Pork providers from right here in Essex County

Local, naturally raised produce gets a new dimension this month with the addition of pork and beef providers from right here in Essex County.  

Did you know there were 50 hogs living in Center Cross?  At Black Boar Farm, they raise two kinds of heritage breed hogs: the Ossabaw Island hog and the Berkshire hog.  These two breeds are distinctly flavorful even without adding seasoning to the meat. The hogs are free range, raised in the woods and their feed is supplemented with fresh fruit and vegetable from a local farmer in the summer and hay in the winter. This naturally raised pork does not contain any antibiotics, hormones, preservatives or anything else other than the food and water the hogs consume.  The proof is in the taste. They produce the following pork products at Black Boar Farm: brined and plain sliced bacon (the plain bacon is excellent for people who cannot eat food with added salt or sugar); pork loin chops; shoulder cutlets; sage, sweet Italian and hot Italian sausage; a mild Italian sausage whose main flavor is fennel and which contains no added sugar; ground pork; ribs; leaf fat; jowls; fatback; and hog feet.  Their pork is processed at a USDA facility, which meets all standards for safely selling meat to the public.

A little history: Ossabaws are descendants of Iberico hogs introduced to the Americas by the Spaniards nearly 400 years ago.  They live on Ossabaw Island, a barrier island off the coast of Georgia.  Ossabaws have adapted to the brackish water and erratic food cycle on the island becoming smaller in size over the years.  They weigh between 100 to 250 pounds fully grown and have the ability to store unsaturated Omega 3 fats to sustain them through lean times. The lard of the Ossabaw hog is high in oleic acid, which is also dominant in olive oil.  The meat is marbleized and a rind covers the ham and shoulders. The Berkshire is the oldest recorded British hog.  This hog was "discovered" by Oliver Cromwell's invading army 350 years ago.  Today's animals descend from the herd maintained for 300 years by the England's royal family and is known for its succulent pork. The first boar was brought to the United States in 1841 and weighed 1,000 pounds.  The Berkshire is a very pleasant hog to work with and quite intelligent.  Their farmer friend has a Berkshire hog that can sit on command like a dog.  Berkshires weigh around 250 to 400 pounds fully-grown (at one year of age) and have marbleized meat.