Farm Boy is a beloved Canadian grocery store chain renowned for its commitment to fresh, high-quality foods and exceptional customer service. Since its founding in 1981 in Cornwall, Ontario, Farm Boy has expanded across the province, becoming a go-to destination for shoppers seeking premium produce, locally sourced goods, and artisanal products. The stores boast an extensive selection of fresh fruits and vegetables, often sourced locally to support nearby growers and ensure optimal freshness.
The store’s dedication to customer satisfaction is evident in its friendly and knowledgeable staff, who assist shoppers and provide recommendations. Farm Boy’s inviting atmosphere, with its focus on community involvement and support for local producers, has made it a beloved fixture in the Canadian grocery landscape, attracting shoppers seeking a premium shopping experience with a personal touch. This Farm Boy jerky brand name is distributed under the name of Farm Boy Company Inc., and is located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. This jerky is manufactured by Great Canadian Meat, and it is located in Whitby, Ontario.
The first review for Farm Boy will focus on a 2.8 ounce/80 gram bag of their original beef jerky. This flavour is described as handcrafted made with lean beef. The jerky was purchased at a Farm Boy grocery store in Toronto, Ontario.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Water, Cane Sugar, Sea Salt, Black Pepper, Celery Powder Cultured, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Smoke Flavour, Vinegar Powder, Natural Smoke.
The beef used is not guaranteed to be free of growth hormones or additional antibiotics. Also, the beef is not guaranteed to have partial free range access to graze on grass. As a result, the highest ingredient rating that can be awarded is a Good (8/10) rating.
The liquid marinade is comprised of just water. Healthy vinegar is used but in powder form.
Some healthy ingredients added are black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
The sugar level is on the high side at 6 grams of sugar per 30 grams of jerky to lose a rating. Our preference is 3 grams of sugar or under per 28 grams of jerky for an original flavour as we have here. The salt level is sort of high at 500mg of salt per 30 grams of jerky. However, the salt level is ignored because healthy, minimally processed sea salt is added instead of highly processed table salt.
This jerky qualifies to have no sodium nitrite added. Instead, sea salt is the main preservative, along with vinegar powder to a lesser extent. Admirably, this jerky does qualify to have no MSG added.
Decent (7/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
FARM BOY – ORIGINAL BEEF JERKY
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag I believe I am smelling light vinegar. The strips are various in size, including small, medium, and large pieces. The jerky is sliced to a medium thickness. There is no oily residue left on your fingers.
When I bite into the jerky I am met with very little in the line of genuine flavour. It tastes very bland. I taste very light salt, some sweet, and not much else. When I bite into the jerky, it feels like I am chewing on rawhide. Flavour is not plentiful in this very disappointing “taste” experience.
Farm Boy might be the most pedestrian jerky we have reviewed in some time. It’s like the jerky makers didn’t even try when making it. I am duly very unimpressed with this jerky. I can give it no more than a 3 out of 10, and I feel I am still being generous.
Here is what Mark had to say about this original beef jerky flavour from Farm Boy: “Thanks Paul for the candid taste review. I think that Paul is being too harsh here. It is true that this flavor comes across as bland tasting, or as Paul likes to describe it as pedestrian. While the sweetness is not overbearing, this flavor tastes too sweet for an original flavor. The natural flavor of beef is supposed to be the star of the show for an original flavor but the sweetness dulls the natural beef flavor.”
“Nothing stands out with this jerky flavor. I would say that the saltiness is a mild to medium level, with faint garlic, black pepper, and onion and light smokiness. I would say that the thickness is thin, with little natural beef flavor. With Paul at a 3 rating and myself at a 6 rating, an Average (5/10) taste rating will be awarded.”
This 2.8 ounce/80 gram bag of jerky cost $5.50. That works out to $1.96 an ounce, which rates as a very cheap price.
Bag Review
This resealable plastic bag has everything imprinted directly on the bag, both on the front and back. There are no labels affixed to this bag. The Farm Boy logo has what could be called a farm boy.
There are no slogans printed. Some facts printed are “High in Protein”, “Low in Fat”, and “12g Protein”.
The only missing bag category is a transparent window to view the jerky. There is a small blurb printed on the back about this jerky. In accordance with Canadian law, French translations are provided.
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