Forest-raised Pork
Think pork is dry and bland? Let us change your mind. Our heritage-breed pigs are raised in the forests of Appalachia where native acorn and hickory nuts give our pork a mild, rich taste. When it comes to quality, we're willing to put in the time. Our pigs are selected for flavor and the perfect balance between fat and protein, rather than size and growth-speed, to ensure that every bite is the best it can be.
Taste the Difference
- Heritage Breed
We selected Meishans to hit the perfect balance between tenderness and flavor. An ancient, endangered farm breed, our pigs produce pork that has more fat than a standard commercial pig, but not enough that you don't know what to do with the excess. It's everything you want, and nothing you don't.
- Slow Growing
Flavor is a result of age and exercise. We take our pigs to around 14 months, 10 months longer than a standard commerical breed. This ensures that the micro-nutrients from our forrest make it into your meal. Imagine the flavor of beef with the mild, sweet qualities of bacon in the fat. Pork should be anything but lack-luster.
- Forest Raised
Raised on a mountainside in Appalacia, our pigs are born and raised outside to ensure they're happy and healthy. Native nut trees provide added richness to our finished product. Pigs can store vitamin D in their fat, but only if they're exposed to the sun. We believe that allowing our animals to live a life in a natural environment as much as possible is the best thing for them, and the best thing for you. Good meat is made up of all the good things you put into it.
Thoughtfully selected
Meishan Pigs
We raise heritage Meishan pigs, an ancient Chinese breed domesticated roughly 5,000 year ago making it one of the oldest pig breeds in the world. We chose Meishans for their taste; the dark red color and the firm texture of the meat. It is an eating experience much like beef, differing mainly in the flavor of the fat. We believe eating pork should be a luxury eating experience, not the cheap, tasteless, and flabby meat labeled “pork” in the grocery store.
Meishan pigs are in between very slow-growing lard pigs and a lean heritage breed like a Duroc, growing slowly but not glacially. All things being equal taste and texture are determined by age and exercise. The more a muscle moves the more blood flows through it, the more nutrients it receives, and the more its muscles fibers get built. Exercise moves the muscles, age increases the amount of movement. We take or pigs for a little over a year, rather than the four months generally taken to grow out a standard pig breed. Raised in an outdoor environment on a forested mountain side, the result is pork that we actually want to eat rather than “the other white meat.”
Purchase
Buy in bulk by selecting one of our variety packs below.
Choose one of our product options below. Purchasing a full animal can feel daunting if it's your first time. We're here to make it simple.
$8/lb
A quarter pig (50lbs) includes all of the cuts listed below.
- ~ 10lbs ground pork, 1lb packs
- ~ 10lbs pork chops, bone-in (boneless available on request)
- ~ 9lbs Uncured, sliced bacon and jowl bacon, half lb packs
- ~ 10lbs Shoulder/Butt Roasts
- ~ 7lbs Ham steaks
- 1 Ham hock
$8/lb
Half a pig (100lbs) includes all of the cuts listed below.
- ~ 20lbs ground pork, 1lb packs
- ~ 20lbs pork chops, bone-in (boneless available on request)
- ~ 18lbs Uncured, sliced bacon and jowl bacon, half lb packs
- ~ 18lbs Shoulder/Butt Roasts
- 1 full rack of spare ribs
- ~ 14lbs Ham steaks
- 2 Ham hocks
$8/lb
A full pig (200lbs) includes all of the cuts listed below
- ~ 40lbs ground pork, 1lb packs
- ~ 40lbs pork chops, bone-in (boneless available on request)
- ~ 36lbs Uncured, sliced bacon and jowl bacon, half lb packs
- ~ 36lbs Shoulder/Butt Roasts
- 2 full racks of spare ribs
- ~ 14lbs Ham steaks
- 4 Ham hocks
Don't see what your looking for?
We're happy to help you put together a custom package. Just let us know what you need and we'll do our best to make it happen.
Frequently asked questions
Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Send us an email at mountaintablefarm@gmail.com. We'd love to talk more.
- I'm in, but I don't have a separate freezer. Can I still purchase a variety pack?
Yes! Fortunately, meat is very space efficient. Fourty pounds of pork can easily fit in a single shelf of a split fridge/freezer. Having trouble visualizing this? Head over to our gallery for some storage inspiration!
- Do you sell meat in smaller quantites?
Yes, we can sell by the cut on request; all of our meat is USDA processed and packaged. For amounts outside of our standard variety packages, please give us a call at (540) 251-2590 or send us an email at mtntablefarm@gmail.com.
- Do you sell whole hams?
Yes, whole hams are available on request and we will work with our processor if this is something that interests you. Please note that due to USDA regulations, we are unable to sell hams that have been brined and pre-cooked like the ones you generally buy in a grocery store. If you need recommendations on how to cook a fresh ham, we're more than happy to point you in the right direction. To talk further, please give us a call at (540) 251-2590 or send us an email at mtntablefarm@gmail.com.
- Is your bacon smoked and cured?
Due to USDA regulations, is it not. While it is pre-sliced, our bacon has not been smoked or cured. One benefit to this is the lack of additives. There are no nitrates/nitrites or sugar, and you can add salt to match your personal preference and proceed to cook it the same way you would cook regular bacon either on the stove or in the oven.