B & L Grassland Farm
Grass-fed beef, lamb, pork, broilers, eggs, turkeys, and milk
Brett and Lori Fox run an 80 acre grass-based farm in Halifax, PA (about 25 miles north of Harrisburg. They raise chicken, pork, lamb, turkeys, and beef cattle. A new addition to their farm is a small grass-based dairy. All of their animals are raised without hormones or antibiotics, and they are in the process of becoming certified organic.
The Foxes got started raising sheep in 1996, but soon found that they were not satisfied with selling to the commodities market. They felt they had a better product and weren't happy with the low prices they received. They then turned to a direct marketing approach and began coming to Farmers' Markets in Philadelphia. Brett and Lori have enjoyed the thriving markets here and especially appreciate making a personal connection with their customers. Market day is a family affair, as their three young children come along.
However, the Foxes' main focus is growing, and they most enjoy working with their animals. It is often hard on small farmers to raise their products and do their own marketing. This is one reason the Foxes' will soon begin to sell their organic milk to a larger dairy cooperative.
Even though they are just now pursuing organic certification, the Foxes have already been using organic methods. They take pride in producing a product that is clean and safe, and as much as they can, raising their animals in conjunction with the way Mother Nature intended - hence, their reluctance to use antibiotics or rely heavily on grain. They like to consider themselves "customer certified" (not just certified organic), and want to be open and honest with their customers about their growing practices.
The Foxes see a bright future for small family farms as long as there is a strong interest from people who care about what they're eating. Hopefully, along with this interest comes a little flexibility and willingness to learn about seasonality. For example, customers looking for "spring lamb" don't realize that lamb ready to be marketed in the spring would have to be born in the fall and fed grain all winter, rather than being pastured on grass. Similarly, pastured poultry is only in season when the grass is green. Aside from this hurdle, the Foxes are pleased that they do see a growing trend of people who are concerned about where their food is coming from.
