Save Breakfast Save Hog Haven

Dear Hog Haven Friends, Family, Patrons and Pork Lovers,

Verde and I started our farm so that our family would have a healthy and sustainable source of protein.  We never dreamed it would quickly grow into real income that would allow me to leave a mundane sales job and make it my fulltime occupation.  The key was when we decided to start selling “THE” breakfast sandwich that features our pork, but was actually inspired by the amazing bread that came from a local baker we love.  The original idea was to drum up meat sales by offering the sandwich as a promotion, but when people began to line up for it at the Charlottesville market, we knew we were onto something. Flash forward and a couple years later we are selling our sandwich and packaged meats at farmers markets all around central Virginia, NoVa, and the DMV. We have been embraced by the local communities in these areas and we love what we do. Coming to the markets and interacting with you, our customers, has been a true joy.  To hear from so many how you love our sandwich and how it makes your day makes all the hard work we put in worth it. It is the best part of our week. To meet and talk to you, to see a familiar face, and get to know all of your names. We couldn’t be happier after many years of false starts to finally have found a vocation we have a passion for, can be proud of, and serves the community.

But now, all that we’ve built through your support and much hard work is suddenly at risk. The recent situation with the COVID-19 virus has come to a head and is threatening Hog Haven’s very existence. As of last Friday, most all farmers’ markets in the state of Virginia have closed their doors for an indefinite period with more in neighboring states bound to follow any day. We’ve lost ¾ of our revenue in one fell swoop and it’s looking to get worse. The markets are our life’s blood and any extended period of closing will be ruinous for us. The costs of running the farm don’t go away just because the markets aren’t up and running. To all our fans out there we are calling on you for help. Just a small donation during this time of trouble to make sure we stay afloat would be an insurance policy for you that when the markets do come back, we’ll be there making your favorite weekend breakfast! The world will survive this, but Hog Haven may not, not without your help. Thanks in advance for your consideration.

Rob and Verde