Frequently Asked Questions
Delivery Questions
Do I need to be home for delivery?
Nope! Feel free to leave a cooler someplace accessible (front porch, side of house) and we can leave your order there. Just make sure we know in advance where to look for the cooler.
How soon will my order be delivered?
Usually within 10 days, often sooner. Our delivery dates can always be found on our calendar at http://hasselmannfarm.com/market-delivery-information/. Generally speaking, your items will be delivered on the next delivery date after you place your order (provided we have at least 24 hours notice).
Is there a minimum order for delivery?
Yes, orders must be above $50. Orders under this can be picked up from various farmers markets. Delivery fee ranges from $10-25 depending on location and order size. Areas in far northern IL and the city of Chicago may have a $15 handling charge depending on the zip code.
What time will my order be delivered?
Please allow two weeks from the time you order for delivery to be made. We will send you an email the day before delivery that will include a time window to expect our driver. Please understand that our service area is large, and traffic and weather conditions may cause delays. Always feel free to leave a cooler out, and our driver can leave your order there if no one is home.
Market Preorder Questions
How do I order to pick up specific items from a farmers market?
Order any meat products you’d like through our website shop: http://shop.hasselmannfarm.com/ You will be able to select a farmers market to pick up your items when you check out. Please note: only our meat products are available for pickup. We do not accept preorders for eggs. (see below)
Why don’t you take market preorders for eggs?
In short, because we never know how many we are going to have. The number of eggs our hens lay during the week depend on the weather, the time of year, the age of the flock, and the mood of the hens. Some days most of our nest boxes are full, and some days many are empty. Because we never know how many we will get, we found it difficult (and stressful!) to try to guess how many to allow for preorder. We were constantly afraid we were going to oversell and not have enough to fill the orders. For this reason, we switched to first come, first served for as many eggs as we have available at each market. We do, however, still have eggs on the website available for home delivery!
Where do I go to pickup my order?
Just come find our booth! Look for the Hasselmann Family Farm signage. And then just introduce yourself (if we don’t know you already!) to the friendly face behind the table. We’ll have it waiting. Also, our farm store is open every Wednesday and Saturday from 9 to 2 pm.
Farm Questions
Is there soy or corn in your animal feed?
Yes, our hog and chicken feed does contain soy.
Do you offer farm tours?
We do not currently offer farm tours as ours is a working farm. We are usually out in the field or in the barns working, and it is difficult to take time away from chores to offer formal tours. However, we ALWAYS welcome customers to come on out to the farm to pick up orders. If we have time, we’re happy to show you around a bit if we have time. And given that our chickens are out wondering around, our cattle are out in the fields, and our pigs rolling around in the mud – well, its impossible not to get a good feel of our farm just by pulling in the driveway.
Product Questions
Are your bacon & ham items cured? Do they contain added nitrates or MSG?
Our bacon and smoked ham items are smoked – but not cured. They do not contain added nitrates or MSG.
What is the difference between smoked ham and fresh ham?
Smoked hams are, well, smoked! Fresh hams are not.
Why are many items frequently out of stock?
As a small farm, we are dependent on a very tight schedule of supply and demand. The number of eggs we have is completely dependent on how many eggs our hens lay that week! We only receive 14 lbs of bacon from each hog we process – and when those are gone, we are out until we take in another hog. The number of hogs we have to take in to be processed depends on how many are born and how fast (or slow) they grow. We don’t force feed our animals, or give them antibiotics or anything else to make them grow faster. They grow on their own, out on pasture, as they should. We update our website inventory at least 2 times a week, and we receive new items every week. Check back soon and we will hopefully have your favorites in stock!
Do you offer special cuts or sizes?
Absolutely! If you are interested in something special, just drop us an email (hasselmannfarm@gmail.com) and we will try to accommodate! Please keep in mind that it can take us 2-3 weeks to have your special cut prepared for you (much more if it needs to be smoked).
Are your products organic?
No, we are not certified organic. However, we use no antibiotics or growth hormones on our animals and use many organic farming practices when raising the crops we feed our animals.
Bacon, Cottage Bacon, Jowl Bacon – I’m confused!
Traditional bacon comes from the pork belly and is smoked. Cottage bacon comes from the pork shoulder, but is smoked and sliced like bacon. It is leaner and meatier than bacon. It also comes in larger slices, making it a great option for amazing BLTs and sandwiches. Jowl bacon comes from the cheek of the animal, and is also smoked. The slices are smaller, and thinner, and are less lean than regular bacon. The fat rendered is very creamy and rich, which makes it a great option for pasta carbonara, spinach salad with bacon vinaigrette, or any other preparation where you would like to use wonderful rich bacon fat along with crisp bacon!