It has been a while since we gave an update on new jerky submissions. In part that was because we took a break from accepting jerky submissions so that we could catch up in 2013 jerky purchases that were nearing their expiry dates, and to make amends for some previous non-live taste reviews. This latest round of jerky submissions includes a number of interesting jerky makers. One has been reviewed already, some are a work in progress, and the rest have yet to be started. To date, 17 jerky makers have come forward with jerky submissions, not including a number of others that have expressed interest but have not come to fruition yet.
Special thanks in this latest round of jerky submissions go out to Cloverleaf Farms, Tillamook Country Smoker, Mountain Man, Florence Meats, Steve’s Paleogoods, PJ’s All Natural Beef Steak, Smokehouse Jerky Co., and Jonty Jacob’s.
Cloverleaf Farms
Cloverleaf Farms is located in New Hamburg, Ontario, Canada. They are a small family owned and operated business that opened up in 1984. Their store offers a large variety of foods such as frozen foods, meats, fruits, vegetables, dessert, fish, fries, finger foods, soups, lasagna, deli items, cold cuts, smoked chops, fresh meats, sandwiches, and hot soups. A special thanks goes out to one of the co-owners, Angie Scheid, for submitting their original flavored beef jerky, who was a tremendous help every step of the way.
For more information visit their web site: www.cloverleaffarms.ca
Tillamook Country Smoker
Tillamook Country Smoker is based out of Bay City, Tillamook County, Oregon. Their business was started over 50 years ago, and today is operated by a third generation family. It is likely safe to say that Tillamook Country Smoker is the largest maker here so far to submit their jerky for review. They have a large distribution network across North America, and are easily in the top 10 jerky makers in North America for bagged jerky sales. A special thanks go out to the TCS team for submitting their Sea Salt & Peppered, Smoky Teriyaki, Smoked Jalapeno, Honey Glazed, and Original flavors.
For more information visit their web site: www.tcsjerky.com
Mountain Man
This Mountain Man brand of jerky is located in Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada. Robert Lahue is the creator of this brand of jerky. I initially discovered Mountain Man beef jerky from an online order that I made in 2012, where I purchased 13 of their flavors. Today, Robert offers an impressive 18 different flavors. Recently, the bag design has been improved, and the ingredient lists have been tweaked, which includes less sodium and sugar now.
While the official web site is currently under construction, check out his Facebook page: www.facebook.com/mountainmanbeefjerky
Florence Meats
Florence Meats is located in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, and started business in 1977. The company was founded by Mario Goriup who owned and operated a butcher shop in Johannesburg, South Africa, for 25 years before moving to Ontario. Today, the store is operated by Damian Goriup and his wife Carol. They specialize in several South African types of meats, among other things, and take pride in only using top quality meats from small, local Southern Ontario farms. As for jerky, they actually make biltong, which is air dried meat that has South African origins. There are two flavors of biltong available, a traditional flavor, and a peri peri flavor.
For more information visit their web site: www.florencemeats.com/
Steve’s Paleogoods
Steve’s Paleogoods is located in New Jersey, and started business in 2007. The company was founded by Steve Liberati, which started with a passion for good food, a healthy lifestyle, and community activism. In 2007, Steve started an organization named Steve’s Club, whose goal was to help kids who live in impoverished areas of New Jersey. He wanted to give the young athletes of Steve’s Club a healthier alternative to the school lunches, and improve their nutrition. Steve put together the first “PaleoKit” in his kitchen – a mix of jerky, nuts, and berries, and began giving them out to the kids. As a fundraiser for Steve’s Club athletes, he started selling these PaleoKits online that quickly became a hit across the country. Steve truly is to be commended for his efforts, where 15% of all sales goes towards helping kids from Steve’s Club.
For more information visit their web site: www.stevespaleogoods.com
PJ’s All Natural Beef Steak
PJ’s All Natural Beef Steak is based out of Quakertown, Pennsylvania. They offer an all-natural Tenders style (bite sized), and an all-natural Slices style (thin slices), for their original, teriyaki, and cracked pepper flavors. It should be stated that PJ’s All Natural Beef Steak does not advertise their products to be jerky, but rather all natural beef steak. On the bag they even have a sticker stating “Please Don’t Call Me Jerky”. They use a unique 7-day slow cooking cycle, which is not how traditional jerky is made. There are no artificial ingredients, no preservatives added, no nitrates or nitrates, no MSG, and are gluten free. All ingredients used are carefully selected, with a description of why each ingredient was chosen on their web site.
For more information visit their web site: www.pjsbeefsteak.com
Smokehouse Jerky Co
The Smokehouse Jerky Co. brand name is manufactured and distributed by Tender Heifer Snack Co. They are located in Beaumont, California, and started business in 2008. All of their jerky uses brisket as the cut of beef, where, in their experience, brisket absorbs the marinade better than any other cut of beef. Their jerky contains no MSG, or unhealthy preservatives. All beef used is raised and processed in California. They currently have nine flavors of beef jerky, one gluten free chicken jerky, and two flavors of bacon jerky. The jerky is made in small batches, and they strive to make the best gourmet jerky in the industry. They are always looking for new distributors across the United States, and offer private label services.
For more information visit their web site: www.tenderheifersnackco.com
Jonty Jacob’s
Jonty Jacob’s is located in New York, New York, inside Manhattan. The company was founded by Monique Daniels, a South African raised in Australia. Monique and her husband Camran started Jonty Jacob’s in 2013, after being disappointed with the quality and taste of cured beef products made in the US. They specialize in biltong that has South African origins, which for them is beef air dried for 21 days. Their biltong contains no sodium nitrates or similar unhealthy preservatives, no MSG, no artificial ingredients, and no harmful ingredients or chemicals. Some styles to choose from are their original flavored slices, or traditional tender beef slices that includes fat, and the option to use grass fed beef. You can buy their biltong in a pre-packaged plastic bag, or have the biltong sliced in front of you to any style that you prefer.
For more information visit their web site: www.jontyjacobs.com
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