Buy Local Food In Kitsap

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.