The Ham in Black

Ed and Sherry Horvath want you to try a pig of a different stripe. Last year, the owner-operators of Sunshine Organic Farm became one of Alberta’s only producers of organic Berkshire pork on their mixed farm 100 kilometres southwest of Edmonton.

Originating in the United Kingdom, Berkshires are a heritage breed, meaning that the type has been around for a long time but has become rare as other breeds, often producing more meat at lower cost, have become the norm on big farms.

Berkshires are black with white patches on their feet, faces and the tips of their tails. Their flavourful meat is very finely marbled and is highly valued for roasting, frying or barbecuing. The Horvaths became interested in raising this special breed after they were approached by a Los Angeles-based organic products distributor last year.

“She loved our place and wanted us to start raising Berkshires for the Japanese market,” says Sherry. “It was doable, but the whole process was very costly and time-consuming. We had a strong feeling that

 if it was that highly sought after in Japan, we could develop a very good market here in Alberta.”

The first of their stock arrived last summer and are now happily ensconced on the farm, eating organic feed and enjoying the outdoors. The couple is now working on developing their own line of frozen meals, sausages and pet food using their certified organic beef, pork, turkey and chicken and prepared on-site in their commercial kitchen.

“I have a customer who wrote me that she had eight people over for dinner, and they all agreed the meat was wonderful. ‘Unanimous agreement’ was how she put it,” says Sherry.

Get your delicious cuts of Berkshire pork at the Horvaths’ stand at City Market, Edmonton’s downtown farmers’ market, or straight from the source by going to the website: www.sunshineorganicfarm.com.