Swift Premium Pork has become a go-to brand for high-quality pork products, but have you ever wondered exactly where this premium meat comes from? In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the supply chain, sourcing, and standards behind Swift Premium Pork to better understand its origins and journey from farm to table.
Introducing Swift Premium Pork
Swift Premium Pork is one of the flagship brands of meat titan JBS and its subsidiary Swift Foods Swift Premium offers an array of fresh and value-added pork products like chops, roasts, ribs, ground pork and more. The brand promises top-notch quality and meticulous standards across its pork offerings But what exactly does this entail when it comes to where Swift sources its pigs and pork? Let’s find out.
Swift Pork Facilities and Operations
While Swift ships pork products nationwide, its processing facilities and operations are concentrated in key pork producing states:
- Iowa
- Minnesota
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Colorado
Major plants include Worthington, MN, Beardstown, IL, Louisville, KY and Greeley, CO. Having facilities near major pig farming regions allows Swift to work closely with producers on standards while reducing shipping
Nationwide Sourcing from Local Farms
Though Swift Pork plants are concentrated in the Midwest, Swift sources from pig farms across the nation to meet demand. They work with producers of all sizes, including family farms, to procure livestock. Sourcing from diverse locales provides flexibility to meet production numbers and mitigate risk. Pigs produced in different regions even impart subtle flavor differences.
Vertical Integration in Pig Production
In 2017, JBS acquired majority ownership of Plumrose USA – one of the largest pig producers and suppliers to Swift. This allowed Swift to tighten vertical integration and have more control from farm to facility. However, Swift still sources the majority of pigs from independent producers.
Traceability and Transparency Measures
Swift Pork has rigorous tracking measures to trace each cut back to the source farm and date of production. They utilize ISO-certified facilities and comply with strict USDA and FDA regulations. This focus on traceability and transparency provides quality assurance throughout the supply chain.
Commitment to Animal Welfare
Swift Premium Pork adheres to ethical principles outlined by the National Pork Board’s We Care initiative. This includes practices like:
- Providing shelter and enrichment
- Administering antibiotics responsibly
- Maintaining air and water quality
- Ensuring humane transport and processing
Swift works closely with suppliers to uphold high standards of animal welfare from birth through processing.
Exacting Standards Around Safety and Sustainability
In addition to animal welfare, Swift Pork enforces exacting standards when it comes to:
- Food safety and sanitation protocols
- Water conservation initiatives
- Waste reduction through recycling and energy efficiency
- Reducing greenhouse emissions across the supply chain
By focusing on sustainability and resource management, Swift can deliver premium pork in a responsible manner.
The Bottom Line on Swift Premium Pork Origins
When you select a Swift Premium Pork product, you can feel confident knowing it comes from pigs ethically raised under strict standards by producers of all sizes across the country. With their commitment to animal welfare, sustainability, traceability and food safety, Swift Premium Pork delivers top-tier quality you can trust. Now that you understand the supply chain and sourcing, you can better appreciate the care that goes into Swift Premium Pork!
Swift Premium Pork
FAQ
Where is Swift Premium pork processed?
Where did swift pork originate?
Is Swift meat grass-fed?
Is Swift meat halal?
When did swift start selling meat?
1900: Company opens shops in London, England. 1915: “Safety First” campaign is implemented by the company, reducing plant accidents by 50%. 1920: Company gross sales exceed $1.1 billion; Swift disposes of side line businesses under terms of consent decree. 1931: Swift markets fresh meats under its Select, Premium, and other Swift labels.
Who is Swift & Company?
For over 150 years, Swift & Company has been providing quality beef and pork products under superior brand names to consumers nationwide. The Swift & Company tradition began with Mr. Gustavus Swift when he purchased a calf for $20.00 and sold the meat to his neighbors. Mr. Swift’s innovative thinking was only the beginning.
Where was the Swift & Company plant located?
Situated on 14 acres, the Swift & Company plant was adjacent to tracks of the Fort Worth Western Railroad, which carried the plant’s products to the East. In their heyday, when they were in full operation, the Swift and Armour plants between them processed up to five million head of cattle per year.
What happened to Swift & Company?
Once acquired by ConAgra, Swift was merged with Monfort into the Monfort Pork Division, which, in 1995, was renamed Swift & Company. ConAgra, the parent company, traced its own history back to 1919, when, in Grand Island, Nebraska, it started out as Nebraska Consolidated Mills.