Pigs are among some the first domesticated animals by ancient civilizations, with the earliest evidence cited around 13,000 BC in Mesopotamia. Further animal husbandry of pork has been found in India and certain regions of Asia some thousands of years later, around the fourth millennium.
As pork became more widely available across Europe, different methods of preservation were developed, most of which involved curing the meat in salt to extend it's shelf life, which is how the products we all love today, like charcuterie, confit, bacon, ham, and sausage, came to be.
Today, pork is the most commonly consumed meat in the world, from Eastern Asia and across the Pacific, to Europe and North and South America.
On Sustainability:
Unlike the mass production practices of the conventional meat industry, Fossil Farms' Berkshire and Duroc Pork are pasture raised, where they are free to roam and forage on grasses and native plants. In colder months, the pigs are given shelter to stay protected from the harsh winter elements and their diets are supplemented with grain.
These animal husbandry practices are more conducive to the way livestock should be raised, yielding a higher quality product and, perhaps more importantly, result in less negative environmental impacts which American factory farms are known to widely produce.
On Nutrition:
When compared to conventionally raised pork, Berkshire Pork contains less saturated fat. Due to a higher density of intramuscular fat tissues, Berkshire Pork has an even distribution of fat through it's tissue, rendering heavily marbled cuts of meat. Duroc Pork has the least amount of fat in it's muscle, making it the leanest option of the three.
Fossil Farms' Berkshire & Duroc Pork:
Fossil Farms’ all natural Berkshire and Duroc Pork are part of the “Never Ever Program,” in which they are never administered antibiotics, steroids or hormones. Our Berkshire Pork is raised in New Jersey and Iowa by family owned and operated farms. It's meat has a rich dark pink hue that's heavily marbled, which equals an immense amount of flavor with each bite. Our Duroc Pork is also raised by family owned and operated farms, however the meat contains less fat, making it a more lean option compared to Berkshire Pork.
Fun Facts:
> Berkshire Pork is a heritage breed, originally from Berkshire County, England. In the 19th century, the breed was brought to Japan and the United States.
> Duroc Pork is also a heritage breed, developed between 1822 and 1877, from the Old Duroc pig of New York and the Red Jersey pig of New Jersey. By the 1930's, Duroc became the predominant pork that was bred in the United States. Today however, the most common breed is Yorkshire because it is the largest and fastest growing pig, making it the ideal option for mass feedlots, which dominate the market over family owned and operated farms.