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Direct-to-consumer sales will remain part of a pork producer's future business plan.

Kevin Schulz, Editor

January 8, 2021

3 Min Read
David Newman and his children check on baby pigs on the family farm in south central Missouri
SWITCHING GEARS: David Newman’s family had a niche market of providing quality pork to fine-linen restaurants, but when COVID-19 forced such businesses to close, the family switched to selling Berkshire pork directly to consumers. Here, Newman and his children check on baby pigs on the family farm in south-central Missouri. Courtesy David Newman

As the effect of COVID-19 spread across the U.S., “stay safe at home” mandates were put in place, forcing restaurants to resort to offering carryout and curbside delivery — or shutting down, some temporarily, some closing for good.

This obviously hit restaurants hard, but suppliers relying on the dine-in experience were hit equally hard. David Newman and his family operate Newman Farm, a diversified operation, with one component being Heritage Berkshire Pork in the Ozarks area of southern Missouri.

In addition to being a farmer, Newman holds an animal science degree, as well as a doctorate in meat science and muscle biology, focusing on meat quality. Newman also is an associate professor of animal science at Arkansas State University.

Related: Complete coronavirus coverage

This focus serves the Newman family operation well as they chose in the 1990s to avoid going the route of being a large-scale commercial operation, instead opting for purebred Berkshires for meat quality, and the hogs are raised on pasture.

Disruption spurs business plan

Newman’s operation had developed a niche, providing Berkshire pork to high-end fine-linen restaurants across the country. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and stay-home orders followed, that market dried up.

Rather than wallow in self-pity, the Newmans shifted gears and began offering direct-to-consumer packages. As restaurants closed or offered limited options, in-home cooking was revitalized, and the Newmans saw opportunity.

“We saw, and we continue to see, major disruptions in food service,” Newman says. “This has been a lot like riding a roller coaster. Initially back in the spring, we were primarily focused on the food service business. Over 80% of our business was targeted at food service here in the U.S. from coast to coast.

"Over a several week time period, we transitioned from being a primary food service company to become a primary direct-to-consumer business. We have really taken a deep dive into changing roles within our company, changing the marketing aspect of what we do while continuing to watch what happens in food service.”

marketing campaign

David Newman has always sold pork direct to consumers, but during 2020, that market ramped up as interest in local meat spiked when families were forced to stay home and cook. Part of their marketing includes offering customers information on new pork cuts.

The food service arena witnessed a recovery during the summer months, but now as cooler temps settle in and “we’re seeing a resurgence in COVID, we’re starting to see shutdowns again, and we’re starting to even see some minor [slaughter] plant disruptions. Those things can all have a pretty big impact on us. Our direct sales were good, but that is a challenging market," Newman says.

Not only is that a challenging market to fit into, but Newman also says shifting to a direct-to-consumer business plan is “still a big challenge to dynamically shift your business literally overnight.”

Here to stay

Many lessons have been and continue to be learned from the COVID-19 experience, and Newman says the direct-to-consumer plan is here to stay.

“Without question. All the data suggest that this direct-to-consumer market is very real,” he says. “We’re not seeing nearly as much what I would describe as panic buying. That’s what we saw back in the spring. Now what we’re seeing is that this is following a trend that many retail businesses out of the food sector are following.

"People are getting their dog food and their charcoal delivered to their house. So as people are becoming more accustomed to this direct-to-consumer online business, food is going to fall right into that pattern. And I don’t see that changing in the foreseeable future. And I see the D-to-C business being a huge part of what we do.”

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Covid 19

About the Author(s)

Kevin Schulz

Editor, The Farmer

Kevin Schulz joined The Farmer as editor in January of 2023, after spending two years as senior staff writer for Dakota Farmer and Nebraska Farmer magazines. Prior to joining these two magazines, he spent six years in a similar capacity with National Hog Farmer. Prior to joining National Hog Farmer, Schulz spent a long career as the editor of The Land magazine, an agricultural-rural life publication based in Mankato, Minn.

During his tenure at The Land, the publication grew from covering 55 Minnesota counties to encompassing the entire state, as well as 30 counties in northern Iowa. Covering all facets of Minnesota and Iowa agriculture, Schulz was able to stay close to his roots as a southern Minnesota farm boy raised on a corn, soybean and hog finishing farm.

One particular area where he stayed close to his roots is working with the FFA organization.

Covering the FFA programs stayed near and dear to his heart, and he has been recognized for such coverage over the years. He has received the Minnesota FFA Communicator of the Year award, was honored with the Minnesota Honorary FFA Degree in 2014 and inducted into the Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame in 2018.

Schulz attended South Dakota State University, majoring in agricultural journalism. He was also a member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and now belongs to its alumni organization.

His family continues to live on a southern Minnesota farm near where he grew up. He and his wife, Carol, have raised two daughters: Kristi, a 2014 University of Minnesota graduate who is married to Eric Van Otterloo and teaches at Mankato (Minn.) East High School, and Haley, a 2018 graduate of University of Wisconsin-River Falls. She is married to John Peake and teaches in Hayward, Wis. 

When not covering the agriculture industry on behalf of The Farmer's readers, Schulz enjoys spending time traveling with family, making it a quest to reach all 50 states — 47 so far — and three countries. He also enjoys reading, music, photography, playing basketball, and enjoying nature and campfires with friends and family.

[email protected]

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