The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: Tala Orchard on February 24, 2014, 05:38:41 pm

Title: What constitutes a meat box?
Post by: Tala Orchard on February 24, 2014, 05:38:41 pm

I have been trying to find out what constitutes a meat box, for half and whole pigs.

Going through many websites they seem to differ greatly, some include sausage and others include bacon (how can they if it is a fresh meat box as bacon is not fresh as it needs to be cured?

But what is a standard box? Is there such a beast?

Title: Re: What constitutes a meat box?
Post by: hughesy on February 24, 2014, 06:09:24 pm

It's whatever you want it to be. When we used to sell pork boxes I just used to specify a weight and state that it would typically contain some of a list of various cuts. And bacon is still described as fresh if it hasn't been frozen.

Title: Re: What constitutes a meat box?
Post by: oaklandspigs on February 25, 2014, 09:07:54 am

As hughesy says no legal definition, it's whatever you want it to be.

Just make clear on you advertising/what you tell people what they can expect.

On your bacon, the bigger guys doing this will have pork from say this week, with bacon made from a pig a few ago - a half pig box doesn't have to mean that it is all from the same pig !  Again make sure your customers know what they're getting.

Title: Re: What constitutes a meat box?
Post by: Fowgill Farm on February 25, 2014, 09:15:57 am

Hi
If you message me with your e-mail address i have a "Whats in your Pork box" blurb that i put in my quarter and half boxes, you'd be welcome to a copy.
We sell our boxes as "Traditionally butchered pork inc sausages" and most customers accept that quarter boxes are 10-12kg worth and halfs are 20-24kg worth. We normally include a couple of 450g packs of bacon but they know thats from an earlier pig, the rest of our bacon we sell separately.
HTH
Mandy :pig: 

Title: Re: What constitutes a meat box?
Post by: Azzdodd on February 25, 2014, 09:58:39 am

I sell mine ATM as half pork pigs or half bacon pigs.....bacon pigs being more because it costs me £9 a joint from the butcher.....

Title: Re: What constitutes a meat box?
Post by: shygirl on February 25, 2014, 10:10:40 am

some customers expect bacon, when we first sold pork everyone mentioned bacon sandwiches first!! alot more hassle though, as only a few butchers would - or knew how to - cure.

Title: Re: What constitutes a meat box?
Post by: benandjerry on February 25, 2014, 06:27:52 pm

As a buyer, I wouldn't expect bacon or sausages, but have always been asked if I would like some, and they wouldn't be from that pig. For me it's about how much I have to pay and then what I am getting for that money. :)

Title: Re: What constitutes a meat box?
Post by: Daisys Mum on February 25, 2014, 08:26:34 pm

My customers get their pork and sausages at once then I deliver the bacon when it is ready.

Title: Re: What constitutes a meat box?
Post by: benandjerry on February 25, 2014, 09:38:53 pm

Quote from: Daisys Mum on February 25, 2014, 08:26:34 pm

My customers get their pork and sausages at once then I deliver the bacon when it is ready.

Looks like you might have a new customer.   :)  You can educate me on the feeding side when we meet up.... :)