Farmer’s coalition looks to bring upscale swine back in vogue
The “Kobe beef of pork” is being saved from the brink of extinction thanks to a group of Maine veterans who are raising them at their farms across the state, in addition to introducing the Hungarian breed of Mangalista pigs to Maine’s culinary world.
The breed of pigs, known for their unmistakable thick, curly hair and fatty, marbled meat have fallen out of vogue with breeders who have been focusing their efforts on breeding hogs with more lean meat.
“They're a very hearty animal. Their durability and ability to free range through the woods and forage for food is a big reason why we've added them to our farm,” Jerry Ireland, owner of the Swanville-based Ireland Hill Farms, told WCSH-TV 6.
In total, there are 50 Mangalistas among 10 coalition member-owned farms across the state, including Ireland’s six.
The numbers are in the veteran farmers favor — a single farm doesn’t produce enough Mangalista products to give to restaurants, but together, the coalition will be able to provide enough meat to establish a demand for the curly-haired swine.
“Once people start tasting the meat or seeing these unique pigs, it's going to be incredible for both the veterans who own them and the community,” Walter Morse, owner of the Jefferson-based Patriot Ridge Homestead, told WCSH.
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