Bear and the Flower Farm outdoor raised free range pork is happy year round! In the winter the pigs live in a 11 acre paddock to keep them warm and healthy with Alberta’s up and down climate. To many people, they go ok…how big is that? To put it into perspective the winter paddock is just about 10 football fields’ big, lots of space. When you look into the winter paddock you cannot see all of the pigs without walking around. They find fun spots to play in mud wallows and root.
When summer arrives Bear and the Flower Farm naturally raised pigs go out to pasture where they sped time playing in the water and sunbathing. We electric fence the pigs in large sections of grassy fields. The pigs live 100% outdoors. They burrow in straw on cooler nights and also have huts that move around with them.
The 3 breeds we choose to cross with each other are Duroc, Berkshire, and Landrace. Our combined breeds of pigs are as follows:
Duroc
Often referred to as the Black Angus of the pork industry! The Black Angus breed of cattle is well known for its superior quality. This same phenomenon is also true of Duroc pork. The Duroc breed excels for meat quality and eating characteristics documented in tests performed by the National Pork Producers. Duroc pigs are one of the fastest growing breeds of pig when they're kept on a consistent and nutritious diet. They're also very hardy. Duroc pigs are favored by hog farmers who want to keep their pigs outdoors because Durocs tend to stay healthy and happy in both cold and warm climates.
Berkshire
Berkshire pork is renowned for its richness, texture, marbling, juiciness, tenderness and overall depth of flavor. It is thought by many to be the Kobe beef of pork. This pig is hardy, has good mothering capabilities and performs very well outdoors, especially when grazing on pasture.
Landrace
There is an admirable meatiness about them on foot and particularly on the rail. The rumps are long and the hams are plump but not overly fatty. The sides are long, of uniform depth, with sixteen or seventeen ribs per side! The Landrace breed is promoted on its skill to cross well with other pig breeds. Additionally, Landrace breeds are recognized for their lengthy body, a high proportion of carcass weight in the loin and ham, and the best amount of meat. The Landrace female pigs are prolific for farrowing large pigs.
We sent our pork into the laboratory for testing and found that not only is our pork naturally rich in Omega-3s and other nutrients but we are 3 x the required amount for certification. Bear and the Flower pork now meets that qualification for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency as a rich natural source of Omega-3s. Because we care so much about not only what our pigs eat but what you eat, we created a proprietary feed blend that naturally enriches our pork.
For every 100g/ serving of Bear Flower pork you are receiving your daily intake of Omega-3s. Pretty amazing hey?
Maple syrup plus whole blueberries makes for a mouthwatering and naturally sweet sausage.
Fresh spinach and tangy feta combine for a juicy and briny sausage.
Our sugar free bratwurst features a full-bodied blend of sea salt, black pepper and coriander that's delicious served with grainy mustard.
Spicy and tropical - a nice balance of sweet and heat.
Our fully cooked ham sausage showcases the amazing flavour of our pork. Simply seasoned with sea salt, brown sugar and natural smoke.
Garlicky and smoky, this Ukrainian classic is fully cooked and naturally smoked.
Bear and the Flower thick-cut bacon is naturally wood smoked, making for a full-flavoured bacon without the additives.
With all the flavour and natural wood smoke of a full-sized ham, these hams are smaller, making them perfect for smaller gatherings or even sandwiches.