Our Pork Model

We wanted to keep you up-to-date on some changes at Cane Creek Farm and at Left Bank. As y’all know, for the past 10 years, Cane Creek has raised the pork that you’ve gotten at our shop. Moving forward our production model will change and Cane Creek will send their pigs to Randleman Farm to be finished to market weight. Before we get into the how and why of the changes (and in case you don’t want to read till the end ;), know this: the genetics, quality, and ethics behind our pork will not change!

Here’s How It Will Work: Eliza (of Cane Creek Farm) will continue breeding pigs and raising them until they are “feeder” pig size (75-100lb). The pigs will then head up to Randleman Farm in northern Alamance County to be finished. Chad and Stephanie will raise these pigs on pasture and feed them a diet of wheat, toasted soybean meal, and corn. (They make this feed every day on the farm, and raise the wheat and corn!).  

Why are we doing this?

1. While you may see inflation in your day-to-day shopping, one cost increase you probably haven’t seen is in the cost of pig feed- it’s gone through the roof since the pandemic and has never come down. Our pork prices to you haven’t changed, but the insane price increase has meant that any chance for pork to be profitable has disappeared for both Cane Creek Farm and for Left Bank. 

This cost is partially offset at Randleman Farm because Chad grows the wheat and corn on his farm, and mills the feed everyday. We love this old-school model and the consistency in quality and cost that it allows for our pigs. 

2.  About 50% of the pork sold at Left Bank used to be sold at the Carrboro Farmers Market. When we were no longer able to go there, this obviously hurt both the shop, but even more, Cane Creek Farm. Instead of buying 4-5 pigs per week, we moved down to 2-3 pigs per week. This was not the business plan that Cane Creek had drawn up, and the lack-of-volume also hurt when it came to transporting the pigs to the slaughterhouse- Eliza was driving to the processor, just as far, just as often, for half the number of animals. Now, Randleman Farm can take Cane Creek pigs and their own pigs (which are much leaner) to the slaughterhouse at the same time. 

What does it mean for you?

We’ve tried this system out and we’re thrilled with the results. Randleman Farm has taken in a few very large Cane Creek hogs for us and the marbling and quality have been stellar. We really believe that the quality and consistency will be even better with this partnership.

This system gives us even more control over the pork we have in the shop- the genetics are the same, the feed is being grown at Randleman Farm (instead of coming from a feed company), the finished weights will be more dialed-in, and the efficiencies of our new system will keep us from needing to raise our prices. Wins all around!

We’re happy to answer any questions. Thank you for your continued support. We’ll see you at the shop!