Gunthorp Farms

09/24/2023

Greg’s (in)famous quote “the Dept. of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, and the USDA have been on vacation since the 1970’s and it’s time they go back to work!” Captured by Cassidy Gunthorp

07/09/2023

The GK Griddle has everything you could want on a massive sandwich.

sausage patty, a fried egg, creamy Gruyère, all served on a fresh baked cinnamon roll.

We’re serving brunch at the Tap Room until 4pm.

12/08/2022

From good friend of mine Will Harris…..

11/20/2022

When you finally make that decision to consume grassfed ruminants check out our whole Grassfed lambs, cut and packaged. Whole shoulders, whole legs, racks, and a saddle. I first heard of Dr Davis on Red Hill Rancher’s Ranching Reboot podcast. https://twitter.com/jeffdavismd/status/1594359364130770944?s=21&t=mw7fnVRNjyGgiV4SuzZd4g

“Want to feel better? Eat. More. Meat. Worry less about the meat you are eating and more about what your meat was eating. Find your regenerative farmer and buy direct from them. Ruminants are how we heal the land.”

10/23/2022

I didn’t set a timer, but I’m guessing it only took about 3 minutes to get the sheep across the highway and the fences moved back and the road swept off. Very efficient move! 

10/23/2022

Busy morning moving the original flock back “up north” 😉 Video to follow!

10/22/2022

Got a mention and picture in the New York Times over the supply issues in the turkey industry. We raised as many turkeys this year but raised them all in the summer when we had part time high school help for the processing. If anything positive comes out of Covid on the food supply, it should be that as a nation we pursue a food supply that is more sane and reasonable and more resilient. Concentration and consolidation has went too far. Support a local farmer directly. It’s better for the animals. It’s better for the environment. It’s better for your health. It’s better for rural communities. And It’s a more resilient and secure agriculture.

11/25/2021

Great to work with Frontera Grill and Chef Rick Bayless!

We're incredibly proud to support Inspiration Kitchens and the generous, resilient spirit of Chicago's chef community.

Thank you Chef Bill Kim for leading the 6th annual Chefsgiving, which brings together chefs through our shared love of food.

Along with 40 other local chefs, we created soul-satisfying meals (Gunthorp Farms carnitas with black beans, homemade tortillas, green beans and salsa verde) which will be donated to shelters across the city for Chicagoans in need.

11/20/2021

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. 🎶

Time to pick up your Thanksgiving turkey, that is!

Here is the info for picking up your turkey.

1. Pick up at the farm in LaGrange, Indiana on Saturday November 20th from 10 am to 2 pm EST or Wednesday November 24th from 10 am to noon EST. You can pick up on either date, just be sure to bring your order confirmation with you so that we can easily verify your order.

2. Pick up from our truck in Oak Park, Illinois on Sunday, November 21st from 1-2:30 pm CST. Our truck will just be parked at 531 N East Ave Oak Park, IL. This is a residential location- we simply park on the street at our friends' house and you will meet us there to grab your bird. Bring your order confirmation so we can get everyone served smoothly!

*Reminder- no sales will take place at pick up. Be sure you have an order confirmation showing that you have already purchased a turkey. We have a few more available on the website, so if you would still like to purchase a turkey- please order it online before heading to the pick up. Thanks!

06/22/2021

We got a really nice shout out from Chef Rick Bayless on NBC Chicago today. We make their smoked and sliced garlic chipotle loin that is on their Cubana Torta. https://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/chicago-today/rick-bayless-discuss-opening-tortazo-in-iconic-willis-tower/2535859/?fbclid=IwAR0-UhdlVzNANRsffs8fD_M320mCclzlUkR-VwmMGTO4r2t2GIWQfdIbAMQ

Rick Bayless discusses opening Tortazo at Willis Tower’s Catalog, serving up real flavors of Mexico in the iconic Chicago site, and his favorite menu items.

