Buy Local Food In Kitsap

Bremerton: MINDER FARM CORN MAZE, 1000 Gluds Pond Rd. NE, Bremerton (360) 692-9271. Open Wed. – Fri., 4 p.m. – dusk; Sat. 9 a.m. – dusk: Sun. Noon – 6 p.m. Groups must reserve in advance. $8 adults, $6 children 5 – 17, under 4 free. Military with active card $6. Owner Jim Carlson’s grandfather bought the farm in 1960 with 46 acres for more than 100 head of cattle. Carlson retained 20 acres and says with a laugh that he has to lease some land next door for his cattle while his corn is growing so the cattle won’t eat it. He also has a professionally designed, stroller-friendly maze from MazePlay. This year it’s in the shape of the ESPN logo with a bronco rider, has six checkpoints, and takes about an hour to complete.

Minder Farm and Minder Meats

Last modified on 2009-10-01 22:51:32 GMT. 1 comment. Top.

The Minder name has long been recognized in Kitsap County and the greater Puget Sound area for its outstanding, high-quality meat products.

But Minder Meats and Minder Angus Farm manager, James (Jim) Minder Carlson says his family history of meat production can be traced far back to roots in Switzerland.

Connor and Jim Minder Carlson of Minder Farm and Minder Meats

Carlson’s great-grandfather, Alfred Minder, was from an established sausage making family in Switzerland when he immigrated in 1890 to Bozeman, Montana.  There he owned a farm, traded horses with U.S. Army, and opened a meat market.

In 1943, the oldest of his 11 children, George, moved to Bremerton, Washington where he started his own meat market, Minder Brother’s Meats, with four of his brothers. He originally leased property in Tahuya Valley and Kingston to raise cattle and later bought the present farm in east Bremerton.  At one point, he owned 200 head of prime registered Black Angus but most were later sold to Stuart Anderson of Black Angus restaurant fame.

George’s only daughter, Marlyn, married W. James Carlson and the couple assumed ownership and management of Minder Meats in the early 70’s.  In 1975, their son, Jim Carlson joined his parents in management of the company.

Paul Howell, the Master Meatcutter and Teacher

Today, Minder Meats sells and delivers hand-selected beef, poultry, pork, lamb and seafood to more than 250 hotels, restaurants and institutions in the Puget Sound Area, including many in Kitsap County such as restaurants Boat Shed, Whiskey Creek, and the Silverdale Yacht Club. Central Market and the Silverdale and Garguile’s Red Apples are among the stores who carry their product.

Teena Page (Office Manager), Glen Lang (Driver), Justin Gilbert (Patti Specialist), Dave Barney (Production Room), Shawn Newman (Team Leader, Production Room), Tawnya Hayes (Customer Relations/Sales), Paul Howell (Production Room Manager/Meat Specialist)

“We’re here because my products are primarily purchased by loyal, Western Washington independent customers,” says Jim. “The big chains have their own suppliers.”

And Minder Meats also sells to the public on a retail basis from a store on their 9600 square foot USDA inspected facility at 4921 Auto Center Blvd. in Bremerton.  The store is open from 6 a.m. – 3 p.m. Mon – Fri. and advance orders can be placed at (360) 479-0880.  Most products available to wholesale customers are also available to retail customers, including sides of beef.  Their specialty is still Prime, Choice, Select and Natural Angus Beef. Monthly specials can be viewed at their web site at:  www.mindermeats.com and other information obtained by e-mailing  sales@mindermeats.com Food consultants are also available by telephone and at the facility from 7 a.m. 3 p.m. Mon. – Fri.

Justin Gilbert, the Next Generation Providing Local Food

With the advent of the Puget Sound Meat Cooperative’s new mobile meat processing unit and the ability to inspect and slaughter meat locally under USDA auspices, Minder Meats expects to cut, package and sell even more meat from local meat farmers.

“This will have a huge impact on the ability of farmers to raise local animals for meat, especially the larger animal like steer because USDA inspection and slaughter facilities got farther and farther away and it was just not cost effective to transport them there,” says Carlson.

Kitsap County used to have a lot more cattle though they have decreased substantially over the years.  But Carlson and many others feel the new processing unit may turn this around.

“Heck with this new mobile unit, I might even go back to raising more steer around here like my grandfather did,” he adds with a grin.

The Minder Farm was originally 46 acres but is now 20 acres.   Carlson maintains 19 head of  Black Angus breeding  stock and usually sends four animals to the Kitsap County  Fair livestock auction   He also keeps a few chickens  – it’s his  ten-year-old son Connor’s job to gather the eggs as he learns to become the fifth generation of Minders to farm in the U.S.

And the farm has become involved in two voluntary conservation programs – EQIP provides assistance to farmers who are facing threats to natural resources and the CREP program provides incentives to farmers for providing stream buffers.

