Berkwood Farms is weathering the storm for their farmer-owners

by | Apr 24, 2020 | 5 Ag Stories, News

On Wednesday we highlighted a family farm that sells their products direct market. Today, we are going to continue that story, but looking at a business that is multi-farmer owned.

Audio: Full Interview with Berkwood Farms CEO Nick Jones

Berkwood Farms is based in Des Moines and is made up of over 60 family farms working together to produce their heirloom Berkshire pork products. Many of these farmers are multi-generational operations that are committed to raising their hogs in a sustainable way, using humane practices.

Berkwood CEO Nick Jones tells us the business has a cooperative feel to it, and that is what makes it successful for them.

As the COVID-19 pandemic has been changing the way customers consume products, the Ag sector has come to appreciate how much business the restaurant and foodservice industries have provided us. It has also taught some of us that we need to learn how to cook again, and we are paying more attention to the food chain and how it works.

Jones says that Berkwood has not put their eggs in one basket. They are certainly feeling the pinch from the drop in the restaurant markets, but they have seen an increased demand on the consumer side.

Jones says that the challenge hasn?t been in being able to keep up with demand as much as it has been in getting enough of some of their specialty products.

Berkwood?s Producers have all faced unique challenges during this time. The closing of packing plants has affected them all, depending on their sizes. Jones says the producers who have plans in place for these contingencies are the ones who are making it through.

Jones made a statement describing their business and the operations of their farmer-owners, but honestly, I think it sums up what all of us in agriculture are needing to remember to keep us going during this time. Just do the best you can.

This has been truly the biggest opportunity agriculture has had in a while, to tell their story to a consumer who is actually paying attention to what we are saying. What is the story you are going to tell?

To learn more about the Berkwood Farms’s story and their products, go to their website.