01/15/2021

We have a few our our Imperial Red whole chickens, small smoked hams, and chicken chorizo back in stock. These won't last long, so get them before they're gone!

https://gunthorpfarms.com/collections/chicken/products/whole-imperial-red-chicken-5-pack
https://gunthorpfarms.com/collections/pork/products/pork-small-boneless-smoked-ham
https://gunthorpfarms.com/collections/chicken/products/chicken-chorizo

These hams are small, but their smokey flavor is powerful. At 2-3 # each, they are the perfect way to bring a taste of the holidays to a small get together or any weeknight dinner. Ingredients: Pork, Salt, and Celery Powder* *No nitrites or nitrates added except those naturally occurring in celery ju...

12/01/2020

This year for Giving Tuesday, make the value of your dollar go even farther. I encourage you to kill two birds with one stone by purchasing food, goods, or gift cards from your local farmer, processor, restaurant, or business who might be hurting due to the pandemic and then donate those products to a food pantry, soup kitchen, or family in need.

Like we mentioned on Small Business Saturday, money spent in your community is a driver for economic development and opportunity for the community as a whole and it is second only to public education as far as an equalizer for wealth distribution and economic opportunity. Give to your community in more ways than one by purchasing local products to give to those in need.

We have added an item in our shop called "Ground Product Donation" that you can purchase and we will donate to a local organization helping connect food with families who need it. Everyone who purchases will receive a 10% off coupon emailed them (so be sure to opt into our marketing emails).

Whether you purchase our ground products for us to donate, purchase items from other local businesses/small farmers to donate to those in need, or donate to a charity that means a lot to you, we thank you for your generosity on this Giving Tuesday.

Have a happy holiday season.

~The Gunthorp Family

11/28/2020

A rising tide lifts all boats ONLY when there is a flourishing Main Street full of small local businesses and there are family farms making a living in the rural parts of the community.

Not to get too technical, but the velocity of money is far greater when spent with local businesses. In other words, when you shop with a local business for the holidays, that money will circulate in that community an average of 7 times before leaving the community. When you spend your money with a big box store, that money immediately leaves the community.

Shopping with small businesses is the great equalizer for wealth distribution and economic opportunity, second only to public education. Spending your money with small businesses is a huge driver of economic development and opportunity for real people in YOUR community and small communities just like yours across the country.

Now more than ever, small businesses have proven to be the resilient ones. The ones that your community and our country need more of. The small businesses are counting on you.

I challenge you to take advantage of a Small Business Saturday Deal today. Every purchase, no matter how small, makes a huge impact.

Head on over to our website and take advantage of our Small Business Saturday deal, running through midnight on Monday night. Earn a $25 gift card for every $200 spent, reserve your Christmas ham while supplies last, buy some product bundles, and as always, free shipping on orders over $170.

11/22/2020

The answer to both questions is the same:

1. What will the Gunthorps do on Wednesday once all turkeys have been delivered?

AND

2. What do I do if I don't need this whole turkey for our small family gathering?

Answer: BREAK IT DOWN! 🕺🏻
. . Ok, that was cheesey, I know. 🤦🏼‍♀️🤣

We took this video to demonstrate how to break down a whole bird into pieces. Cook as much or as little as you need for your meal and freeze the rest for later.

Don't want to cut it up? No worries, you can't go wrong with leftovers. The best part of a whole turkey is that it provides several meals. Whether you cook it whole & eat leftovers or cut it up and prepare it differently every time, you can't lose!

11/20/2020

So you have a turkey... now what? 😬

Here are our recommendations on what to do with your Gunthorp Farms bird. Greg's low & slow cooking method is perfect for anyone, whether it is your first turkey you've ever cooked or your 50th! Some of you may be getting a frozen bird from some of our wholesalers, so we included thawing instructions as well as shelf life guidelines for anyone who might not be cooking their bird on Thanksgiving Day.

