About Us
Owned and operated by Lee
& Kevin McCosker, Melanda Park boasts happy, healthy free
range pigs, raised on organic pasture. A marriage of heritage and modern
breeds has produced a sturdy forager, free to range 175 acres of,
rich, fertile basalt country at Rob Roy just west of Inverell, New South
Wales. Pig farming at its best! The pig's pastures consist of native grasses, rye grass, sown
sugargraze sorghum, millet, oats and peas. It is also dotted with fruit trees,
figs, apricots, plums and persimmons and the pigs are experts at harvesting a
feast! The flavour of this environment comes shining through in the final
product - sweet, succulent free range pork with the unique flavours of the
region it which it is raised : The beautiful New England.
You
can experience our pork here
and take a virtual tour of our farm here
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Our Philosophy
People's expectations
of quality are changing. Consumers not only want food to taste good, they
want it to actually be good. Good for their health, good for animal
welfare and good for the environment. They need to know that their food
is produced without the use of drugs, that the animals farmed for meat were
given humane care and that their needs were respected and met.
They feel that the
pigs grown to provide us with pork should not just have to cope with
their environment, they should thrive in it. Farming practices need to be
sustainable, not just now, but looking into the future and sustainability is
more than environmental issues, its also about acceptable farm practices.
How can Melanda Park
Free Range meet such high expectations?
Our entire farm is
managed biologically.
We are committed to happy, stress and disease free pigs and the care of our land and to
show our commitment we have become certified through Humane
Choice and undergo thorough inspection by Australia's most respected
independent auditing company Aus-Qual. The Humane Choice standard not
only covers the environment and animal welfare, it covers your welfare also
with stringent food safety requirements.
The end result is
wholesome, tender, natural pork the way it should taste. Sweet earthy
flavours, with wonderful texture and colour.
Lee
McCosker
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Why is
Certification so important?
At
present, there is no national standard for the production of free range meat or
eggs. It is very unfortunate that big business has seized this
opportunity to take advantage of a growing demand and the consumer's lack of
knowledge about pork production methods. If the pork you buy is not
certified free range or Humane Choice, you have to ask the question,
why?
Remember,
'bred' free range does not mean free to range. Insist on knowing more
about the supplier of your pork and ask your butcher for assurance that it is
genuine free range. Become better informed, learn just what it is you
seek when you are purchasing pork. www.pigout.net.au
Look for one the these logos for a guarantee of true free range pork.
 - Humane Choice
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Lee McCosker
