Free-Range Hogs in North Carolina
Photo by Jeremy M. Lange
The Independent Weekly on Franklin County's MAE Farm, home to 220 free-range hogs as well as cattle, goats and chicken. MAE Farm's owner and operator, Mike Jones, also works as an extension agent teaching other North Carolina farmers to operate small, low-impact hog farms. "By legal definition, a small-scale hog farmer is one with no more than 250 pigs. North Carolina has about 100 of these farmers, and Jones has helped almost half of them get into business since 2001, when he started working at N.C. A&T."
The biggest challenge for these farmers is marketing, as most are naturally more inclined to focus on raising their animals than seek out new sales channels. "Accessing new markets takes sales skills, and while selling directly to customers through farmers' markets and meat-buying clubs can pull in premium prices, it takes a lot of time."
If you live in the area, you might want to check out the The Second Annual Eastern Triangle Farm Tour happening this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 22-23, 1-5 p.m.
Seventeen farms in Durham, Franklin, Johnston and Wake counties will showcase sustainable practices in growing flowers, trees, herbs, fruits and vegetables, as well as raising pigs, sheep, goats, rabbits, heritage breeds of chickens and the world's smallest breed of cattle.
Download the full brochure, including maps and detailed descriptions of each site, at www.carolinafarmstewards.org. Tickets are also available online; they are $25 per car in advance for unlimited sites, or $10 per car per farm. Bring a cooler: Produce and meat will be available for purchase, fresh from the farm.
