BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — The herd of pigs at 1936 Meadowbrook Farm is now certified as Animal Welfare Approved. This certification and food label lets consumers know these animals are raised in accordance with the highest animal welfare standards in the U.S. and Canada, using sustainable agriculture methods on an independent family farm.
1936 Meadowbrook Farm joins Crane Dance Farm and Jake’s Country Meats as the third Certified AWA pork producer in Michigan.
Like other AWA farmers across the country, Michelle and Mike Deschaaf recognized the growing consumer interest in how animals are raised on farms. Managing animals outdoors on pasture or range has known benefits for animals, consumers and the environment.
The farm was purchased in 1936 by Mike Deschaaf’s great grandfather Jan Deschaaf, and Michelle Deschaaf, Mike Deschaaf, and their son Otto Deschaaf are the fourth and fifth generations of the family to farm the land. The family raises about 100-heritage breed Mangalitsa pigs on 40 acres of rolling pasture, and they selected the breed because it was well adapted to snowy Michigan winters and large, open pastures.
“Pasture-based management is a very important part of our practices,” Michelle Deschaaf explained, “We use rotational grazing so we do not deplete the natural grasses and forage, and moving the animals to different pastures also helps with parasite management and allows the pigs to engage in natural behaviors out in the fresh air.”
The Deschaafs decided to pursue AWA certification because they felt it would help them tell their story.
“Becoming Certified AWA was an important step for us,” Michelle said. “We want to be able to say we have independent audits on our farm and that we are raising our animals to the highest standards possible.”
AWA Program Director Andrew Gunther said, “The accountability and integrity offered by Animal Welfare Approved farmers like Michelle and Mike are unmatched in food production. We’re glad to have 1936 Meadowbrook Farm in the AWA family.”
Certified AWA pork from 1936 Meadowbrook Farm is available direct from the farm, as well as at Chesterton’s European Farmers Market in Indiana and Sommerfeldts Farm in Michigan. Please call first for availability when purchasing direct from the farm. For more information, call (269)-363-9334, visit www.1936meadowbrook.com or connect with the farm on Facebook @MeadowbrookFarm1936 or Twitter @1936Meadowbrook.