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Texas is making its mark on swine dining.
, a farm just west of Flatonia, is home to nearly 700 pure ib茅rico pigs 鈥� a black-hooved breed from a Spanish bloodline that can be traced back to before Roman times. Famous for their acorn-centric diet, the purebred ib茅rico pigs are responsible for the pork delicacy jam贸n ib茅rico.
, a food with the , says that the first ib茅rico pigs arrived from overseas about four years ago, after disease in Spain had devastating effects on both the pigs and the region鈥檚 acorn-producing trees. Imports from Spain stopped and Texas, where live oak trees produce the acorns the pigs like, was chosen as a new home for the livestock.
Thus, American-produced 鈥淚bericus鈥� pork was born.
The high-end nature of the product may create some barriers, but Blount says Acornseekers is working to create a market for the Spanish delicacy here in the U.S.
鈥淲hat they鈥檙e starting out with is they know that they have a high-end product,鈥� Blount says. 鈥淭hey know that some of the restaurants probably can鈥檛 afford to keep that kind of meat in their supply, but they have done a good job of getting the word out.鈥�
Written by Lila Weatherly.
