It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting Mokelumne Hill California Historical Landmark No 269 in Lockeford, CA gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Lockeford, CA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
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“My family has been fortunate to have Always Best Care provide care for my elderly mother for approximately two years. My mother is in her late 80s and not an easy person to deal with at times. Subsequent to her hospitalization and release, we coordinated with Always Best Care for caregiver, Chelsea to come into her home every week to assist my mother with her daily life, chores, etc. Chelsea has literally been a gift from God to us. I honestly don’t know what we would do without the professional help of Chelsea. She handled my mother’s many needs and moods with a very delicate and compassionate touch. She is simply the best. I cannot recommend her professional qualities and services highly enough. Please feel free to contact me should you require any additional information. Thank you very much.”
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“My mother was under the care of Always Best Care from 2018 until her untimely passing in 2022. She had a number of physical disabilities and the staff from Always Best Care provided quality care in assisting with her hygienic needs, attending to light housekeeping, food preparation and providing transportation to and from medical appointments. My mother always felt well cared for by the staff of Always Best Care. When my mother passed away in mid-December 2022, the staff at Always Best Care recognized the emotionally vulnerable position of my 87 year old Father and decided to continue assigning a compassionate Caregiver for him. Their ability to recognize the importance of this continuum of care is greatly appreciated by our family. Ultimately, our family has been very satisfied and pleased with the service that Always Best Care has provided to both our parents. They have demonstrated sincere concern, care and compassion when it comes to our parents’ physical and emotional care and we would recommend their services to anyone”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Mokelumne River Day Use Area in Lockeford, CA with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Twelve 28 Kitchen or visit Campo Seco California Historical Landmark No 257, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Lockeford, CA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Lockeford, CA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Lockeford, CA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
Highly automated operation in Lockeford, California, expands supply of 12" to 120" diameter RCP and 4' x 4' to 12' x 12' box culvert across Northern California, Northern Nevada, and Southern Oregon.RENO, Nev., Aug. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Jensen Infrastructure, a leading provider of construction and engineering solutions since 1968, today announced the start of reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) and box culvert production at a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Lockeford, California. The new operation gives contracto...
Highly automated operation in Lockeford, California, expands supply of 12" to 120" diameter RCP and 4' x 4' to 12' x 12' box culvert across Northern California, Northern Nevada, and Southern Oregon.
RENO, Nev., Aug. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Jensen Infrastructure, a leading provider of construction and engineering solutions since 1968, today announced the start of reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) and box culvert production at a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Lockeford, California. The new operation gives contractors, engineers, and public agencies across Northern California, the San Francisco Bay Area, Northern Nevada, and Southern Oregon greater access to reinforced concrete pipe and box culvert, with broad production capabilities, modern quality controls, and common sizes stocked locally.
The plant manufactures reinforced concrete pipe 12" to 120" in diameter for storm drains, sanitary sewers, culvert structures, transportation infrastructure, and other underground applications. It also manufactures box culvert with inside dimensions from 4' x 4' to 12'x 12'. Box culvert can be designed to accommodate optional full rubber gaskets, and Jensen can manufacture larger custom sizes when project requirements call for them.
All the production equipment is new, but the underlying technologies have been proven and refined over decades. The new Lockeford facility integrates concrete batching, reinforcement-cage welding, two pipe manufacturing systems, nine computer-controlled steam-curing chambers, automated handling, and final inspection. It includes a dedicated concrete batch plant with two four-cubic-yard mixers and three fully automated reinforcement-cage welding machines.
The plant's ePak packerhead system manufactures pipe from 12" to 48" in diameter. A three-pit vibrating-core system manufactures larger pipe up to 120" in diameter as well as the plant's full range of box culvert.
"We made a major investment to expand our reinforced concrete pipe and box culvert capabilities in Northern California," said Eric L. Jensen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Jensen Infrastructure. "The new plant combines a broad product range, substantial production capacity, extensive automation, and modern quality controls in one operation.
"This investment goes far beyond a single pipe machine. We built a complete production system, from concrete batching and reinforcement through production, controlled curing, handling, and final inspection. Every 12 to 48 inch pipe made on the ePak system must pass vacuum testing and bell-and-spigot dimensional checks before it is released for shipment. The result is consistent quality and dependable supply for our customers."
The reinforced concrete pipe product line includes Classes III through V, raised-bell pipe from 12" to 30" and flush-bell pipe from 36" to 120". The pipe is built to accommodate a variety of gaskets and project specifications. Common sizes will be stocked at the Lockeford facility to shorten lead times and help customers keep projects moving.
