We are in production!

Agricola Farm is in production! Our first test run has started. We took our first pig (Cassandra) to the slaughterhouse. The trip and the transportation went very smoothly. She was slaughtered within 2 hours of her arrival (which is ideal) and had a few pig companions to talk to while waiting. I toured the place and everything looked very well organized, clean, and professionally handled. I am very happy about that! We used to do our own slaughtering and considered that an important aspect of the process because we could make sure the animal was as relaxed and happy as she could be up until the last second. Now we must use USDA approved slaughterhouses, and out of all the alternatives this is a good one. We took Cassandra there in the early morning when the weather is a bit cooler, and the trip is only fourteen miles of backcountry roads. We did continue our tradition of giving the animals a chocolate treat on their last day. Pigs love chocolate, but I am not sure it is very good for their diet, so we reserve it for their last meal letting them experience it at least one time. 
Last Wednesday Farmer Ale used the MAd River Food Hub to prepare the first 100 batches of sausages and to try our test run of coppa, pancetta, culatello, prosciuttino, and bacon. 
YEAH!! Agricola Food is coming to your table soon!