Have questions? Start a turkey cooking or storing discussion in our group: Gunthorp Farms Family | Talking Poultry & Pork From Farm To Fork. And be sure to tag us in your turkey prepping, cooking, & eating pictures!

11/10/2020

Run — don’t walk — to order your Thanksgiving turkey now! 🏃🏽‍♀️

You can still order a turkey from us for pick up at the farm on Nov 21st or 25th or in Oak Park on Nov 22nd. https://gunthorpfarms.com/pages/thanksgiving-turkey-information

Some of our wholesale customers are still taking orders as well, so check with these locations to order directly from them.

Indianapolis: Goose the Market, Green Bean Delivery, The Good Earth, Old Major Market

Fort Wayne: Three Rivers Co-op Natural Grocery & Deli

Muncie: The Downtown Farm Stand

Chicago & surrounding area: Local Foods Grocer & Distributor, Green Grocer Chicago, Irv & Shelly's Fresh Picks, Village Farmstand, The Urban Canopy, Elawa Farm

Northwest Indiana/Southwest Michigan: Granor Farm, Grounded Earth Farm

Grand Rapids, MI: Native Pantry

Colorado Springs, CO: Ranch Foods Direct

Shipping Turkeys To Various Locations: Crowd Cow, US Wellness Meats, Bytable

(Wholesale customers— did we forget to add you to the list? Shoot us a message and I’ll add you!)

10/30/2020

“Headed to cold storage to load 36 pallets of frozen turkeys. Thanksgiving season has officially started for us. Never in my wildest dreams did I think this journey would take us this far. I’m loading turkeys today that will be headed to San Fransisco and LA via an LTL truck.” -Greg Gunthorp

10/30/2020

I tracked Greg Gunthorp down today and asked him to talk a little bit about how turkey season is going this year. He wanted to remind everyone that the deadline for individuals to order a turkey that we will ship to you is rapidly approaching (November 3rd) and we also have lots of wholesalers (check the comments below) who are ready to take your order for a turkey as well! Don't wait-- make a plan now to get your pasture-raised before it's too late!

10/21/2020

Hey you! Do you have your heart set on a small turkey (12-15 #) for Thanksgiving? 🧡

If so, we need your order NOW (both wholesale accounts & individuals) as the birds are about to grow past that size! Don’t delay! Reminder that since we are butchering the small birds early, these will come frozen.

Edited to add that you still have time to order our larger birds up until it gets closer to Thanksgiving! But the smalls will be disappearing from our website this weekend!

10/12/2020

A little birdie told me it’s . Want to celebrate with us? 👨🏻‍🌾🎉

Comment below all the ways that YOU support your favorite local farmers. Like Greg said, we hope that excitement for local & regional food systems can become a staple of our country. Not just something to be celebrated on or Thanksgiving as mentioned in the picture or even just during a global pandemic that caused shortages in the grocery store. We want local food to be an essential part of our society— because it truly is!

10/05/2020

How do you prepare yours? 🍽

Whether you have been searching for the perfect brine recipe or honing your smoker skills, our pasture raised turkeys are the perfect starting point for any recipe. We love seeing all of the creative preparations of our birds!

Are you new to cooking the Thanksgiving turkey? Don’t worry, we can help. Here is Greg’s tried & true, low & slow method. The low temp grants you a lot of grace, so it’s a great method for anyone who is nervous about that first whole turkey attempt! https://gunthorpfarms.com/blogs/recipes/oven-roasted-low-slow-whole-turkey

10/04/2020

Our marketing assistant, Everly, gets a little excited about turkeys. 😆

She isn’t the only one who is excited about our turkeys though. If we assume every turkey that we sell feeds 10 people on average, that’s 50,000 people eating a pasture raised turkey for Thanksgiving! Our biggest wish is that we could carry this huge support for rebuilding local and regional food systems over to more than just 1 day per year.

