Building a Local Butcher Shop

City Market has been in good supply of local pork for the past few years thanks primarily to one farm. Sugar Mountain Farm in West Topsham (down near Montpelier) is run by the Jeffries family and has been raising pork for the past 9 years.

The Jeffries family, Walter and Holly with their children Will, Ben and Hope.

When I asked Walter why he started farming, he explained that there were no meats available that he felt comfortable feeding his children. Raising their pigs out on pasture, Sugar Mountain Farm provides us with access to pork raised outdoors in humane conditions without hormones, antibiotics, or genetically modified feed.

But the logistics of working with slaughterhouses in the area has always been challenging for the farm. Getting local pork to our co-op has meant farmer Holly Jeffries has taken the 7 hour drive each week to take pigs to the slaughterhouse and pick up their freshly butchered pork... that’s 7 hours of driving not including her delivery route to our market and other restaurants they deliver to each week.

The farm's delivery map showing their weekly drive down to Massachusetts and back to take the hogs to the butcher.

When their butcher announced he was retiring back in 2008, the Jeffries family started laying in plans to build their own butcher shop on their farm, allowing them to save time and gas, as well as give them more control. By slaughtering animals on-farm, the farm is able to both create more humane conditions for the animals, create more top-quality meat, and lower their carbon footprint.

The plans for their new facility.

While the farm has completed much of the work, the Jeffries recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to help them with the final stage of the project. They’re looking to raise $25,000 by May 15.

The farm is also reaching out about their project by giving away t-shirts. A sign-up box is at City Market's Customer Service Desk and a new t-shirt winner will be chosen each week. Just drop your name and contact information in the box.

Sugar Mountain Farm's label

Visit sugarmtnfarm.com to learn more about the farm or to make a gift in support of the project. Whether you’ve got a dollar to spare or not, thanks for your support of local farmers!