Ken Pearson founded Pearson Ranch in 1959, which is a family owned ranch raising elk, buffalo (also known as bison), and cattle. Today, Ken’s grand-nephew Marvin Cromwell and his sons Brandon and Matt run the key operations for the company. While Pearson Ranch Jerky has been in the meat snack business for over 15 years, the main focus of ranch operations shifted to meat snack products in the summer of 2011. Pearson Ranch Jerky is now sold in 100 Academy Sports + Outdoors stores. This Pearson Ranch Jerky brand name is distributed under the name of Pearson Ranch, and it is located in Horse Springs, New Mexico.
The next review for Pearson Ranch Jerky will be on a 4 ounce/113 gram bag of their hickory flavored elk and pork meat stick. This meat stick has been reformulated with a tweaked ingredient list, and a brand new bag design. This bag was kindly submitted for review by the General Manager, Brandon Cromwell.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Elk (Grass Fed), Pork, Water, Sea Salt, Citric Acid Encapsulated, Cane Sugar, Celery Powder Cultured (Celery Powder, Sea Salt), Black Pepper, Cherry Powder (Cherry Powder, Organic Cane Sugar [Evaporated Cane Juice]), Cayenne Pepper, Natural Liquid Smoke, Ground Coriander, Onion Powder, Granulated Garlic, in Beef Colored Collagen Casings.
The elk used is grass-fed. The pork used is guaranteed to be ethically raised, meaning no growth hormones or additional antibiotics are administered. As a result, the ingredient rating starts at a Very Good (9/10) rating.
There are multiple healthy ingredients added such as black pepper, cherry powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and coriander.
The sugar level is great at 0 grams of sugar rounded down per 28 grams of jerky. The salt level is acceptable at 290mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky.
These meat sticks qualify to have no sodium nitrite added, or any other similar unhealthy preservatives. Instead, minimally processed sea salt is the main preservative. Commendably, these meat sticks qualifies to have no MSG added.
Very Good (9/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
The meat sticks look exactly like any other meat stick, or ‘pepperette’.
It is soft and easy to chew. It leaves no oily residue on your fingers.
As I’m biting into my second meat stick, I am ‘feeling it’. I am detecting salt, pepper, garlic, natural beef (be it elk or pork), and faint onion in the background. I also am detecting vinegar, at a very good level. I must say, I am really enjoying this meat stick, it is much tastier than your average meat stick.
I can tell it’s not beef. I might have guessed pork, but I likely would not have guessed elk, not having eaten much elk in my life.
Gentlemen, this meat stick is running up the tasty flavor just like Team Canada is running up the score on Team Czech in the World Junior hockey championship. Pearson Ranch shoots, he scores!!! A 10/10 gentlemen. 👍👍
This 4 ounce/113 gram meat stick sells online for $7.99, which equates to $2 per ounce. That rates as a cheap price.
Excellent (10/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This plastic bag has everything imprinted on the front, and nothing on the back. Recently, the Pearson Ranch bag designs were changed, advertised as “Character Jerky Bags”. There is an interesting picture of an elegant looking elk wearing glasses, a blazer, a vest, and a tie.
There are no slogans printed on this bag. Some facts printed on this bag are “Made With Sea Salt”, “No Nitrates or Nitrates Added”, “Soy Free”, “Gluten Free”, “8g Protein Per Serving”, “Made From Feral Swine And Pork”, “Made in USA”, and “No MSG”.
All bag categories are covered with this bag. The hashtag #urwhatueat is displayed.
The bag listed at the bottom is a 1oz elk pork meat stick also graciously submitted for review.
Excellent (10/10) – Bag Rating
Order their jerky online: www.pearsonranchjerky.com
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