10/03/2020

We’ve had some beautiful fall days here in northeast Indiana. 🍂

Here you can see our turkeys up close and our pigs in the distance, all enjoying the weather outside on pasture.

Reminder that you can order your Thanksgiving turkey now at gunthorpfarms.com so that we definitely have one for you in November! Don’t miss out.

09/29/2020

In our 20 years in the processing business, we’ve only had 1 day where we weren’t able to harvest all of the animals that we caught. For a second, we thought yesterday was going to be day number 2. ⚙️

When the bearing went out on the gearbox on our plucker, we finished the remainder of the 2000+ chickens in our Featherman plucker. My wife and I bought this plucker from David Shafer when my wife and I were doing 30-40 chickens a week as exempt processors in the yard. Yesterday was a long day doing just 2 birds at a time in the plucker but the chickens are in the cooler. I actually think I need to be thankful this didn’t happen on a day we had 4000 chickens and 800 turkeys— just a couple weeks ago. I also should be thankful the old plucker ran after sitting completely untouched for so long. What are the odds of that? We probably haven’t used it for five years and even then only used it for chicken feet.

09/28/2020

Greg’s movie review of Kiss the Ground 🍿

“Finally got a chance to watch the documentary Kiss the Ground this evening. It is great news for Regenerative Agriculture to get household names such as Woody Harelson and Tom Brady along with leaders of the regenerative ag industry Ray Archuleta, Gabe Brown, and Allan Savory explaining soil health, carbon sequestration, and regenerative agriculture. It’s a very approachable video and I highly recommend watching it. After watching, I’m guessing this documentary will have a large impact on consumers searching out pasture-raised products. It will give some insight as to why we go to the efforts to do what we do on our 275 acres. It’s viewable on Netflix now. Here is a picture of my son Evan and me with Ray and with Allan. We ran into Ray at a random Chipotle in Missouri on a trip back from looking at a piece of chicken processing equipment in Arkansas. Small world. Great conversation over dinner. We ran into Allan at the first Slow Food’s Slow Meat in Denver. Evan was the youngest delegate that year.”

So what are you waiting for? Watch Kiss the Ground & let us know what you think.

09/22/2020

Order your Thanksgiving turkey now! 🎉

Once you've had one of our juicy, pasture-raised turkeys, you will never go back to a store-bought bird. Our turkeys are raised on pasture without the use of antibiotics. We harvest the turkeys in our USDA-inspected meat processing plant here on the farm.

09/14/2020

Calling all Gunthorp Farms turkey fans! 📢

Do you have a picture of your Gunthorp Farms Thanksgiving turkey ready to go in the oven? How about a picture of it ready to be dug into? I am looking for some pictures of our whole turkeys being used by the final customer for marketing purposes. (I have lots of pretty "on grass" pictures... but I want some pretty "let's eat" pictures!)

If you have a picture that you would be okay with us using, leave it in the comments below OR email it to [email protected].

If we use your picture, I'll send you a coupon to use on your turkey purchase this year! 🎉

Which reminds me... who is ready to purchase their Thanksgiving turkey for this year?!? Turkey sales will be launching soon! Fulfillment via pick up at the farm, pick up in Oak Park, AND shipped directly to your door will all be available this year.

09/03/2020

- Someday Greg will be back to grilling as often as he used to! 🔥

This picture from 2017 was when Greg had a pop up chicken wing sale in Kara & Ed’s front yard! In the last few years, Greg has had the grill out at least 2 or 3 times per month in the summer- but I think he’s only had it out 2 or 3 times total this year! Greg is missing his hobby & he can’t wait to get back to roasting whole hogs & chicken wings for the masses.

08/31/2020

Happy birthday to the one who keeps all of the details straight and the family in line. 😜

We hope you’ve had a great day Lei! I don’t know what we’d ever do without you. ❤️

08/29/2020

Greg always orders our pork chop when dining out. The second picture was from his dinner at Traders Point Creamery tonight.

