Restock Dates: Please see our Farm Blog where we post our weekly newsletter for the latest updates

Newsletter 2016 0924

written by

Ben Simmons

posted on

September 28, 2016

Upcoming Order Deadlines

MADISON:
Order by Sunday, October 16, 2016
Pickup Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Hattiesburg & Hattiesburg Hwy 98 West
Order by Monday, October 17, 2016
Pickup Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Biloxi & Gulfport
Order by Monday October 17, 2016
Pickup Thursday, October 20, 2016

Remember, you can place an order and or update an existing order until midnight of the order date. Visit our online store at www.naturesgourmetfarm.com

Maybe you remember your teacher encouraging you to ask questions during school because “if you have a question then most likely someone else does as well”.

Lately there have been several questions regarding availability and ordering. I can understand the confusion as we have shifted how we do business from strictly “custom” sales (availability) during a few months per year to now also include bundled sales via our online store.

First, the difference between custom and bundled.

Custom orders are where the customer is basically buying the animal directly from the farm. In most cases the farmer delivers the animal to the processor. The customer instructs how they want the animal processed and pays the processor for his work when they pick up their order. Custom applies ONLY to half & whole orders – either beef or pork.


Availability:
1.Pigs- we have set a 5-month rotation meaning we will have pigs available every 5-months. Pigs are available for October 2016 processing thus we are taking deposits now. Half of the pigs have been sold since we advertised them last week. So, if you want a pig do not delay! Here is the link https://naturesgourmetfarm.com/store/product/pork-half-custom-processed Next available will be March 2017. Then August 2017 and so on.
2.Beef- typically available late May through mid-September annually

Bundled orders include half, ground share, and variety shares. Bundles are pre-packaged based on weight and sold for a known or set price. Processing cost are included in the bundle price. Very similar to buying from your grocery’s meat case. Bundles are available for ordering throughout the year as long as we have not sold out.

Chicken: when we added chicken 3-years ago we only sold as fresh. Regulations limit us to 1,000 chickens per year. We raise 8-batches of 125 each and process every 4-weeks beginning early May – November. Processing is done on Friday’s and we meet customers the next morning in Hattiesburg for delivery. Customers order fresh my emailing me how many they want and for what date. We freeze extras and sell from our online store for delivery to any of the 5-pickup locations listed.

Ordering: our online store is open beginning the day after the pickup date until a few days before the pickup date. This gives us a few days to pack your order and make ready for delivery without last minute changes that we may or may not know about – and making for unhappy customers when we arrive with something different.

Remember, you can order as little as 10# of beef, 25# of pork, or 1-chicken. The store will not let you place an order for an “out of stock” item.

Hope this helps!

Last week we delivered two Beef Half – Custom Processed orders to long time customers. The orders were processed by our new processor - Attala. Here are initial comments:

Ok. I'm with Beth. We had a sirloin last night and it was AWESOME!! Next to my grandmother 's homemade ice cream the best thing I've eaten!! Definitely a good move to go with this processor! Barbara

The ground beef was great and we put a new york strip on the grill last night. It was delicious! Very tender and great taste. Very pleased!! Thanks so much, Angela

Visit our online store to learn more about our farm, products, pickup locations AND ordering. https://naturesgourmetfarm.com/

More from the blog

Exciting News From Our Farm

Before I share our exciting news let me update you on beef! You may remember that we communicated our intent to combine April & May custom half orders and process them late March. That way we could increase the amount of inventory we are able to sell through our website. This week our team spent three long days cutting and packing eight beef that was added to our store late Friday afternoon. That represents two beef extra than typical to satisfy the demand we have for our beef. Now, for the exciting news. For some time I have been wanting to add to as well as upgrade our beef herd.

Animal impact On OUR Pastures

The documentary Sacred Cow is known for the phrase "It's NOT the Cow, It's The How!" The meaning is simple. The cow is not responsible for any environmental effects on our land, water, or air. However, the way MAN insists on managing the cow IS RESPONSIBLE. The cow left to her nature and instinct would never confine themselves into a feedlot situration where they would be standing in their waste. Nor would the cow, when left to their nature and instinct, confine themselves to a single pasture on continuous graze. The cow's nature and instinct would be to eat, graze, and move - very similar to the buffalo

Government IS RESPONSIBLE For That

January 2024 LtGov Hoseman wrote an opinion piece that was published in newspapers across the state. The jist of his opinion was Mississippi's labor market is at a critical inflection point where only 53% of our population is working and the balance is not. While I fully agree Mississippi has a critical labor market issue - I also know GOVERNMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT!!! Full disclosure - I tried three times to discuss this point with Hoseman, but he never returned my call. I will be sending him