Henry Fudge—a farmer, businessman and preacher—is the driving force behind Fudge Family Farms. The farms supplying his label raise a cross of two heritage breeds and are the culmination of 30 years of research into what makes a really good hog.

Simply Grazin’ Organic Farm (in New Jersey and Virginia) is a family owned and operated farm that believes in allowing animals to do exactly what God intended them to do—graze peacefully and grow naturally—with minimal interference from the farmers. The farm is run by Mark, Lynne, Dylan, Taylor & Stacie Faille. In addition, they have numerous family members, including uncles, cousins, nephews, & nieces that lend a helping hand on a daily and seasonal basis. They have been farming for approximately 12 years and were committed to grass-based, organic farming before it was “in.”

High Lonesome Farm is an Animal Welfare Approved farm situated in the beautiful rolling hills of south central New York, raising 100% grassfed, purebred Angus beef and selling fully processed “freezer beef” directly from the farm in packages comprised of wholes, halves or quarters (split halves).

Tom Martin has known since age four that he wanted to be a farmer. His childhood memories of farming with his father have inspired his dedication to the land and his animals, and to leaving both in even better condition for the next generation. “There’s a different way to do things these days that is healthy and productive,” Tom says. “Raising our cattle on pasture is one of the things I can do to make sure that my sons will be able to farm healthy land with healthy animals.”

Farmers of Israel, Palestine and Jordan are utilizing an alternative method of pest control: birds of prey. Owls and kestrels are now being courted with nests and plentiful hunting grounds, that they may serve as a “natural” means to keep the rodent population in check. Previously, rodenticides had been sprayed on crops to deter the pests. This proved fatal to hundreds of birds of prey – including many endangered species – that died after eating the poisoned animals. Quests for an alternative method ultimately led to a government-funded program encouraging the erection of nesting boxes for owls and kestrels – birds whose complementary hunting patterns result in 24-hour rodent control. A kibbutz, or farming village, in the Bet-She’an Valley was one of the first to employ this method in 1983. The practice has now blossomed into a partnership between three countries, multiple charities, scientists and farmers, in an effort to reduce the amount of chemical pesticides used on middle eastern farms.

Kathy and Liam Trodden raise Animal Welfare Approved beef and dairy cattle at Longfellow’s Creamery in Avon, Maine. Kathy and Liam established Longfellow’s and Second Chance Farm, LLC in 2001. The farm was named after the Longfellow Mountains–a range that runs throughout Maine–and their cheeses are named for the range’s individual peaks, such as Bigelow Blue and Tumbledown Tomme.

Theodore Williams raises Animal Welfare Approved hogs on his farm in Magnolia, NC. Mr. Williams was born and raised in North Carolina and has been raising hogs since he was a young boy. Today he specializes in “feeder pigs”- pigs that are purchased from a breeder as piglets and then grown to market weight (240-250 lbs) for resale . At Mr. Williams farm, pigs roam on 25 acres of forest and open pasture- rooting and enjoying natural behavior. They are antibiotic-free and steroid-free, and their feed is never supplemented with animal fat or by-products. At any one time Theodore William’s Farm has 75-125 pigs on the farm and 10-15 that are ready for sale.

Lenwood Miller raises crossbreeds of Berkshire and Poland China hogs on L&M Farm in Magnolia, North Carolina.

River Taw Farms is located in Cherryville, NC in the rolling foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. River Taw prides itself on being one of the largest grassfed beef farms in the Carolinas, committed to breeding Black Angus cattle in a natural, sustainable way.

Following our recent Alfred State Summit, this past Monday and Tuesday we attended a similar summit on sustainable food in North Carolina. This “Farm to Fork” summit was hosted by the Center for Environmental Farming Systems and North Carolina’s two land grant universities: NC A&T & NC State. Notable speakers included Mary McNeil, USDA Deputy [...]