Berkwood Farms

What Berkwood Farms does

Berkwood Farms is a Des Moines, Iowa-based farmer-owned cooperative that produces and distributes 100% certified pure heirloom Berkshire pork. Founded in 2005 as a coalition of over 90 independent family farmers, many of whom are second through fifth generation in animal husbandry, the company operates on a cooperative ownership model in which the farmers who raise the pigs own the business and receive the rewards directly. The product is a single core SKU family — premium Berkshire pork cuts — differentiated by verified meat quality attributes (pH averaging 6.1 versus 5.7 for commodity pork, first-place ranking in 19 of 20 meat quality traits per National Pork Board testing in 1992), strict no-antibiotic and no-hormone protocols, a vegetarian corn-and-soybean diet, and claims of humane animal husbandry under a stated code of responsible practices.

The business operates a hybrid go-to-market model. The consumer-facing channel consists of a physical retail store at 6615 NE 14th St. in Des Moines and a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront hosted on Barn2Door that ships nationwide throughout the United States. The B2B channel supplies top chef-owned restaurants and national grocery chains across the country, positioning Berkwood Farms as one of the largest American suppliers of pure Berkshire pork and the only farmer-owned company with national distribution in this category. Marketing relies on website content, an email newsletter, and brand storytelling around sustainability, farmer ownership, and breed heritage.

Commercial mechanics are straightforward transaction-based revenue: one-time e-commerce purchases by individual consumers and wholesale product sales to foodservice and grocery accounts. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; the company directs consumers to the online store for current product pricing. The corporate entity is small — approximately 6 employees — with production distributed across the 90+-farmer coalition, and the company is privately held with no disclosed funding rounds, no institutional investors, and no parent company. There are no public filings, no M&A history, and no publicly stated revenue figures.

Name

Berkwood Farms

Legal name

Berkwood Farms

Website

https://betterpork.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Berkwood Farms is a Des Moines, Iowa-based farmer-owned cooperative of 90+ independent family farmers producing and distributing 100% certified pure heirloom Berkshire pork through DTC e-commerce, a Des Moines retail store, and B2B channels to top chef-owned restaurants and national grocery stores nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Pork Production

NAICS

Hog and Pig Farming (112210)

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Heritage/Specialty Breed Hog Farming (AFAEAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Pork Wholesale (Primal/Subprimal, Boxed Pork) (AFAIADAB)

Keywords

• Berkshire pork production
• Heritage pork farming
• Premium pork products
• Family farm cooperative
• Sustainable pork

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Direct-to-Consumer Pork Sales: Products sold directly to individual consumers through their e-commerce platform and physical retail location in Des Moines, Iowa. Consumers can shop online with nationwide shipping.
2. B2B Restaurant and Grocery Sales: Wholesale distribution of Berkshire pork to top chef-owned restaurants and national grocery stores across the United States.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Berkwood Farms is a coalition of over 90 independent family farmers producing and distributing 100% Berkshire pork products. Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, the farmer-owned cooperative sells premium heritage pork cuts through direct-to-consumer e-commerce (via Barn2Door) and physical retail, as well as wholesale to restaurants and grocery stores. The company emphasizes superior Berkshire genetics, a vegetarian diet for the animals, and full farm-to-table traceability.

Product overview

Berkwood Farms is a coalition of over 90 independent family farmers offering a single unified product line centered on 100% certified pure heirloom Berkshire pork. The company is the only farmer-owned company with national distribution of Berkshire pork products. Their core product is premium Berkshire pork available in various cuts, sold through their online store for nationwide shipping. The company emphasizes sustainable and humane farming practices, with pigs raised on a vegetarian diet of all-natural corn and soybeans without added hormones or antibiotics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Berkshire Pork Cuts

Quantifiable outcome

• Berkley pork ranked first in 19 of 20 meat and eating quality traits tested by National Pork Board in 1992
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• True Story Foods: Producer of premium, humanely-raised meats sold through grocery and foodservice. Comparable heritage/specialty protein positioning with national retail distribution.
• Niman Ranch: Premium, sustainably-raised meat company with a strong heritage pork business serving restaurants and retailers. Most directly comparable to Berkwood on premium positioning, sustainable farming practices, and chef/grocery channel distribution.
• Snake River Farms: Specialty American heritage-breed protein (American Wagyu beef and Kurobuta Berkshire pork) company. Comparable to Berkwood on premium heritage-breed positioning, direct-to-consumer e-commerce, and supply to high-end restaurants.
• D'Artagnan: Premium meat supplier specializing in heritage and natural meats, with strong chef-driven distribution. Comparable to Berkwood on restaurant/wholesale channel focus and premium heritage pork sourcing.
• Pederson's Natural Farms: Clean-label, natural meats producer offering pork and bacon products to retail and foodservice. Comparable on premium, no-antibiotic/no-hormone positioning and B2B distribution.
• Country Natural Beef: Rancher-owned cooperative producing premium natural beef with national distribution. Closely analogous to Berkwood on cooperative farmer-ownership structure and premium natural-meat positioning.

Emerging players

• ButcherBox: Subscription-based DTC meat company offering premium, humanely-raised proteins including heritage pork. Comparable on DTC premium meat category and shipping nationwide.
• Sugar Mountain Farm: Pasture-raised pork producer using sustainable farming practices. Comparable on heritage/pasture-raised Berkshire-style production but smaller scale and DTC-only.

Broad incumbents

• Applegate Farms: Large-scale natural and organic meat brand owned by Hormel. Offers natural/antibiotic-free pork products with national grocery distribution. Comparable on clean-label pork category but with vastly greater scale and resources.

Others

• Whole Foods Market: Premium natural and organic grocer with strong heritage-meat assortment. As a key B2B distribution channel for premium proteins, relevant to understanding Berkwood's go-to-market and category placement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/berkwoodfarmsbetterpork

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Berkwood Farms