Customers can also coordinate pipe and box culvert with Jensen manholes, catch basins, vaults, stormwater systems, and other precast infrastructure products through one regional supplier. This allows project teams to simplify sourcing, coordinate deliveries, and reduce the number of manufacturers involved in a project.
The facility includes a roughly one-megawatt rooftop solar array designed to generate approximately 1.58 million kilowatt-hours annually, enough to offset nearly all the facility's projected annual electricity use.
Jensen has manufactured reinforced concrete pipe for years at its Las Vegas, Nevada, and Tucson, Arizona, facilities. The Lockeford operation brings that experience to Northern California and expands the company's overall pipe and box culvert production capacity.
"This is the latest step in more than 25 years of investment at Lockeford," Jensen said. "We are proud to keep investing in California. As a family-owned company, we care deeply about providing infrastructure products that last and deliver long-term value to the communities we serve."
Availability Jensen reinforced concrete pipe and box culvert are available now from the company's Lockeford facility. Customers can contact their local Jensen representative for product availability, specifications, engineering support or plant tours.
Jensen Infrastructure 12101 Brandt Road Lockeford, CA 95237Plant Phone Number: (209) 638-7928Sizes, Specs, Quotes: Jensen Concrete Pipe Overview
About Jensen Infrastructure Jensen Infrastructure designs, engineers, and manufactures concrete, fiberglass, and metal products for the growing needs of communities, businesses, and government agencies. Founded in 1968, Jensen is a family-owned American company serving customers across the West and Midwest.
MediaNicholas Drake | MainMobileEmailWebsite | (775) 352-5275(775) [email protected] |
SOURCE Jensen Infrastructure
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Join a chef on a road trip through the foothills of Northern California, where old-vine winemaking meets Old World charcuterie.I must confess, I love a good meat market. Whenever I travel, I get off the big freeways and hit the back roads because small towns in rural areas always show me the agriculture of where I am. Small-town meat markets in particular are looking glasses into the past. The styles of fresh or cured sausages immediately tell the story of the cultures in that area. Fresh chorizo? It’s a Latin community. An arra...
Join a chef on a road trip through the foothills of Northern California, where old-vine winemaking meets Old World charcuterie.
I must confess, I love a good meat market. Whenever I travel, I get off the big freeways and hit the back roads because small towns in rural areas always show me the agriculture of where I am. Small-town meat markets in particular are looking glasses into the past. The styles of fresh or cured sausages immediately tell the story of the cultures in that area. Fresh chorizo? It’s a Latin community. An array of styles of bratwurst? There was a German settlement here. Dry-cured sausages with fennel and red chile? Italian immigrants, whose history in some parts of the country can date back nearly 400 years, are the source for those.
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Beyond that, I just love sausage. I have cooked professionally almost all my life, and as a chef, I believe that sausage-making, whether fresh, smoked, or cured, is an art that more people should know well and understand. Sausages come from using the entire animal; they embody a kind of respect for the life the animal has given us. As you put those rib eyes, filets mignons, pork chops, and any other prime cuts on the grill in your backyard, it’s good to ask: Where does the rest of the animal go?
Now hold that thought because I’m going to take a minute to talk about another one of my passions: wine. Particularly the wines from historical regions, like the areas that date back to the mid-19th century, when settlers first started heading to California’s Sacramento delta for the gold rush. Many of the vines here — in Lodi, in the Sierra Foothills, in Contra Costa County — date back that far, too.
Not long ago, I was invited to a tasting in Lodi by Tegan Passalacqua, winemaker for Turley Wine Cellars and also his own project, Sandlands. Both source grapes from Lodi and Contra Costa. Passalacqua is easily one of the most talented winemakers around and makes stellar wines from Zinfandel, Cinsaut, Mataro, Chenin Blanc, and other varieties. And he has a true love for Lodi.
Lodi has made its name with good-quality bulk production of Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc, but that’s not what Passalacqua’s here for. What interests him more is that this region is filled with vines that have been in the ground since the mid-to-late 1800s, including a lot of Zinfandel, much of it planted by early European immigrants to California. That’s how the history and culture of both farming and meat markets tie together here, as he explained to me.
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Passalacqua looks primarily for dry-farmed old vineyards, ones that will echo in the wines they produce California’s deep roots of exploration, wonder, and hard work. To give one example, try the Sandlands Lodi Cinsaut, from Bechthold Vineyard. Those 25 acres of vines date back to 1886, and fruit from them produces light-bodied, brightly tart wine with delicious fruit-punch and baking spice characteristics. It couldn’t come from anywhere else.