We have a center cut pork chop available in our online store & I promise that you can cook it to perfection no matter what your cooking ability is. Tonight while Greg, Lei, & Cassidy dined out, Kara & Ed added a little salt & pepper and then grilled the chops at 450* F for ~4 minutes per side until they reached an internal temp of 145*. The result was so yummy that Kara dug in before taking an after picture. Don’t take our word for it though, order a pack (or a bundle of 5 packs) for yourself on our website & start preparing restaurant quality meats at home.

08/27/2020

A farm hand fixing the Farm Hand. 🔧

They still make parts for this feed grinder, it’s just hard to track them down since the company has changed hands 3 times and the part numbers don’t always cross reference. This is 1 of our 4 feed grinders, all from the late 80’s & early 90’s.

Next on the to do list tonight- sous vide some duck wings.

@ Gunthorp Farms

08/23/2020

It’s the most important meal of the day. 🍳

Getting a nutritious breakfast on the table in the mornings isn’t always easy. One of our family’s favorites is brown sugar sausage scramble. Just brown the sausage, add the eggs & milk, and you have a protein packed breakfast ready to go! Our brown sugar breakfast sausage is also great as a patty, too! Just be sure to cook it low and slow so you don’t burn the sugar.

08/22/2020

Greg Gunthorp was having some fun 6 years ago today! ⚾️

Not gonna name drop, but can you name that Cubs player? (Hint: someone took a great 'pitcher') 😜

08/21/2020

Real fire = real smoke = craft bacon 🔥🥓

That’s right, our bacon is something that can be considered craft bacon. We fan these real hickory logs to create real smoke and our bacon absorbs all of that real flavor. No liquid smoke or yield enhancers here. It’s good to the last slice- which is why we save every bit of bacon we make and offer the unsightly, “not picture perfect” pieces at half price!

This weekend you can get a package of our bacon seconds free with a $75 purchase using coupon code SECONDS. @ Gunthorp Farms

08/17/2020

Ground products make easy dinner ideas. 🌭

There’s still time to use discount code 10OFFGROUND to get $10 off any order containing at least $10 of ground products (including linked sausages & ground product bundles too). Discount code ends at midnight tonight.

Shop now at gunthorpfarms.com

08/16/2020

Ground products are versatile items to keep on hand for quick & easy meal preps! Use the code through midnight tonight to stock up so you always have an answer to the age-old question of "what's for dinner?"

Use code 10OFFGROUND to get $10.00 off your order.

08/09/2020

Our smoked-over-real-hickory-logs smoked products are back! 🔥

We had cut some of our more labor intensive products when the restaurants all closed so that we had more time to package everything in retail packs for retailers. These smoked sausages were one of the casualties, but I’m happy to announce that they’re back along with our small smoked hams! All of our smoked products are smoked over real hickory logs- no liquid smoke or yield enhancers of any kind. Get a package (or 2 or more, we won’t judge!) online now at https://gunthorpfarms.com/collections/pork

08/08/2020

Did someone say it was ? 🐷

Our sows do a great job of raising healthy piglets on their own without our intervention. We use small rounded shelters for our farrowing huts that are tall in the middle and shorter on the edges. This helps give the piglets their own safe space on the sides without ever needing to use farrowing crates. Our mamas are free to move as they please.

08/06/2020

07/28/2020

Baseball season, among other things, looks a little different this year... ⚾️

This is the first year in several years that Greg hasn’t roasted a pig for the Chicago Cubs players’ family picnic. He normally roasts the pig overnight in the players’ parking lot and then serves it right on Wrigley Field. Roasting pigs is Greg’s hobby & it has taken a big hit this year with most events being cancelled.

So it looks like there will be no base-running for this All Star farmer this year and he’s really bummed about it.

(No head-first sliding into home either, which Greg swears this video conveniently cut out. 😜)