Hand-selected meats and other farm-fresh items are available now at Maple Country Meats

By Patricia Nugent

Maple Country Meats opened in Kirtland last fall with the lofty goal of providing locally sourced meats and groceries to the community.

According to Vice President Fred Ahrens, the goal was to meet a need that wasn’t being served in the community: the availability of high-quality, hand-picked meats from local farmers.

“Now more than ever, people care about where their food comes from,” says Fred, who grew up on a farm and appreciates the life. “We hand-pick the animals on the farms that we’ll carry in our store. These are antibiotic-free, steroid-free, hormone-free, all-natural meats. We work with farms in Garrettsville, Middlefield and Colebrook. Since most of our products come from within 50 miles, that helps lessen our carbon footprint, too.”

The type of milk they sell is equally organic. A2/A2 milk from the Old Country Creamery in Burton is genetically sourced from the cow and so pure it can be digested by most people with lactose intolerance.

Bulk Bundles
On any given visit, you’ll find a variety of local beef, pork, lamb, goat, chicken, and seafood, as well as aisles of grocery products, sauces and rubs to make any summer grilled dinner a delight.

“Our meats are processed in Orwell, vacuum-sealed and then frozen to preserve the freshness,” Fred explains. “Perfect for busy families, we pack it in boxed bundles featuring a variety of chicken, pork and beef, or packs of regular and flavored bacon, Loaded Liberty brats and cheddar and jack burgers. We sell in bulk, too. For a bundle of higher-end steaks, roasts and burgers, a 39-pound box is $250. And the 39-pound box with chicken, burgers and sausage costs $175.”

Within the freezer section, there are vegetables and potato products and local fresh veggies will be dropped off daily as soon as available from the farms. Look for strawberries in June and sweet corn in July.

The popularity of the store has already made expansion planning a reality. Fred says they plan to move further into the warehouse in September and add space for more meat.

Fred says one of the missions at Maple Country Meats is to offer high-quality products without the additional cost.

“In many cases, we sell lower than grocery stores,” he says.

Curating Pure Maple Products
Fred Ahrens’ partners, Jen Freeman and Matt Barham, are the fourth generation of their family to own Maple Country Meats’ sister company Richards Maple Products, which was founded in 1910.

“People are surprised to find out there are 54 beneficial compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties found in maple syrup,” Fred says.

Their lines of more than 150 maple products made from scratch are sold in specialty shops all over Ohio as well as the Eastern Seaboard. At the headquarters, within a yellow home on Water Street in Chardon, you’ll find maple syrup, maple-flavored coffee, jams, seasonings, snacks and locally made goods. A top seller is called Maple Puffs, a heavenly, sweet-rich crunchy snack. Curated gift boxes featuring the products are also popular.

Maple Glazed Baby Back Ribs
This secret family recipe for rib sauce will be the star of your Memorial Day Party. Forget all the prep work and buy a bottle of Bootlegger BBQ Sauce at either Richards Maple Products or Maple Country Meats. It’s sweet and savory, where maple, bourbon and a hint of smoke converge.

The Tools You Need
Fred Ahrens reports that also housed within the same warehouse of Maple Country Meats is his new and used maple equipment sales.

“As one of the biggest dealers in the state of this specialized equipment, we sell to people all over the country,” says Fred. “Within our 18,000-square-foot warehouse, we carry everything needed from start to finish for the maple producer from hobbyists to large commercial operations. Our lines range from CDL Maple Equipment to Lapierre, H&M Fabricating and The RO Bucket. Products include buckets to tubing and little containers to several thousand-gallon tanks.”

He says that if they don’t have what you want, they can always get it for you. And you can even trade your syrup for equipment.

In fact, the afternoon I spoke with Fred, he was leaving to drive to Vermont for an annual equipment sales convention.

Maple Country Meats is located in a warehouse at 7955 Euclid Chardon Road in Kirtland. Its sister company, Richards Maple Products, is located at 545 Water Street, in Chardon. Call 216-331-8503 or visit RichardsMapleProducts.com/pages/maple-country-meats for more information.