Local Pork in New York

Nitrate-free, organic, natural pigs raised in New York make for delicious local pork

“The Ossabaw pig is named for the tiny island of Ossabaw – just off the Georgia coast, where they have survived for four hundred years. Originally they came as the Iberico breed but from four hundred years on a very small uninhabited island with limited winter forage they downsized and gained an amazing capacity for putting on a great deal of fat on practically nothing.

The Ossabaw pig fat is a healthful fat filled with omega 3.

The Spanish explorers apparently dropped off a few breeding pairs at portages they intended to revisit – to have a handy supply of protein when they returned. Since Ossabaw Island was never inhabited the breed went feral and there were no other breeds of pigs to interbreed with. The State of Georgia was in process not that many years ago of exterminating them since the pigs were destroying the eggs of the Loggerhead turtles that nested on the island’s beaches. A number of farm owners stepped in and have gotten Ossabaw stock to keep the breed alive.”

— Peter Davies of Turkana Farm in Germantown NY

• Turkana Farm
  110 Lasher Avenue
  Germantown, NY 12526
  e-mail: daviesturkana@valstar.net
  Organically raised Ossabaw and Ossabaw/Tamworth breeds.
• Eagle Bridge Custom Meat & Smokehouse
  139 Center Road
  Eagle Bridge, NY 12057
  518-677-2702
  Eagle Bridge is known for high quality smoked and cured pork products.
• Sweet Tree Farm
  138 Karker Road, P.O. Box 88
  Carlisle, NY 12031
  (518) 234-7422
  e-mail: info@sweettreefarm.com
  Frank Johnson of Sweet Tree Farm is organically raising pork and smokes a variety of pork sausages, ham and bacon. He sells at the Troy Farmers Market on Saturdays.
• Van Wie Natural Foods
  6798 Route 9
  Hudson, NY 12534
  (518) 828-0533
  Van Wie Natural Foods sells naturally raised pork and nitrate and nitrite free smoked pork products from their retail location and by mail order. Whole, custom and individually cut animals are available. Van Wie Natural Foods also offers off-site pig roasting services.
• Lewis-Waite Farm
  Alan & Nancy Brown
  135 Lewis Hill Lane
  Greenwich, NY 12834
  518-692-9208 or 3120
• Flying Pigs Farm
  Jen Small and Mike Yezzi
  246 Sutherland Rd.
  Shushan, NY 12873
  518-854-3844
• Hudson Valley Bounty pork producers

Green Peas TV, The Whole Berkshire Hog

New York sausage makers

What would life without sausage be like? Healthier, but less exciting perhaps. In recent years the artisan craft of sausage making has gained momentum (and popularity among consumers), on farms, in kitchens and in butcher shops. As a main attraction, sausage can stand on its own at breakfast, lunch and dinner, but is also an essential background ingredient in hearty soups, stews and rice dishes. Lentil and Sausage Soup, Jambalaya and Paella are a few of my favorite sausage based recipes. At farmers markets and grocery stores, sausage is sold loose (without a casing and resembling ground meat), or in link form (in casings, which are usually lamb or artificial). In the Hudson Valley and Saratoga regions here are a few of my favorite sources for raw and cooked sausage products:

Eagle Bridge Custom Meat & Smokehouse
139 Center Road
Eagle Bridge, NY 12057
518-677-2702

Eagle Bridge is known for high quality smoked and cured pork products. They sell retail from their store in Eagle Bridge and at the Cohoes Farmers Market on Fridays. Favorite sausage flavor – Maple breakfast sausage. Kielbasi is a close second.

Bornt Family Farms
Gerry Bornt
275 Logwoods Road
Troy, NY 12180
(518) 663-7693
Borntfamilyfarms@aol.com

Gerry Bornt is a fourth generation farmer who has been naturally raising pastured pork for decades. He sells raw and smoked pork products at the Troy Farmers Market on Saturdays. Favorite sausage flavor – Andouille

Fleishers Grass-Fed and Organic Meats
307 Wall Street
Kingston,NY
(845)-338-6666

Fleisher’s is a full service butcher shop that carries local meats, cheeses, milled flour, and dairy products. Fleisher’s produces a delux line of great tasting sausages. favorite flavor – Rockin Moroccan lamb sausage. Try their Landjager as well.

Hull-O Farms
10 Cochrane Road
Durham, NY 12422
518-239-695

Frank Hull is a seventh generation beef and meat farmer. Specialties include dried aged beef, smoked pheasant, and a full line of cured meats and sausages. Favorite sausage flavor – pork breakfast sausage

Mariaville Angus Farm
Chris Chandler
2978 Duansburg Churches Road
Delanson, NY 12053
518-864-5234

As one of the original members of the Vorheesville Farmers Market, Mariaville Angus Farm hooks market going customers with freshly cooked samples.  Stand-outs include the Chorizo and the hot Italian sausage. Look for Mariaville at the Schenectady Farmers Market at the Proctor’s Theatre and at the Vorheesville Farmers Market.

Sweet Tree Farm
138 Karker Road, P.O. Box 88
Carlisle, NY 12031
518-234-7422

Frank Johnson of Sweet Tree Farm is organically raising beef and pork, and smokes a variety of pork products including ham, bacon and a full line of sausages. He sells at the Troy Farmers Market on Saturdays. Favorite sausage flavor – Luau

Heather Ridge Farm
989 Broome Center Rd
Preston Hollow, NY 12469
518-239-6234

Heather Ridge Farm produces an exceptional line of grass-fed pork, beef and chicken sausages. Pork flavors include Asiago Garlic Parsley, Honey Apple and Italian (sweet and hot). The Guinness Short Stouts are all beef. In the summer and fall look for chicken sausage flavors – Herbs de Provence and Country Breakfast. In years past, Times Union and local food writer Jennifer Gish rated the Asiago Garlic Parsley sausage “the best sausage ever”.

The smoked sausages of Oscar’s Smoked Meats in Warrensburg are avilable by mail order

Looking for healthy tasty and locally made chicken sausage? Look for Bilinski’s in Hannaford and Price Chopper locations throughout Albany and Saratoga

Read Daniel Berman’s review of Rapacki’s Smoked Kielbasa