Know Your Farmer: Hurd Farm
Fresh From the Market
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From the Farm to Your Holiday Table
November has transformed our valley, bringing shades of deep brown, red, and amber to the landscape. The days are shorter, the mornings cooler, and the first seasonal frosts remind us that winter is just around the corner.
November is also a time for gratitude — for those who have served our country, for the Indigenous people who helped shape this land, and for the opportunity to gather with family and friends around the table to give thanks for another year.
Here at the Salem NH Farmers Market, we’re grateful for you — our shoppers, farmers, makers, and market community — for sharing the first glow of the holiday season with us.
Last week, we moved indoors to the Mary A. Fisk School for our first Winter Market of the season. We loved creating a cozy, welcoming space where you could reconnect with favorite vendors, discover returning ones, and begin preparing for the holidays. We know menus are being planned, shopping lists are growing, and thoughts are turning to what will make those holiday gatherings special.
So, this week, we’re introducing a farm with something particularly special for your holiday table: Hurd Family Farm.
A family farm with deep roots
Operated by the Hurd family since 1923, is a 160-acre, multigenerational family farm nestled along the scenic Taylor River in Hampton, New Hampshire. Today, Steve and Sheryl Hurd carry on the family tradition, raising a variety of animals with a commitment to sustainable agriculture and responsible farming practices.
The farm specializes in all-natural, antibiotic-free, 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef, pasture-raised pork, free-range poultry, and fresh eggs. Animals are raised on green pastures and fed natural diets without added growth stimulants or antibiotics.
Beef, raised on pasture
Steve’s cattle are Black Angus and Pinzgauer crosses, with access to fresh, green pasture throughout the grazing season. When winter arrives, they enjoy hay harvested right from Steve’s own fields.
The farm’s 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef makes a wonderful centerpiece for a holiday meal. Think traditional beef roasts alongside your Thanksgiving turkey — or as an alternative for those looking to change things up.
Beef is available by the whole or half animal, priced by hanging weight, as well as in a selection of individually packaged frozen cuts. You’ll find these at the Market and at the farm store.
Fresh eggs and free-range poultry
Life on the farm is pretty good for Steve’s chickens. They spend their days foraging for bugs, scratching in the dirt, and enjoying the freedom of the pasture. When temperatures drop, they have a warm, comfortable coop to retreat to.
The farm’s Red Sex Link hens, a cross between Rhode Island Red males and Leghorn females, supply fresh, free-range eggs for breakfast tables and home baking.
For the dinner table, Hurd Farm also raises Cornish Cross broiler chickens, a cross between Cornish and White Plymouth Rock breeds. Available whole or in individual cuts, including breasts, legs, thighs, wings, necks, livers, hearts, and gizzards, there’s something for just about every recipe. Look for these selections at the farm store and the Market.
Pasture-raised pork
The pigs have plenty of room to root, roam, and explore their pastures. They’re also fed locally sourced fruits and vegetables, along with hog feed supplemented with minerals, probiotics, and Vitamin E.
Steve raises Tamworth-Hampshire crosses, a breed combination known for producing flavorful, lean meat and outstanding bacon.
Pork is available by the whole or half animal, priced by the pound, as well as in a variety of individually packaged frozen cuts. And if you’ve had Steve’s bacon, you know it’s worth keeping an eye out for! It’s a wonderful addition to holiday side dishes, appetizers, and just about anything that could use a little something extra.
Steve and Sheryl also prepare homemade frozen meals — a welcome convenience when the holiday calendar fills up and there’s not always time to cook from scratch.
Catching up with Steve
We caught up with Steve to hear what’s been happening at the farm over the past year and, of course, to get the details on those holiday turkeys!
How has this year been for Hurd Farm?
It’s been a busy year! We spent the first half of the year recovering from the fire in November and building our new chicken brooder.
Have there been any changes or challenges along the way?
Our biggest challenge was adapting to brooding our meat birds in a hoop house rather than a more open building like we had previously. It has definitely taken some adjusting to figure out what works best for both us and the chicks.
How are your turkeys doing?
The turkeys are growing every day! They have been loving the weather this fall!
What can shoppers expect for Thanksgiving turkeys?
We expect our turkeys to weigh between 12 and 25 pounds. We’ll have fresh, whole turkeys available for Thanksgiving. Any that aren’t sold will be available frozen for Christmas, either cut into parts or made into turkey pot pies.
How can shoppers reserve a turkey?
You can order a turkey directly from Farmer Steve at the Market or through our website at www.HurdFarm.com.
What else is coming up for the holidays?
Pork and beef roasts will be available for preorder. Send us an email or give us a call for more information!
Make room for something special
Whether you’re planning a traditional Thanksgiving feast, a cozy Sunday dinner, or looking to stock your freezer for the busy weeks ahead, stop by Steve’s table and see what’s available. If a fresh turkey or holiday roast is on your list, be sure to ask about preordering before supplies run out.
From pasture-raised meats and farm-fresh eggs to homemade meals and holiday favorites, Hurd Family Farm brings generations of farming tradition to your table.
And while you’re shopping, don’t forget to pick up those locally grown vegetables, fresh breads, seasonal treats, and all the other ingredients that make a holiday meal memorable.
There’s no right or wrong way to navigate the Winter Market. Move at your own pace. Wander, explore, reconnect, and get creative. Your favorite farmers and makers are here, ready to help you bring a little more local goodness to your table.
And welcome … to the inside!