Underground Meats–Vendor Spotlight
Located in the heart of south-central Wisconsin, Underground Meats sources local, humanely treated, and high-quality animals. Working closely with small-scale Wisconsin farmers as well as the State of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Underground Meats secures consistent and quality herds to supply their operations and ensures the health and safety of their products.
Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Products: Salami and cured meats
Website: UndergroundMeats.com
Established: 2009
Brand Inspiration:
Innovative, creative cooks and producers
Getting Started:
Getting started in the charcuterie business is no easy feat, as there are numerous health and safety plans that need to be established. At first, Underground Meats asked other producers to share their HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) plans which are necessary for any charcuterie to establish, however, no producers were willing. Instead of outsourcing a consultant to create these plans, the Underground Meats team chose to learn the science behind the curing processes and develop their own plans. Underground Meats is a self-sufficient operation, using the skills and tools available to creatively solve problems and create new recipes.
Setting Underground Meats apart:
Underground Meats is part of the Underground Food Collective in Madison, Wisconsin. Full of collaborative spirit, Underground Meats not only uses ingredients from local producers and farmers but also helped create Open Source Food Safety. The philosophy behind this is sharing good science for those looking to safely cure meats. The science behind these processes differs from the final products which is why Underground Meats believes these plans should not be proprietary. Underground Meats also helps aspiring charcuteries gain their footing by sharing not only safety plans but meeting with them and offering advice for those new to the business.
Next steps:
Underground Meats is moving to a much larger facility to accommodate the growing demand for their locally sourced cured meats. Currently, their meats are available in select locations nationally, with plans to continue widespread growth while maintaining a strong focus on Wisconsin and Midwest buyers. Underground Meats’ products and recipes, along with their collaborative spirit set them apart from competing brands, which makes targeted national growth a natural next step.
Wisconsin:
The outstanding agriculture is a large part of what makes Wisconsin special to Underground Meats. The immense availability of local hogs, along with the diversity of farmers and producers they are able to work with enables Underground Meats to craft creative recipes. The animals and products grown in the Driftless area are especially unique, thanks to the soil in the region. In addition to the wonderful products produced in Wisconsin, the diversity of scenery and landscapes, as well as the outdoor recreation, are what makes this state so special to Underground Meats.
Image credit: Emily Julka
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