The mega trend of natural and healthy food in Norway continues. Commodities with premium quality, often sourced locally, from a nearby farm, are something customers appreciate. Learn more about high class pigs in Norway.
Farmers at Jæren on the west coast of Norway have teamed up with chefs and butchers to superfeed pigs to become the world’s best pork. In the middle of Hå municipality on Jæren you find the privately owned meat company Prima Jæren, a company that is passionate about Jæren and Norwegian agriculture.
Related: History of Scandinavian Pork
High quality is no longer just for food snobs. The willingness to pay for local and Norwegian food is increasing significantly. “Our pig is 15 percent heavier than a regular pig,” says one of the farmers. “Nobody focuses on premium pigs today. We wanted to produce a pig that chefs embrace”.
Taste of Jæren – a “game changer”
In the early 2000s, “Jæren Smak” (Taste of Jæren) bred, in collaboration with farmers, veterinarians and chefs, a pig with a higher fat content than standard pigs in order to obtain juicy and tasty meat.
«This was an industry that needed to find a strong supplier outside the meat cooperative, and then an actor who could offer tailor-made cutting patterns and cutting parts that best fit into each individual company’s further meat production. We also saw an opportunity to collaborate more closely with the production chain to create higher quality raw materials,” says one farmer.
Related: The Fascinating Story of the Danish Protest Pigs
Jæren Smak is the result of a collaboration in meat production, from farmer to consumer. Determined to improve the quality and taste experience of Norwegian meat. Selected farms are certified for production of Jæren Smak pork. Jæren Smak Traditional Pork Belly is the only product of its kind in Norway which has been designated Matmerk Specialty — Unique flavor.
Why is this product a success? Jæren Smak pigs are bred on the basis of its premium flavor. The animals have approximately 15% higher slaughter-weight than standard pork and the meat contains more marbled fat. This makes the meat optimal for processed products.
Related: Danish Bacon
At Jæren, the focus is on animal welfare, and the feed is based on local ingredients, free of animal fatty acids. The chefs have in fact taste-tested the meat to get honest results and the best pork ever. Norway’s fourth largest private slaughterhouse, Prima Jæren (Prime Brands), aims to raise the quality of meat in Norway. They do that with more fat, and the meat is far more tasty then normal ribs.
High Class Pigs in Norway, written by Tor Kjolberg
All images © Prima Jæren