ginger bee farm

Kune Kune pork and Lard

Kune Kunes aren’t just fat little pigs – they’re little pigs made of fat.

That’s a key difference between Kune Kunes and other breeds, and why we think they’re incredibly valuable on a homestead.

Most homesteads are crying out for fat sources. The wonderful wild game we bring in, the rabbits we raise and butcher, the grass-fed beef we produce, and the pastured heritage poultry we make are all much lower in fat than their conventionally raised counterparts. The flavor can’t be beat, but the extra leanness means that we’re missing that delicious melting umami that healthy fat brings to the plate.

Enter the Kune Kune. They make gorgeous, complex, flavorful meat, but they’re not cheap meat pigs. They take over a year to grow out, the cuts are smaller, and the effort is higher. But as a fat source – wowza. Clean lard for pastry and frying, fat trimmings to round out that venison sausage, and gorgeous unctuous broth so your rabbit stew gives you the strength to go out and toss a little more hay tonight. There is so little waste on one of these pigs that you’ll get almost as much back as you send to the processor (make sure you ask for the bones back too, because kunekune bone broth is a revelation). Their incredible utility and usefulness from nose to tail is why we love Kune Kunes, and why we think you will too.

The Ginger Bee family

Fat balances lean harvests

Homesteaders work hard, many hours a day. You need to feel full when you are full. That's exactly what fat does, and it improves taste and texture as well. Venison is a carrot stick - venison with Kune Kune fat is a carrot stick with ranch dressing on it.

Fat is the homestead's friend

Fats are the most concentrated source of energy on a homestead, and they're the ubiquitous ingredient in not only foods but soaps, skin creams, cleaning solutions, and even tools and leatherworking.

Fat makes out-of-this-world charcuterie

Cured meats - good cured meats - are the ultimate luxury food and the ultimate survival food in one. The revival of interest in charcuterie as a low-waste, delicious food is the perfect fit for the Kune Kune.

fat helps to make the homestead sustainable

We're all trying to close our production loops, so we're bringing in as little as possible and making as much as possible. Abundant fat sources are key.

Kune Kune is slow food

Because Kune Kunes are an unimproved breed, they grow slowly and lay down very fine-grained and flavorful fat and meat. You'll taste the difference.

Every inch of the Kune Kune is edible

Because the Kune Kune is a charcuterie pig, not a meat pig, you'll be using virtually every pound of hanging weight. There's almost no waste.

Kune Kune products have high ROI

Lard, cured meats, and charcuterie are some of the highest-price homestead products out there. With the low input costs for Kune Kunes, and the fact that you won't need extra staff for handling, you'll see a quick return on investment and the potential for high homestead profits.