In this episode of The Central Park Farms Podcast, I’m diving into why we started offering prepared foods at the farm, and why they’ve become a key part of what we do.You might have grabbed a chicken pot pie or a container of chili from the freezer without giving it too much thought. But what you might not know is that those chef-made meals are doing a lot more than saving time in your kitchen. They help us reduce food waste, keep our prices stable, and ensure we use the whole animal in a way that honours the animals we raise.I’ll also share how our partnership with Chef Adrian got started, how we make the most of every cut, and how prepared foods support our bigger mission: providing good, local food in a way that works for real life.Key Takeaways:How prepared meals help reduce food waste on the farmWhy they support our pricing and whole-animal useThe role of "ugly cuts" and byproducts in farm operationsHow our chef partnership started—and where it's going nextWhy this isn’t just about convenience (though it is convenient!)Stocking your freezer with our shepherd’s pie or split pea and ham soup? You’re not just saving time, you’re helping us honour the animals, reduce waste, and keep our pricing sustainable.Subscribe to the podcast and share it with a friend who supports local food!Connect with us:WebsiteInstagramResources & Links:Our Line of Prepared Foods
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The Trouble with Tariffs
In this episode of The Central Park Farms Podcast, I’m digging into something that’s been weighing heavy on our farm lately: how cross-border tariffs and trade politics are quietly affecting small, local farms like ours, even when we’re only selling within a short drive of Langley.I share how changes in the US-Canada trade relationship disrupted a long-standing part of our business and why that shift hit us harder than expected. We also get into the ripple effect tariffs have on things like packaging, feed, tractor parts, and even the work I do outside of the farm through Marketing for Farmers.This episode isn’t about policy debates or economic theory, it’s about the real-life impact of far-away decisions on the day-to-day of local farms like ours. Key Takeaways:Why our quail business disappeared almost overnightHow trade issues affect farm supplies like hay, packaging, and partsThe financial pressure of shrinking margins on small farmsThe unexpected impact on Kendall’s off-farm incomeWhy financial sustainability is just as important as environmental sustainabilityHow customers can support farms in ways beyond just buying meatIf this gave you a new perspective on how interconnected farming really is, I’d love for you to hit Subscribe and leave a quick review. Even better? Share this episode with a friend who cares about supporting local food. Your support truly means the world. 💛
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How We Got Here
Welcome to the first episode of The Central Park Farms Podcast! I'm Kendall, one half of the team behind the farm, and in this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on how all of this got started.It’s a story that begins with a corporate job I didn’t love, a new relationship with a guy who grew up farming (hi Jay 👋), and a surprise delivery of 500 chicks. What was supposed to be a little homesteading project quickly turned into something much bigger… and a lot messier.This podcast isn’t about teaching you how to farm. It’s about sharing real stories from our life on the farm — how we got here, what we’ve learned, and what it’s like raising food for families like yours.If you’ve ever bought from us, followed along on Instagram, or just care about where your food comes from, this space is for you. I’m so glad you’re here.Key Takeaways:Why we decided to start a podcast for our farm communityThe (accidental) start of Central Park FarmsKendall’s journey from office job to raising chickensWhat you can expect from future episodesWhy this podcast is more about connection than farming advice🎧 Subscribe so you never miss a new episode, and thanks for supporting our family farm in this new way.Connect with Us: WebsiteInstagramResources & LinksThe Workhorse Podcast Episode featuring Jay
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