But this time of year there’s something fun and festive afoot at the Minder Farm. For years, the farm has constructed a corn maze.  Open now through Oct. 31, it’s one of the most popular corn mazes around Kitsap County and features a new design every year.   This year its two miles of twists and turns have been laid out in the shape of a large rooster and the farm’s succulent sweet corn is picked daily for sale – gigantic you-pick pumpkins are also available for purchase. More information is available at www.Mazeplay.com.

The maze is open Mon – Tues. by appointment only, Wed. – Fri.; 4 p.m. until dusk; Sat.  9 a.m. – dusk; and Sunday, noon – 6 p.m. at 1000 NE Gluds Pond, Bremerton (look for signage on Highway 303 just west of the Brownsville turnoff). Price is $8 for Adults over 18; $6 for children 5 – 17; children four and under free and military discount with ID.

Amazing Corn In October

Last modified on 2008-10-18 22:01:49 GMT. 2 comments. Top.

As the days get shorter and the nights colder, October signals final harvest time for local farmers whose crops are yielding the last vestiges of their bounty for the season. But it’s also the time of harvest celebration and several local farmers have made it a tradition to include children in the joy and festivities.

One of the fall delights for children of all ages is donning their boots and coats and tromping through a corn maze. Many churches and school groups make arrangements for this annual jaunt and some farmers say they have more than a hundred kids come through in a group. But this weekend through the end of October is a good time for families to take advantage of this opportunity to bring their children to celebrate corn maze days and learn a little something about farming as these farms also present farm education programs as part of the tour. Most corn mazes are also open several days during the week, some by appointment only.

This weekend also promises good weather for the fun-filled trek and the admission fee for farm tours and corn mazes generally include taking home a small sugar pumpkin for pie-making or a big fat pumpkin for carving. Below is information for four different farm mazes in different parts of the county that you might want to check out. Because of their popularity, you might want to check first for time availability, especially if you have a group.

Kingston: SUNRISE HILL FARM CORN MAZE AND PUMPKIN PATCH, 11033 NE Tulin Road, Kingston, (360) 509-5378. Open Wed. – Sun., 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. with “flashlight maze madness” on Fri. and Sat. nights from 8 – 10 p.m. Admission: $5 adult; $3 6 – 11 yrs old; 5 yrs and under free. This farm is on the old Arness homestead farm dating back to the 1890’s. It was purchased by Chris Plummer in 1974 and her three daughters, Michelle Rogers, Gayle Waxon and Kim Williams now operate the farm. A snack shack serving hot beverages, hot dogs, corn on the cob and other goodies will be open during maze hours. This year the maze is in the design of an orca whale and was designed by MazePlay at www.mazeplay.com

Poulsbo: SCANDIA VALLEY FARM, 16624 Scandia Road NW, Poulsbo, (360) 779-3353. Open Mon. – Sat. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Admission: $5 Farm owners Marylou and Kenneth Jenkins design their own maze every year and also have a stand on their property where they sell produce such as corn, squash, blue lake pole beans and black beans along with a few gift items. Part of the tour includes feeding some friendly goats and one of the highlights of the tour is the Pumpkin Theater where Kenneth presents a copyrighted play about the growing and propagating of pumpkins. A large pumpkin field yields a huge selection of sugar and carving pumpkins for children to choose from.

Silverdale: PHEASANT FIELDS FARM, 13274 Clear Creek Road NW, Silverdale, (360) 697-6224. Open noon – 6 p.m. daily for corn maze, farm tours at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Sat., 1 p.m. on Sun. groups by arrangement mid-week. $5 adults, $3 per child under 15. Farm owner Nikki Johansen and tour leader Shannon Harkness offer corn maze tours and special farm tours that include visits with goats, llamas, and chickens, an educational presentation, and a popular visit to their duck pond. The farm supports 50 Community supported agriculture families and sells produce, eggs and poultry at the Poulsbo Farmers Market. A recent weekday sported 16 children from Sylvan Way Baptist’s preschool. In addition to the other activities, children enjoyed picking their pumpkins from a large field and posing for pictures in front of some of the farm’s equipment.

Bremerton: MINDER FARM CORN MAZE, 1000 Gluds Pond Rd. NE, Bremerton (360) 692-9271. Open Wed. – Fri., 4 p.m. – dusk; Sat. 9 a.m. – dusk: Sun. Noon – 6 p.m. Groups must reserve in advance. $8 adults, $6 children 5 – 17, under 4 free. Military with active card $6. Owner Jim Carlson’s grandfather bought the farm in 1960 with 46 acres for more than 100 head of cattle. Carlson retained 20 acres and says with a laugh that he has to lease some land next door for his cattle while his corn is growing so the cattle won’t eat it. He also has a professionally designed, stroller-friendly maze from MazePlay. This year it’s in the shape of the ESPN logo with a bronco rider, has six checkpoints, and takes about an hour to complete.