WHY CHOOSE HNG? 

At Hickory Nut Gap, we believe that the best-tasting meats come from happy, healthy animals raised on high-quality pasture. Since 1916, we have carried forward our mission to build community through agriculture.

• Superior-tasting pasture raised meats
• Happy, healthy animals
• Farming methods that benefit both the community and the planet

Hickory Nut Gap builds functional ecosystems that work for farmers, animals, and the environment. Approaching agriculture in this manner promotes biodiversity, healthier soils, and cleaner water. The belief that the health of people, animals and the planet are all connected supports Hickory Nut Gap’s pasture-based agricultural models that future generations can use. 

To keep pastures healthy, Hickory Nut Gap practices rotational and intensive grazing techniques for their cattle. These practices maintain and support pasture forages and pasture fertility by suppressing weed seed formation and increasing soil microbial activity. The difference in the soil health and abundance of plant species within Hickory Nut Gap’s lush grazing pastures is clearly visible. The grazing practices mimic the natural cycles found in a grassland ecosystem — large herd animals grazing off a perennial polyculture of plants.

Raising pigs on pastures and in the woodlands allows for a rotation and rest period for the soils as well as great access to micronutrients, insects and tubers for the pigs to root up using their natural instincts. All Hickory Nut Gap farmers use farrowing huts for their sows and do not use confinement crates.

Pasture raised poultry is a humane choice that allows a chicken to exhibit their natural instincts of pecking and scratching while simultaneously offering a rotation of fertilizer directly to the pastures.

Hickory Nut Gap’s great-tasting grassfed beef, pastured pork and pastured chicken are good for the land, the animals, and the people.