As a record year of profitability and stability came to a close at the end of December, bison producers were mapping out plans for continued growth in 2018. These plans include the expansion of efforts to connect with consumers. The National Bison Association will also be working to bring new producers into the fold, according to Dave Carter, the association’s Executive Director.
“Six months ago, the National Bison Association and partners in the InterTribal Buffalo Council and the conservation community announced an ambitious goal to restore 1 million bison to North America, effectively more than doubling the size of today’s herds,” Carter said. “For bison ranchers, that means we must continue to introduce deliciously healthy bison to more people, and we must expand our production from coast to coast.”
The bison business is riding a sustained wave of profitability as sales of the meat continued to grow. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the prices marketers paid for dressed bison bulls averaged higher than $4.80 per pound throughout 2017. Dressed prices refer to the amount paid to ranchers once the animal is harvested. “We anticipate that prices will remain strong as demand for bison meat continues to grow,” Carter said.
Carter said that the National Bison Association is planning several programs to reach out to new producers in 2017. The association’s winter conference and live bison show and sale at the National Western Stock Show in Denver January 17-20 provide an opportunity for prospective producers to investigate the business.
“More than 400 ranchers will gather for the winter conference to discuss issues and share information,” Carter said. “And the association’s Gold Trophy Bison Show at the National Western Stock Show has the largest number of entries in nearly 20 years, so there’s plenty of opportunity for people to purchase great animals to build or to start their herds.”
Information on all things bison is available at www.bisoncentral.com.
Pacific Foods, maker of the first ever shelf-stable bone broth, is extending its line of popular Organic Bone Broths this fall with two new additions: Duck and Poultry (chicken, turkey and duck). Packed with 7 grams of protein, the new broths feature high-quality, simple ingredients, including ethically sourced duck from local farms in Oregon.
The bone broths, great for cooking or sipping, are now available at select West Coast natural food retailers and will be available online this fall with a suggested retail price of $4.99 – $5.59 per carton.
Consumer trends toward snacking, free-from and better-for-you foods are driving retail penetration for Little Red Dot Kitchen Bak Kwa meat snacks, inspired by a traditional grilled Singapore and Malaysian street food.
The Bak Kwa now are available in the San Francisco Bay area at Andronico’s Community Markets, Lunardi’s Markets, Draeger’s and Woodlands Market through UNFI of Providence, Rhode Island, said Little Red Dot Kitchen CEO Ching Lee. The high protein meat snacks, which are lower sodium, paleo-friendly, and free from gluten, nitrites, nitrates, antibiotics and hormones, are being carried in Michigan by Papa Joe’s Market, Randazzo Fresh Market and Holiday Market through Carmella Foods of Fraser, Michigan, Lee said.
The meat snacks also now are distributed by First Source of Toano, Virginia, and Renaissance Specialty Foods, and Little Red Dot Kitchen has added brokers Daymon Worldwide of Stamford, Connecticut, and Share Organics of Santa Rosa, California.
Little Red Dot Kitchen’s Bak Kwa meat snacks come from U.S. family farms dedicated to raising animals humanely and without antibiotics or hormones. They are minimally processed, with most ingredients having non-GMO verification and also are free from artificial ingredients, wheat, dairy and eggs. The meat snacks are available in resealable 1- to 3-ounce packages with a suggested retail price of $6.99 to $7.99. Cases include 12 of the 2- to 3-ounce bags and 18 of the 1-ounce bags.
Bak Kwa meat snacks are available in five flavors, including the 2016 sofi® Award winning Hickory Smoked Spicy Candied Bacon, which has no nitrates or nitrites, Spicy Chipotle Beef Bak Kwa, Lemongrass Beef, Pork Bak Kwa, and free-range Turkey Bak Kwa. A vegan version, Eggplant Baconess Bak Kwa is available in 2-ounce bags with a suggested retail price of $4.99 to $5.99.
More information about Little Red Dot Kitchen is available by connecting online at www.facebook.com/reddotkitchen, www.instagram.com/littlereddotkithen and ,www.twitter.com/reddotkitchen or by calling 408.673.8227.