Your questions answered
What makes our pork and bacon different?
The answer is simple – heritage. The reason mass produced pork is bland and watery is that the pigs have been bred to produce meat fast and cheaply at the expense of flavour and texture.
If you can taste the difference between a slowly grown free range traditional chicken and a factory produced broiler that’s just 39 days old at slaughter then the same principle applies to pork but the difference is even more marked.
Our pigs are traditional breeds bred for a specific purpose, which are reared slowly on an additive free diet, rather than the ‘one pig fits all’ system that is used commercially. Our Berkshires for example produce the best pork you will ever taste – succulent and sweet with crackling that is crisp and really does crackle. Our Large Blacks are the best bacon pigs by far, hams you would die for and beautiful bacon that doesn’t float out of the pan when cooked. Rediscover the flavours our great grandparents tasted.
If they are rare why are we eating them?
Well believe it or not if we don’t it very unlikely they’ll survive beyond a few ‘living museum’ herds.
The best way to save this agricultural and more importantly culinary heritage is to appreciate them, breed them, care for them and eat them.
We believe traditional breeds of pig sheep, cattle and poultry hold the key to a more sustainable way of enjoying food that we hope with gain more support in the coming years after decades of consumers simply seeing food as a necessary cheap commodity rather than an precious and tasty resource.
But surely its more expensive than supermarket pork, why should we pay the extra?
Yes it does cost more per kg than factory produced meat but this is the true cost of rearing proper food with care and compassion. Once you have tasted our pork you will understand why it costs more. Besides it doesn’t have to blow your budget, there’s a lot to be said for eating less, meat of a better quality like our forefathers did. Planning a balanced family menu is a very personal thing, but our approach is to compliment good meat with dishes that use less meat and vegetarian recipes. If you are interested in money saving cookery ideas and recipes take a look at our recipe page www.pottonpigs.co.uk/seasonal.html
Ok we want to try the pork what can we order?
We sell direct to the public by taking orders for half a pig (a side) and orders of cured bacon (when available) in boxes containing about a quarter of a pig with a selection of bacon, gammon steaks and gammon joints.
The reason for selling our pigs in sides is two fold, firstly it’s the most cost effective way for our customers to buy pedigree rare breed pork. The price per kg works out a lot cheaper for you than if you were buying smaller amounts at retail prices from a butcher. We do require a deposit on ordering This guarantees the sale for us but also spreads the cost for you making the final bill more palatable when you come to pick up your pork. Ordering in advance also allows you to make space in the freezer. Secondly we don’t have the facilities for storing the fresh product so by taking orders in advance we can plan the process to meet demand and the pork can it can be picked up or delivered on the day it arrives back from the abattoir.
I don’t have the space in my freezer for a side of pork
If half a pig is too much for you why not buy one with some friends and share out the side between you.
Keeping your own pigs
You could consider keeping your own rare breed pigs and we do have weaners for sale throughout the year so please ask if you are interested in rearing your own pigs. We are happy to offer advice on the legal requirements and recommend a course that is a very useful start for new pig keepers.
Want to keep your own pig but don't have the space?
Join our Virtual Pig Keeper Scheme and let us keep it for you, and for just £40 per month for 6 months you and your family and friends can own, and visit your pig if you wish as it grows and then enjoy first class rare breed pork for as little as £4 per Kg. Contact us to find out more.