You could say the same of the amazing sausage culture that has existed in the Lodi area for years. Passalacqua took me on a tour of the meat markets that form the backbone of the community, starting with a visit to Lockeford right outside Lodi, where Lockeford Sausage was everything I had hoped for: meat signs everywhere; sausages stacked beautifully in the display cases; fresh or smoked Dakota bratwurst; sausage varieties such as apple, bacon, “Hawaiian luau,” and jalapeño cheese; fresh chorizo. I love when another shopper is so excited about the products that they’ll share their favorite recipes with you unprompted — one man did exactly that with his favorite way to make fresh chorizo breakfast burritos. They inspired the chorizo tacos I now make.
From there we went into Lodi itself to check out Lakewood Meats & Sausage, which has been run by the Holder family for over 50 years, for bratwurst, weisswurst, and other German-style sausages. (I would be remiss if I didn’t mention their exemplary smoked Spanish chorizo and cheddar brats, too.)
Heading up the coast to Sonoma County — a long drive, so we made sure to buy some additional sausages to tide us over — we eventually got to the little town of Occidental. On the beautiful country roads leading into town, we started to see some small signs off to the side. The first said “Sausage ahead.” Then, “Steaks.” Then, “Hot dogs,” followed by “Panizzera Meat Co.” We hit the turn signal.
Panizzera Meat Co., a small butcher shop that’s been around since 1914, blew me away. Beef, pork, chicken, and lamb, sourced from small local farms and all broken down and processed on-site — it’s the type of place where you just have to go in and see what’s available. And at the back was a magical, backlit cabinet of happiness. Yes, it was just a refrigerator filled with packs of sausage, but to me it looked like the pearly gates: fresh chorizo, maple breakfast sausage, basil chicken sausage, and some of the best spicy Italian sausage I’ve ever tasted. The grind was just perfect, the percentage of lean-to-fat spot-on, and the amount of seasoning just right. I bought one of each and used the Italian sausage in a meatball casserole, with a mind-blowing result.
Since we were in Sonoma County, we then headed to Healdsburg. While there are plenty of great restaurants and wineries to visit, right off the main town square is one of the greatest discoveries that I’ve come across in the past five years: Journeyman Meat Co. From the moment we walked through Journeyman’s doors, I knew I was somewhere special. The focus here is on dry-cured salumi. Almost anyone can learn to make fresh sausage, but only a select few dive into upholding truly Old World ways of preservation.
Journeyman founder Pete Seghesio’s family came from Italy in the late 19th century and settled as farmers in Sonoma. They bought land, started growing grapes, and established a winery in 1902. I asked Seghesio what led him to create Journeyman, and he said, “I got into it first as a little boy making salami with my dad. It was just an Italian family tradition every mid-December. We’d cut up a whole hog. We’d trim out the tendons and fat and use the smoothest, best-colored meat of the hog, with its back fat, for the salami. Everything else went into fresh sausage.”
Seghesio’s shop is filled with different types of salumi ranging from pepperoni and soppressata to guanciale and ’nduja. I was back to being 7 years old in a candy store. Then I saw a poster saying “Salumi Club.” I signed up immediately. My wife looked at me when we walked out and asked, “Did you just join a salumi club?” and with overwhelming joy I said, “Yes, yes I did!” I might have even had a small tear of happiness form in my eyes. I can’t say she was surprised.
Whenever we talk about a harvest, we need to take a look into it a little deeper, whether in regard to the wine that we’re drinking or the sausage we’re cooking with. We need to learn and understand the people who produce each bottle and each link for us, to fall into their histories and cultures; then and only then do we start to have an appreciation of the work and traditions that have brought us what we’re tasting. Believe me: If you make that effort, everything will taste and feel so much better.
Fire up the grill, throw on some sausages from a real butcher, open a bottle of Zinfandel made from the fruit of very old vines, and spend the next few hours with friends and family, building your own traditions as you do. Because isn’t that what life is really about?
Let me give you a quick snapshot of what a 300-pound hog looks like, yield-wise. Once the animal is processed, its hanging weight is around 210 pounds. That’s when the breakdown goes into primal and subprimal pieces: shoulders or pork butts, hams for curing, bellies for bacon, ribs and pork chops. In total, that’s about 120 pounds, with the bones going for soup or stock, which leaves you with about 40 pounds of trim. That trim is what will be ground to make sausage.
Meanwhile, consider this: Just one of the largest pork-producing companies has the capacity to process around 35,000 hogs a day. That’s well over 1 million pounds of grind a day, from just one producer. This is why when I cook a pork chop for myself, I always think about what happens to the rest. Sausage deserves respect!
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