Marketing Your Pasture-Raised Pork
Strategies for Small Farms
Raising pasture-raised pork is only part of the business—you also need a strong marketing strategy to ensure your hard work translates into profit. Whether you’re selling directly to consumers, at farmers’ markets, or through wholesale channels, here’s how to successfully market your pork in North Carolina and South Carolina.
1. Identify Your Market & Customers
Before you start selling, define your target customers. Are you marketing to:
- Health-conscious consumers looking for pasture-raised, non-GMO pork?
- Chefs and restaurants that value high-quality, heritage breeds?
- Local families who want farm-to-table meat?
- Ethnic communities that prefer whole-hog purchases for special events?
- Specialty butchers and meat shops looking for local suppliers?
Understanding your audience helps you tailor your message and pricing.
2. Pricing Your Pork for Profit
To set the right price, consider:
- Cost of Production: Feed, hay, butchering, processing, and labor.
- Market Prices: Look at competitors and local farms.
- Premium Positioning: If your pork is pasture-raised and antibiotic-free, it’s worth more than conventional store-bought meat.
Pricing Models:
- By the pound: Standard pricing per cut (e.g., $10/lb for pork chops, $8/lb for ground pork).
- By the whole/half hog: Typically priced based on hanging weight (e.g., $6.50–$8.00 per lb).
- Subscription/CSA model: Offer monthly meat boxes with a variety of cuts.
If selling direct to consumers, include processing and packaging costs in your pricing.
3. Where to Sell Your Pork
Direct-to-Consumer Sales
- Farmers' Markets: Set up a stand at local markets in Raleigh, Charlotte, Charleston, or Columbia.
- On-Farm Sales: Sell directly from your farm with pre-orders.
- Farm Website & Online Stores: Use Shopify, Squarespace, or Local Line to take orders.
- Meat CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture): Offer subscriptions where customers receive a set amount of pork monthly.
- Home Delivery: Consider local delivery services or partnering with farm co-ops.
Wholesale & Bulk Buyers
- Local Butcher Shops & Specialty Grocers: Approach independent butchers and high-end grocers.
- Restaurants & Chefs: Many farm-to-table restaurants prefer locally sourced pork.
- Ethnic Grocery Stores: Some communities purchase whole hogs for traditional cooking.
4. How to Market Your Pork Online
Website & Social Media
- Have a simple farm website with clear pricing, ordering options, and farm info.
- Use Instagram & Facebook to showcase behind-the-scenes farm life and customer testimonials.
- Post farm updates, customer stories, and cooking tips to engage your audience.
Email Marketing & Customer Loyalty
- Build an email list and send updates about pork availability, special deals, and new products.
- Offer discounts for repeat customers or referrals.
Google & Local SEO
- Register on Google My Business so customers can find your farm.
- Use keywords like “pasture-raised pork in NC” or “buy local pork near Charleston.”
5. Leveraging Farm-to-Table & Sustainability Messaging
Customers are willing to pay more for ethically raised meat. Highlight your farm’s:
- Pasture-raised, non-GMO, or soy-free feed practices
- Humane treatment of animals
- Sustainability practices (regenerative grazing, local feed sourcing)
- Transparency (show farm life through videos and photos)
Storytelling sells. Share why you raise pigs, how you care for them, and why your pork is different.
6. Overcoming Challenges & Scaling Up
Challenge: Competing with grocery store meat prices
- Solution: Emphasize quality, ethical farming, and better flavor.
Challenge: Processing costs are high
- Solution: Partner with other farmers to negotiate better bulk rates.
Challenge: Customers hesitate to buy a whole hog
- Solution: Offer pre-portioned meat bundles to introduce them to bulk buying.
Final Thoughts
Marketing pasture-raised pork is about building relationships. By understanding your customers, setting fair prices, and using strong online and in-person sales tactics, you can create a profitable, sustainable pork business.
Are you selling pork? Share your marketing tips or challenges in the comments!
