By Mary Owen
Stayton’s former Shaw’s Meat Market has new tenants: Harmony Seafood, Meats and More.
“We want to support the truly sustainable, clean – no toxins or GMOs – local, nutritious, food security movement in Oregon,” said Andy Westlund, an owner of the new business and owner of Harmony J.A.C.K. Farms in Scio. “Having a farm with a local outlet just makes sense. It supports all of our partners’ skill sets and interests.”
The new market, at 1810 Ida St., offers the same meat, Carlton Farms, that Shaw’s used to offer, Westlund said.
“Also, certified organic, pastured and grass finished, Harmony J.A.C.K. Farms meat, as well as all natural, grass-fed and finished Dancing Cow meats, and a few other meat vendors as well,” he said.
“We also offer all kinds of seafood – sole, cod, salmon (smoked, fresh and frozen), smoked salmon and other specialty dips and almost unlimited special orders from our customers, often times next-day fulfilled. We hope to soon be adding smoked tuna. We can special order any kind of seafood and have it to the store within the week, and sometimes, the next day.”
As a farm outlet store, Westlund said Harmony Seafood, Meats and More will offer certified organic vegetables and other farm products, such as honey, berries, fruits and eggs.
The store will also act as an outlet where customers can arrange delivery for compost and worm casings, bagged or bulk, alternative energy wind turbines by special order, and other products as additional aligned farms join in the new venture, he added.
Harmony J.A.C.K. Farms was founded in 2001 and bears the acronym representing the Westlund’s four children: Jordan, Andrew, Cierra and Keri.
The operation was founded with the unshakable belief that there’s a better path for the long-term health of our lands, animals and neighbors than what’s now pursued by industrialized agribusiness. They promote their mission on their website, harmonyjackfarms.com.
“We raise grass-fed beef, pork, goat and poultry,” Westlund said. “Our animals are raised on certified organic lands, using sustainable herding techniques that mirror the cycles of nature. We bring our meat to market in small batches, so you’re assured of meat that is juicier, more tender, and better for you than what you’d find in your grocer’s meat counter.”
Owners of the news enterprise are Andy and his wife, Jeannette, general manager and bookkeeper, Ray Paul, chef and shop operations, and Sam Paul, sales and delivery and shop operations.
The Westlunds and Ray Paul are all Harmony J.A.C.K. Farms residents in Scio and Sam Paul lives in Salem, but is looking to relocate closer to the farm and store, Westlund said.
“We hope this offers the community a real outlet for high quality, absolutely proven, good food for you at reasonable prices,” Westlund said. “We hope we can earn the community’s trust, to be a representative voice of the consumer who wants to really know where their food comes from and how it is grown.”
Harmony Seafood, Meats and More will host an opening celebration within the next two months.
“We want to continue to be open, but just allow word of mouth to spread as it has for the few weeks we’ve been open,” Westlund said. “We want to have everything go smoothly, and our soft opening is allowing that to happen.”
For information, call Westlund at 503-769-1332.
