A Better Hot Dog Starts on the Farm
Let's talk about hot dogs.
They're quick, easy, delicious, and just about every kid I know loves them. But hot dogs have also earned themselves a bit of a reputation, haven't they?
We've all heard the stories about what's supposedly ground up and stuffed into those little casings. Leftover scraps, questionable byproducts, and all sorts of things we'd rather not imagine feeding our children.
And while some of those stories may be exaggerated, there are legitimate reasons to pay attention to what's in your hot dog.
The USDA permits certain edible meat byproducts in hot dogs, provided they're properly identified on the label. And yes, there have even been cases of foreign materials contaminating processed meat products.
Now, I don't know about you, but when I'm feeding my family, I want to know exactly what they're eating.
And that's why we do things differently at Grid Iron Hill Farm.
A Hot Dog Made With Real Pork
Our hot dogs aren't made from mystery meat or unwanted filler byproducts.
They're made with good pork meat from pigs raised right here on our family farm in Havre de Grace, Maryland, along with seasonings that give them their delicious flavor.
They're uncured, made without added MSG, no nitrates or nitrites, and naturally smoked.
Oh that smoky flavor is so good!
But what really makes our hot dogs special starts long before they ever reach the butcher.
It Starts With How We Raise Our Pigs
Our pigs spend their days outdoors in the wooded areas of our farm, rooting through the earth, exploring, and rolling around in the mud whenever they please.
No concrete confinement floors here!
We believe pigs were created to do pig things, and we want to give them the opportunity to live that way.
Along with what they forage, our pigs receive locally sourced, non-GMO grain grown without the use of chemical pesticides or herbicides. Their feed is also free of corn and soy.
We're intentional about what our animals eat because their diet can influence the composition of the meat they produce.
We also raise our pigs without routine antibiotics, added hormones, steroids, or vaccinations.
Good food begins long before it reaches your plate.
Fast Food Doesn't Have to Mean Compromising Your Standards
Now, here's one of my favorite things about our pork hot dogs.
They're convenient!
Because let's face it, even with the best intentions, sometimes it's 11:30 in the morning, you've got hungry children, and you suddenly realize you forgot to thaw anything for lunch.
Ask me how I know. HA!
That's when having a package of good hot dogs in the freezer comes in awfully handy.
They're wonderful served with or without a bun. My kids love grabbing one and eating it almost like a meat stick.
And there are so many ways to dress them up!
I'm always happy with a good old-fashioned ketchup-and-mustard-covered hot dog. Sauerkraut and mustard is another favorite.
But if you really want to make me happy?
Give me a chili-covered hot dog!
Just be prepared for your children to spend the rest of the afternoon chanting, "Beans, beans, the magical fruit, the more you eat, the more you toot!"
You're welcome. 😂
Know Your Farmer. Know Your Food.
At Grid Iron Hill Farm, we want you to feel confident about the food you're bringing home to your family.
That's why we're intentional about how we raise our animals, what we feed them, and the ingredients used in our finished products.
We work with our butcher to produce meats that reflect those same standards.
Because at the end of the day, I'm not just raising food for customers.
I'm raising food for my own children, too.
And if I wouldn't feed it to my kids, I certainly wouldn't sell it in my Farm Store.
That's my promise to you.
If you're looking for locally raised, forest-raised pork hot dogs in Harford County, Maryland, we'd love to have you visit Grid Iron Hill Farm in Havre de Grace.
Come stock up on something delicious, convenient, and raised with care.
If you’re interested, you can purchase your pork hotdogs right HERE
