With their premium quality pork products found in grocery stores across America, Hatfield is one of the most recognized names in the pork industry. But where exactly does authentic Hatfield pork come from? Let’s explore the history and operations behind this distinguished brand.
Company History
The Hatfield story begins in the early 1900s with a husband and wife team, C.E. and Alice Hatfield in Evansville Indiana. The couple started a small family-owned meat packing business specializing in hams and bacons cured using Alice Hatfield’s original time-honored recipes.
Over successive generations the family grew their business into a fully integrated pork production enterprise. Today Hatfield Quality Meats remains family-owned and headquartered in Pennsylvania employing over 2,000 people. The company has maintained a commitment to tradition, quality and genuine homestyle flavor throughout its 100+ years of operation.
Vertically Integrated Process
Hatfield controls every stage of pork production, which they describe as “from farm to fork.” This vertical integration allows careful oversight for quality and humane standards.
Their process includes:
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Farms – Pork is sourced from company owned farms in Indiana, Illinois and Pennsylvania. The farms practice responsible antibiotic use under veterinary supervision.
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Feed Mills – Custom feed is made to optimize pig health and nutrition. Hatfield operates multiple feed mills.
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Processing Plants – State-of-the-art processing facilities in Indiana, Pennsylvania and Ohio. All USDA inspected.
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Distribution – Products shipped to retail stores nationwide.
Controlling each production phase enables Hatfield to guarantee product freshness, safety and their high standards.
Breeds of Pork
Hatfield uses only premium pork approved by the National Pork Board. Their pork comes from heritage hog breeds prized for superior quality and flavor:
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Duroc – Known for rich marbling and reddish meat color. Excellent juiciness and tenderness.
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Berkshire – Historic English breed with deep pink tinged meat acclaimed for flavor.
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Yorkshire – Originally from England, provides lean yet moist meat.
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Landrace – Danish breed with long bodies supplying lean, succulent meat.
By sourcing from heritage breeds, Hatfield pork maintains an authentic, old-fashioned flavor profile true to the company’s long legacy.
Humanely Raised Pigs
Animal care and comfort are top priorities for Hatfield. All their pigs are raised humanely in individual pens with:
- Plenty of space for natural behaviors like rooting and moving around
- Enrichments like rooting blocks and chew toys
- Free access to food and water
- Humane handling by trained caretakers
- No added hormones or steroids
- Responsible medical care when needed
These high standards of welfare result in low-stress pigs and premium pork quality.
Traditional Processing
Once pigs reach market weight, they are processed at Hatfield’s own USDA facilities. Time-honored handcrafted techniques include:
- Humane CO2 stunning method for anesthesia before processing
- Slow natural chilling to enhance tenderness
- Minimum 120 hour curing time for bacons and hams
- Natural hardwood smoking over real wood fires
- Unhurried air-drying for prosciutto hams
- Attentive trimming, carving and packaging by hand
This thoughtful traditional approach delivers authentic old-fashioned flavor and texture.
Quality Inspections
Hatfield maintains over 600 separate quality checkpoints throughout their pork production and processing:
- Stringent standards for food safety and sanitation
- Humane handling audits and records
- Veterinary oversight of animal health
- Verifying ideal pH and color of meat
- Monitoring product weight, shape and size
- Metal detection and other safety checks
- Extensive sanitation protocols
These rigorous inspections let Hatfield stand behind every product that bears their name.
In Summary
For over a century, Hatfield has perfected wholly-integrated pork manufacturing from their company farms through packaging. Their heritage hog breeds, humane raising practices, handcrafted processing and meticulous quality control allow Hatfield to deliver exceptionally tasty traditional pork products true to their long-standing reputation. Next time you bite into an exquisitely juicy Hatfield pork chop or ham, you can appreciate the heritage and care invested in their signature flavor.