2008 Newsletter From Autumn Olive Farms

Thank you all for your awesome support in 2007 and you’re starting it off in a great way for 2008.

I could not do this without all of your words of encouragement that you spread my way.

As always, I am committed to providing the best quality to you. This is done by not shortcutting on the inputs that I put into our animals. This year I am setting up the infrastructure to be able to purchase and grind our own feed for the poultry and pork.

I will be able to purchase grains that are non-GMO and most will be without herbicides and pesticides. We did not have this control purchasing from the local grain mill. Even though our pricing may be a little bit higher than any competitors, you have our word that I will do my best to provide quality products. Even though the flavor of our products is probably the main reason you purchase them, the subtle reason of them being better for you should be one of your priorities.
I agonize over raising prices, but like everything, with the fuel and ethanol issues; grain and other inputs are going out of site.

Chick prices are over 14% higher this year, feed will be over 20% higher, and it goes on and on. I’m committed to providing quality to you but I can’t do this for free.

Let’s get to the meat of this newsletter.

FARMERS' MARKET

The farmers market seems to be the best venue for all of you to purchase our product. All pricing will be the same whether purchased at the farmers market or the farm. As always all products at the market will be frozen. At the farm on farm sale days, you will be able to pickup fresh or frozen chicken, all beef and pork products will be frozen at the farm.
You will be able to pickup our product at Mama Jeans Market, and other stores during their operating hours. Also, for a pleasurable evening meal, check out the restaurants that carry our product. Go to the “Where” page on our website for a list of distributors of our products.

CHICKEN

Whole chicken -- $2.70 per lb. (approx. 4 lb. plus bird, smaller birds may be slightly higher, contact us for wholesale pricing)
Halved chicken -- $2.85 per lb.
Cut up chicken -- $2.85 per lb.
Bone in Split Breast -- $5.75 per lb.
Boneless/Skinless breast -- $6.25.per lb.
Leg/Thigh -- $2.90 per lb.
Wings -- $2.25 per lb.
Stock Bags -- $1.35 per lb.
Dog Food -- $1.35 per lb. (this is ground chicken necks and backs)
Livers or Hearts approx. --$2.00 per lb.

Farm Pickup days will be on Saturday from 2pm to 5pm. Dates listed below.

Do not place an order for Chicken on pickup days. Just show up with your cooler and ice for fresh chicken and just a cooler if you want frozen chicken. We will have enough of all cuts of chicken to take care of you.

Pickup days at Farm:

May 10
June 14
Sept. 13
Oct. 25

Chicken will be frozen only at the Farmers Market.
Pricing will be slightly higher at retail outlets.

Check out our website for a list of the restaurants and retail outlets that carry our product.

Turkey

We are going to offer turkey in the middle of the year this season. Many of you like turkey year around so I will have turkey available around July 12th. To know the numbers of birds to raise I need know your needs immediately. Contact me with the number of turkeys you would like in July.

Turkey pick up for Thanksgiving will be November 21st and 22nd from 2pm to 5pm each day at the farm. Bring cooler and ice.
Turkeys will be fresh and will keep till Thanksgiving. Don't forget to order one for Christmas too.

We will have a pickup day or two in Springfield like I did last year. I will contact you later with that location.

I need to have orders for Thanksgiving turkeys before May 1st so don't delay in ordering.

Broad Breasted White turkey - $2.60 per lb.

Average weight 15 lbs. to 20 lbs.

PORK

I have started off the year with several hogs growing so I should be able to keep up with the demand this year.

First round of pork will be available around April 12th. If you want a half or whole hog around that date get in contact with me right away. I will have processing dates scattered throughout the year.

Half and Whole hog pricing will be $2.65 per lb. hanging weight and you pay for processing.

It will be cheaper for you if you have the freezer space to purchase whole or half hogs than individual cuts.

A whole hog will take up approx. 4 cubic feet of freezer space, of course a half hog, 2 cubic feet.

For more info on cuts of a hog go to:

www.askthemeatman.com/hog_cuts_interactive_chart.htm

Contact me with questions and approx. processing days and to book your hog.

