Are you a fan of delicious, premium ham that’s perfect for any occasion? Look no further than Appleton Farms!
This brand offers a variety of hams, from boneless to bone-in, and even options approved for the New York State Inmate Care Package Program.
But who exactly is behind the mouth-watering flavor of Appleton Farms ham? In this article, we’ll dive into the origins and production of this beloved brand.
So sit back, relax, and get ready to learn all about the makers of Appleton Farms ham.
Who Makes Appleton Farms Ham?
Appleton Farms ham is a brand exclusively found at Aldi, a popular grocery store chain. While the exact manufacturer of the ham is not disclosed, Aldi has a reputation for working with high-quality suppliers to provide their customers with top-notch products.
What we do know is that Appleton Farms ham is made in the United States and is of the highest quality. The brand offers a range of options, including boneless spiral sliced ham with a delectable brown sugar glaze, as well as hardwood smoked butt portion bone-in ham for those on a budget.
In addition to their regular offerings, Appleton Farms also produces hams that are approved for the New York State Inmate Care Package Program. These fully cooked meats are hermetically sealed and meet the strict guidelines set forth by the program.
The History Of Appleton Farms Ham
While the history of Appleton Farms ham is not explicitly stated, the farm itself has a rich and extensive history that dates back to 1638. Established by Samuel Appleton, an immigrant from Little Waldingfield, England, the farm has been continuously operating for nearly four centuries and over nine generations of the Appleton family.
The farm has played an important role in America’s agricultural history, with rolling grasslands, grazing livestock, stone walls, extensive forests, and historic farm buildings all part of the farms 1,000-acre pastoral landscape. Today, the farm operates a 550-member Community Supported Agriculture program and a farm store that sells artisanal cheeses, butter, yogurt, beef, and eggs.
While it is unclear when Appleton Farms ham was first introduced, it is clear that Aldi has worked with high-quality suppliers to provide their customers with top-notch products. The ham is made in the United States and is of the highest quality, with options including boneless spiral sliced ham with a delectable brown sugar glaze and hardwood smoked butt portion bone-in ham.
The Production Process
While the exact production process for Appleton Farms ham is not disclosed, we can make some educated guesses based on the information provided.
Firstly, the boneless spiral sliced ham is hickory smoked and comes with a brown sugar glaze already prepared and included in the packaging. This suggests that the ham has already undergone a smoking process and has been coated with the glaze prior to packaging.
Similarly, the Black Forest Whole Ham is cured with honey and natural juices before smoking to produce its intense black color and rich flavor. It arrives boneless, custom trimmed, fully cooked, and ready to serve. This suggests that the ham has undergone a curing process before being smoked and trimmed to perfection.
It’s important to note that most hams are precooked regardless of the cooking method you choose. This means that the production process likely involves cooking or smoking the ham to a certain temperature before packaging it for sale.
Quality Control And Standards
At Appleton Farms, quality control is taken very seriously. From the farm to the fork, their Quality Assurance team oversees every aspect of the inspection, cooking, and distribution processes to ensure safety, quality, and consistency.
The hams are hand-selected from the highest quality American, grain-fed stock and are trimmed and prepared by expert manufacturers for the most selective inspection process on the market. Appleton Farms’ standards are so stringent that only about 10% of the hams pass their 16-point inspection to be labeled as their premium Honey Baked Hams.
The brand also adheres to strict guidelines for sodium levels, with their low-sodium black forest hams being cured with honey and natural juices before smoking to produce their intense black color and rich flavor.
Fresh Mark is a nationwide supplier of bacon, ham, hot dogs, pepperoni, and salami, and is one of the suppliers that Appleton Farms may work with. Fresh Mark’s Sugardale and Superior’s Brand Meats lines have been relied upon by customers for their quality and consistency for almost a century. As a family-owned company, Fresh Mark honors its history with legacy recipes, traditions, and good business practices.
Sustainability Efforts
Appleton Farms is committed to sustainability in all aspects of their business. They pride themselves on reducing their impact on the environment as much as possible. Their two processing facilities and compost program allow them to have little to no waste and utilize 100% of the plants they grow. This means that even the lowest grade produce is delivered to their compost sight and converted into highly enriched compost, which is used to grow their next family of crops.
Owned by the Trustees of Reservations, Appleton Farms is America’s oldest working farm, with rolling grasslands, grazing livestock, stone walls, extensive forests, and historic farm buildings. The farm operates a 550-member Community Supported Agriculture program and a farm store that sells artisanal cheeses, butter, yogurt, beef, and eggs. Appleton Farms along with the neighboring Appleton Farms Grass rides offer more than 12 miles of walking trails and is open to the public seven days a week.
The Trustees of Reservations assumed responsibility for the farm in 1998 and renovated the 200-year-old house with green technology, restoring it to its Georgian essence. The renovation preserved hand-hewn timbers, heart-pine floorboards, Victorian-era windows, decorative moldings, and mementos. The newly opened visitor center includes furniture, portraits, photo albums, books, and other objects original to the house. The house tells the story of one family’s history from settlers to farmers to “gentleman farmers” over the course of 371 years.
The Future Of Appleton Farms Ham
As of now, it is unclear what the future holds for Appleton Farms ham. However, with Aldi’s commitment to providing high-quality products at affordable prices, it is safe to assume that the brand will continue to thrive.
Furthermore, with the growing demand for locally sourced and sustainably produced foods, it is possible that Appleton Farms may explore new methods of production and sourcing in the future. The Trustees of Reservations, who own and care for the land where Appleton Farms originated, have already implemented a community-supported agriculture program for vegetables. It is possible that they may expand their efforts to include other types of produce or even livestock in the future.
