Are you curious about the source of the delicious pork products from Hatfield Quality Meats?
Look no further! As a sixth-generation, family-owned company based in Pennsylvania, Hatfield prides itself on producing high-quality pork while maintaining the highest ethical and animal farming standards.
With a commitment to sustainability and animal welfare, Hatfield’s products are sure to impress both your taste buds and your conscience.
In this article, we’ll explore the history and practices of Hatfield Quality Meats to give you a better understanding of where your food comes from.
So sit back, relax, and get ready to learn about the origins of Hatfield pork.
Where Does Hatfield Pork Come From?
Hatfield Quality Meats has a long and rich history that dates back to 1895 when John C. Clemens began hauling pork products in a horse-drawn wagon from his farm to market in Philadelphia. Today, the company is still family-owned and operated, with about 300 members of the Clemens family as shareholders.
The company is based in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, and manages the Hatfield Quality Meats brand of pork products. Hatfield prides itself on working at a higher level of quality to ensure that they are not simply another pig supplier in the industry.
All of Hatfield’s pork comes from reputable American family farms, with a significant portion of it purchased locally from Lancaster County farmers. This allows them to maintain greater control over animal welfare and sustainability.
Hatfield’s dedication to humanely raising their animals is evident in their Pork with a Pledge program, which guarantees that all Hatfield pork is ethically farmed without growth hormones or steroids. This commitment to animal welfare and sustainability results in high-quality pork products with exceptional flavor that you and your customers can rely on.
The History Of Hatfield Quality Meats
The history of Hatfield Quality Meats dates back to 1895 when John C. Clemens started Pleasant Valley Packing Co. in Mainland, Pennsylvania, primarily selling meat to markets in Philadelphia. Two of his sons, John S. and Abe Clemens, took over the business until it burned down in 1946. The two brothers then purchased the Hatfield plant with their brothers Ezra and Lester, and the company has been owned and controlled by the Clemens family ever since through the private Clemens Family Corporation.
Over the years, the family business expanded into Hatfield Packing Company, Hatfield Quality Meats, and then Clemens Food Group. However, the core values set forth by John C. Clemens over 123 years ago – “to operate in a way that honors the Lord Jesus Christ as demonstrated through ethics, integrity, and stewardship” – remain deeply rooted in the company today.
Hatfield Quality Meats prides itself on providing the most wholesome and great tasting products possible. They achieve this by working with local farms through vertical coordination to ensure freshness and integrity of their products. They also maintain some of the highest standards in the industry to offer a high level of food safety that meets or exceeds all government standards and regulations.
Hatfield Quality Meats also strives to utilize the most modern equipment available, including their own trucking fleet, which delivers the majority of their products. All of these factors work together to control the freshness of Hatfield’s quality products all the way to the marketplace.
Throughout its 110-year history, Hatfield Quality Meats has maintained its integrity and reputation, sustaining a healthy success that has made it one of the region’s most popular brands. The company is committed to continuing its tradition of providing fresh quality pork products into the future.
Ethical And Sustainable Farming Practices
Hatfield Quality Meats is committed to ethical and sustainable farming practices, which include providing a safe and healthy environment for their pigs, promoting animal welfare, and ensuring the sustainability of their farms.
One of the ways Hatfield achieves this is by sourcing their pork from American family farms that share their values. They work closely with farmers to ensure that the pigs are raised in a humane manner and that they have access to clean water, fresh air, and ample space to move around. This not only promotes animal welfare but also helps to reduce stress on the animals, resulting in better quality pork.
Hatfield also uses third-party animal welfare audits to ensure that their suppliers meet their high standards for animal welfare. This includes regular inspections of the farms and facilities where the pigs are raised to ensure that they are being treated in a humane manner.
In addition to promoting animal welfare, Hatfield is also committed to sustainability. They work with farmers to implement sustainable farming practices, such as reducing water usage and minimizing waste. This helps to ensure the long-term viability of the farms and promotes environmental sustainability.
Hatfield’s commitment to ethical and sustainable farming practices is further demonstrated by their Pork with a Pledge program. This program guarantees that all Hatfield pork is ethically farmed without growth hormones or steroids. By choosing Hatfield pork products, consumers can be confident that they are supporting a company that values animal welfare and sustainability.
Animal Welfare Standards At Hatfield
Hatfield Quality Meats takes animal welfare seriously and has implemented a number of standards to ensure the humane treatment of their pigs. The company is committed to providing a comfortable and stress-free environment for their animals, which translates to better quality pork products.
One of the ways Hatfield ensures animal welfare is through its Pork Quality Assurance Plus (PQA+) program. This program was developed by the National Pork Board to provide a standardized approach to animal care and welfare. Hatfield’s farmers participate in this program, which includes regular audits and assessments to ensure that animal care standards are being met.
In addition to the PQA+ program, Hatfield also works with third-party organizations to ensure that their animal welfare standards are being met. The company has partnered with an animal welfare expert to develop some of its facilities, and all of their farms undergo regular third-party audits to ensure that they are meeting the highest standards of animal care.
Hatfield’s commitment to animal welfare extends beyond just their own farms. The company is also a member of the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), which advocates for the pork industry and works to promote animal welfare. The NPPC has developed its own set of ethical principles for the care and handling of pigs, which Hatfield follows.
The Quality Of Hatfield Pork Products
When it comes to the quality of Hatfield pork products, there is no compromise. Hatfield produces over 1,200 different fresh and manufactured pork products, all of which are made with the highest quality pork available. Their dedication to quality is evident in the fact that they have been in business for over 120 years and have grown into one of the largest meat companies in the United States.
One of the key factors that sets Hatfield apart from other pork suppliers is their commitment to ethically raising their animals. They do not use hormones, steroids, or growth promotants in their farming practices, which ensures that their animals are raised in a natural and healthy environment. This results in pork products that are not only delicious but also healthier for consumers.
Hatfield’s focus on animal welfare and sustainability also extends to their sourcing practices. They work with reputable American family farms and purchase a significant portion of their pork locally from Lancaster County farmers. This allows them to maintain greater control over the quality of their products and ensures that their animals are raised in a humane and sustainable manner.
In addition to their commitment to animal welfare and sustainability, Hatfield also takes great care in the processing and packaging of their pork products. They use state-of-the-art equipment and employ strict quality control measures to ensure that every product meets their high standards.
The Future Of Hatfield Quality Meats And The Pork Industry.
As a sixth-generation, family-owned business, Hatfield Quality Meats has a long-term commitment to the pork industry. The company’s recent $228 million investment to expand its operations in Hatfield is a testament to this commitment. The new facility will support increased smoked meats and cooked sausage production and create 87 new, full-time jobs over the next three years.
Moreover, Hatfield Quality Meats is dedicated to maintaining its reputation as a responsible and sustainable pork producer. The company’s Country View Family Farms division works with more than 250 company-owned and independent family farms throughout Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. This ensures that all of Hatfield’s pork comes from reputable American family farms, allowing the company to maintain greater control over animal welfare and sustainability.
As consumers become more aware of the environmental impact of their food choices, ethical farming practices will become increasingly important in the pork industry. Hatfield’s Pork with a Pledge program is an excellent example of how the company is staying ahead of this trend. By guaranteeing that all Hatfield pork is ethically farmed without growth hormones or steroids, the company is setting a high standard for the industry.
