, they raise 10 to 20 hogs at a time. This is significant as they bought a farm with a facility that had formerly held hundreds of hogs in the same space. They grow the animals to essentially pay for their own consumption of the pork they raise, a time honored tradition.

These hogs are of the highest quality and tend to have a much lower fat content than pork you would buy from most groceries. We know that these animals are treated well and are responsibly raised..

Pat Menenga

The Menengas are located near Plainfield in Bremer County, Iowa. Their farm has a little bit of everything - a lot like the traditional family farm. Certainly not pork from a confinement facility here - and it's local to boot! We made our first purchase from Pat in late 2007 and the reviews of their pork have been very good. With the increased demand for hog buys, we are pleased that we can add her as a local producer on our list.

March 2008

September/October 2007

August 2007 Pork Cooperative Buy

March 2007 Pork Cooperative Buy