Country Time Farm
Pork Products, Raised All Naturally, the Way Nature Intended
Country Time is a small, family-run hog farm located at the base of the Blue Mountains in Berks County, PA. Paul and Ember Crivellaro have been raising all-natural, pastured, antiobiotic- and hormone-free pork there for eight years. Paul was raised on a dairy farm and has lived on a farm his whole life. Country Time Farm, where the Crivellaros now live, was converted from a dairy farm specializing in the production of Italian cheeses into a hog farm. Paul and Ember began cultivating their specialty of raising premium pork products in an extremely humane manner when the environment in the hog market began to change around ten years ago. The bottom fell out of the hog market to the point where live hogs were selling for 10-15¢ per pound. Luckily, around the same time, a market began to emerge for higher quality, antiobiotic- and hormone-free pastured meats. Country Time sought advice from the Pennsylvania Preferred program, and found a new marketing avenue in area restaurants. Their choice was clear: try a new approach or lose the family farm. Paul explains that there is no way small farms like Country Time can compete on price with mass-producers, so they don’t try. Instead, they’ve created their own niche of all-natural products.
Country Time stands out from large producers with their friendly, personal approach and high standards. They do not use genetically modified grains or any animal by-products in their feed. Instead, they use an all-natural, locally-grown and nutritionally-balanced mix of corn, soybean, barley and grains. The meat is not injected for tenderness, and the hogs are protected from unnecessary human contact and other sources of stress. Paul and Ember take great pride in their products and their favorite part of their job is meeting their customers, talking to chefs and consumers. If you ever happen by Greensgrow during a Country Time delivery, you’ll be sure to receive their enthusiastic recommendations and heartfelt thanks for buying their products.
