STONY PLAIN, Alta. (Staff) – An Alberta couple said they can double their money by selling sides of pork from their farm home rather than just raising hogs.
Like many ventures, Michele and Daryl Ducholke didn’t plan on selling pork by the package when they moved from Edmonton to the family farm a few years ago.
They began butchering a few hogs from their 4,000-hog-per-year finishing barn for friends. A few more friends wanted sides of pork and soon the Ducholkes were in the commercial pork business.
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Last year, their business, Country Fresh Pork, sold more than 300 sides of pork.
Stored separately
They have a contract with a local government-inspected butcher to kill and package the hogs. Customers who have pre-ordered pork can pick up the packages from the farm. The only extra equipment needed is a second freezer. Government regulations require the pork to be kept separate from their own food.
Act as their own retailer
“We make just as much money selling it again as raising it originally,” said Daryl, referring to the profits they get from finishing the hogs, in addition to the profits gained by acting as a retailer.
Their goal is to sell 160 sides a week.
People willingly drive from the city to pick up farm-fresh produce to save money and to support local farmers, said Michele.
With three young children, Michele doubts she will return to her career as a nurse. But by increasing the amount of pork they sell, it may replace the income from her nursing career without having to leave the farm.
