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FRANKFORT, Ky. — The mouth-watering taste of Kentucky country ham is admired throughout the Commonwealth, across the United States and even overseas. This great Kentucky delight will take center stage on thousands of dinner tables during the holiday season.
Many of those hams will come from Broadbent’s B&B Foods of Cadiz. Broadbent hams have earned Grand Champion honors at the prestigious Kentucky State Fair competition more times –10, including 2004 – than hams from any other company and have won Grand Champion in the American Association of Meat Processors competition three of the last four years.
“Probably close to 75 percent of our business is in November and December,” co-owner Ronny Drennan said. Broadbent’s cures its hams a minimum of six months, so it tries to have all the hams it will need for the holiday season ready by the end of May, he said.
Drennan advised consumers to shop as early as possible. He said UPS will not guarantee delivery of country ham in time for the holidays from about Dec. 10 on.
Broadbent’s sells products in all 50 states, Canada, U.S. military bases overseas, and even some foreign countries. Drennan said the company has enjoyed growing business on the East Coast because of trade shows it has attended with the help of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.
Like most of Kentucky’s small country ham producers, Broadbent’s has several generations of history and tradition behind it. Founded in 1909, Broadbent’s uses the same slow curing process it used nearly a century ago.
Broadbent’s products can be ordered from the company catalog or via the Internet. They also are available in local groceries in western Kentucky and gourmet food stores in the Louisville area. Other brands of Kentucky country hams can be found in supermarkets throughout the state.
Broadbent’s is one of several Kentucky country ham producers that rightfully can claim a place among the best in the world. “There is nothing quite like Kentucky country ham, whether it’s on a biscuit for breakfast or as the main dish for a family dinner,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. “When you buy Kentucky country ham, you are buying a high-quality product. You also are helping Kentucky farmers and businesses.”
For more information on Broadbent’s B&B Foods, go to www.broadbenthams.com. For information on Kentucky’s other fine country ham producers, go to www.kyagr.com and click on the Kentucky Country Store icon.
KENTUCKY HAM SLICES
Since Kentucky country ham is now available in convenient packaged slices, it is easier than ever to enjoy its wonderful taste during the holidays.
6 slices Kentucky country ham, ½ inch thick (about 2 pounds)
2 cups packed light brown sugar
Trim any rind, fat and bone residue from the ham. Line a 9x13 inch baking dish with foil, leaving enough foil overhang to fold and seal. Sprinkle with a generous amount of the brown sugar. Alternate layers of the ham and remaining brown sugar in the prepared pan until all of the ingredients are used, ending with the brown sugar. Cover with foil and seal. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 ½ to 2 hours or until the ham is cooked through and tender. Yield: 8 servings.
Recipe taken from Pride of Kentucky, a cookbook published by the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.
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NOTE TO EDITORS: Following is a list of Kentucky-based members of the Kentucky Country Ham Association with their locations and telephone numbers. You may use this information in addition to the article or contact a producer in your area to localize the article.
Broadbent B&B Food Producers, Cadiz, (270) 235-5294
Clifty Farms, Scottsville, (270) 622-4168
Dulin & Sons, Pembroke, (270) 475-4341
Father’s Country Hams, Bremen, (270) 525-3437
Finchville Farms, Finchville, (502) 834-7952
Harper’s Country Hams, Clinton, (270) 653-2081
Kentucky Pride Country Hams, Cecilia, (270) 862-3723
Meacham Country Hams, Sturgis, (270) 333-6924
Penn’s Country Hams, Mannsville, (270) 465-5065
Scott Hams, Greenville, (270) 338-3402
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