Pork cuts will be as follows:

Chops (various thickness) 6.65 per lb.
Brats (our biggest seller) 4.98 per lb.
Bacon 5.89 per lb.
Tenders (the best part) 16.65 per lb.
Shoulder roasts and steaks (my favorite part of the hog) 4.98 per lb.
Sausage –medium & mild spice no MSG 4.25 per lb.
Ground Pork 3.85 per lb.
Cured Ham Steaks (no nitrate cure) 5.85 per lb.

Other cuts are available on a limited basis.

This will be the best pork you have ever tasted in your whole life. And I’m not kidding. Try it and you’ll see.

BEEF

Some of you already know that our beef sales have exploded and we have invested in some quality animals that have good grass fed genetics for quality beef grown on grass alone. You need fast gaining animals on grass to keep grass fed beef tender. I have purchased some Shorthorn stock which the leaders in grass-fed knowledge, the New Zealanders, have determined with DNA testing to have a tenderness gene that shows up in Shorthorn over 90% of the time. I am doing my best to bring in quality animals that will bring you quality beef.

I will offer wholes and halves on beef again this year with processing time around the middle of June and probably again around September and October.

I will also have individual cuts to offer depending on how many whole animals I sell.

Beef pricing will be $3.20 per lb. hanging weight and you pay for processing.

Call immediately with your order as we have only a few animals scheduled for processing.

Some beef cut pricing will be:

Ground beef 5.45 per lb.
Ground round (more lean) 6.45 per lb.
Sirloin Steak 7.15 per lb.
KC Strip Steak 10.85 per lb.
Ribeye Steak 12.75 per lb.
Flank Steak 7.95 per lb.
Tenderloin Filet (the cream of the crop) 19.25
Round Steak tenderized (one of my favorites) 5.25 per lb.
Rump Roast 7.20 per lb.
Chuck Roast 5.75 per lb.
Pikes Peak Roast 5.45 per lb.
Brisket 6.75 per lb.

Other cuts are available on a limited basis.

GOATS MILK

Raised and fed properly goats milk tastes great. If you let the Bucks (males) run with the Does (females) it will give the milk a very musky odor. Also, what they eat will affect the taste. Ours tastes great.

Goats milk is very good for you as it is the most easily digested milk. The fat globule is smaller and it makes the best homemade ice cream and cheese.

Also, goats milk is A-2 milk a better milk than cows milk which is A-1 milk. Do your research and you will see the difference, less risk of heart disease and diabetes.

I have experienced good and bad goats milk; I will have the good stuff or we won't sell it.

Milk will be available on a weekly basis, and will be distributed on a first come first serve basis. Because milk is a perishable product a strict schedule will be followed and adhered to.

I will give priority to those that purchase milk every week on a set schedule. Last year it was a logistics nightmare trying to figure out who was getting milk when.

Those of you that purchased goat milk last year will be contacted and get first priority. Goats will freshen around the middle of March and we will have milk available starting then. Again, I will contact you when it starts to become available.

Contact us immediately if you want goats milk, I will offer it in half and whole gallons. We supply the containers.
Pricing is $9.50 per gallon, $4.75 per half gallon.

EGGS

Eggs are $4 per dozen this year at the farmers market or farm. Do not come out to the farm and get eggs unless prior arrangement is made. Those that have farm memberships get priority and get eggs at $3.50 per dozen.


IMPORTANT INFO

If you email me could you please put your name and phone number in the body of the correspondence so I can call you to answer questions.

If you want product at the farm other than farm pickup days call ahead to make sure someone is here.

Don't show up early on farm pickup days as we will not be ready to serve you till the specified times.

I live closer than you think, only 20 minutes from James River Freeway and Campbell Street.

If you show up early bring a good book to read!

All pricing is subject to change.

Directions

We are a short drive west of Springfield, Missouri. In fact only 20 minutes from either Glenstone and Interstate 44, or Campbell and James River Freeway.

Go west on Interstate 44 to exit 67 which is the Bois D’Arc, Republic exit. Take T Hwy. north towards Bois D’Arc. You’ll cross 266 Hwy, staying on T. The next crossroads you come to is Farm Road 124, turn left on 124. Go just ½ mile to Farm Rd. 71, you can only turn right. Go ¾ of a mile to our farm on the left, you’ll see our sign.
For those of you coming from south Springfield, take James River Freeway to Interstate 44 west bound, go only 1.5 miles to exit 67 and follow the directions above.