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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/

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What If Pigs Could Talk

Well, at Nature's Gourmet Farm our pigs may not speak English, but their body language sure says a lot. Notice our pigs! See how content they are napping - they would say how nice the morning is and glad to enjoy the shade in our natural environment. The soft dirt is so relaxing. We have heard that some pigs live in cramped and confined spaces on hard concrete. Why would any farmer treat their pigs like that?

Farm Happenings!

Celebrity Visitor – Tuesday afternoon I had the opportunity to meet one of the nicest guys here on our farm. CJ called me about ten days earlier to ask if he could come and see our farm. Seems his family owns a farm near Bassfield, MS and they were needing to make some changes. As you know, I’m eager to help anyone who would like to farm as Mississippi certainly needs more folks raising food to feed our communities – and since he was interested in Regenerative Pasture Raised animals that was even better.

Clean Sheets

Family Bible– This is about a personal story I would like to share this Easter (Jesus’ Resurrection). My dad’s oldest sister is 102 years old and not as sharp as she once was even though she has the most content personality of anyone I’ve ever known in her limited condition. Recently her middle son, my 1st cousin, asked me if I would be interested in two Simmons Family Bibles – well of course, I replied. The oldest Bible goes back four generations and includes names, dates, etc. for birthdays, marriages, deaths. And the penmanship is amazing! The second Family Bible is two generations old and belonged to my dad’s parents.