The Pork Chop
The beginning of any great pork chop recipe is in fact a great pork chop. A great pork chop can go a long way for dinner because there are so many options. There are different marinades, rubs, barbecue sauces, gravies, and an endless amount of cooking possibilities for your pork chop. But where did it all start? It started with the pig itself. A pig that has lived a healthy and stress-free life is more likely to produce tender and flavorful meat. When an animal is under stress, their body produces more stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, which causes their meat to be a little tougher and less tender. So, if an animal lives a stress-free lifestyle, they are more likely to produce tender meat. Tenderness is a key factor when serving any meat, especially a pork chop.
Free-Range
A pig that has lived a stress-free lifestyle most likely came from a farm where they could roam and be free-ranging pigs. According to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, “A free-range piggery is one in which the pig herd is rotated on pastures or cropland.” Many people who are not in the pig industry have never seen a pig run; their only thought of a pig is this huge, lazy animal. On the contrary, pigs are natural runners. Pigs with space to run and move around require a lot of work by the farmer. Many farmers that desire the best meat producing pigs are willing to put in the work and have a free-range style piggery. This way of farming becomes their lifestyle.
Where to get free-range pork
In today’s day and age you can buy pork online, you can even buy free-range pork online. Buying pork online is something that is becoming more and more popular. With large amounts of people moving to the cities, there is no longer a connection between the consumer and the farmer. That connection is very valuable because it lets the consumer know how the animal was raised and where the animal was processed, essentially letting the consumer know where their food is coming from. When you buy pork online you can browse around the website, look at videos, and even email the farmer to know exactly where your pork is coming from. This enables people from all over to become connected with and have that relationship with their farmer like they did generations ago.