Little Hop Farm
By Christie Remley, Manager of Communications & Public Relations
Last summer, I stopped by Brew & Brew in Dyersville (if you know me, you know I’m always game to support a local coffee shop) and noticed a small standalone freezer with locally raised chicken for sale. On top of the freezer, there was a card of a sweet family and a cute business name, Little Hop. When I saw the same flyer at a local Monticello farm-to-table eatery, Market at the Tap, I knew I had to reach out to MVEC members, Mike and Susan Freeze to learn more about their business.
It started a little over four years ago with Mike suggesting to Susan that they raise pasture-fed chickens on their farm perched on a hill outside of Hopkinton. This was met with surprise on Susan’s part because in the 16 years she has been married to Mike, she has not known him to be a fan of eating chicken. But, she was open to going along with his plan to bring pasture-raised chicken to the local market. Their son Collin, now 9 years old, has been involved with the business from the get-go. When he was just four years old, he named the farm. Because of its proximity to Hopkinton, he called the farm Little Hopkinton, hence the name Little Hop Farm was born.
Susan proudly lists the benefits of pasture-raised chicken: there are no GMOs used in feeding the poultry—the birds eat naturally, feasting on bugs and grasses, and are exposed to plenty of fresh air, i.e. the chickens are not cooped up (pun intended) in a building. Additionally, the Freezes do not use any hormones nor preservatives in the processing. Little Hop uses a USDA-certified processing facility. The chicken is then vacuum-sealed and frozen, ready to be delivered to local businesses and individual customers. Raising the chickens is a labor of love for Mike who spends the bulk of the time caring for them (with Susan concentrating on sales and marketing of the end product). Mike (with some help from Collin) moves them daily with a hand-built chicken “tractor” that Mike fashioned to encourage the chickens to graze in various locations on their property. “It’s a lot of work but we are proud to provide quality meat that is a healthier alternative to what you might find in large grocery stores,” said Mike Freeze, Co-Owner of Little Hop Farm.
Currently, you can pick up Little Hop chicken (in various sized cuts and packages) at the farm itself or find it at the following: Tada Meats in Maquoketa; Bushel & A Peck in Manchester; Brew & Brew in Dyersville; Market at the Tap in Monticello; West Forty Market in Ankeny, Savor the Barn between Anamosa and Monticello and now at Beringer Family Farms outside of Cascade. “I’ve been really pleased with the warm reception we’ve received from local stores and establishments trying to offer locally sourced
meat. We are grateful to work with our small business outlets to expand Little Hop’s reach,” said Susan Freeze, Co-Owner.
It’s not just all about chicken at Little Hop, the Freeze family also raises Berkshire hogs, Dexter cattle and hair sheep. The beef is pasture-raised as well (and grain-finished).
If you are looking for a local source for naturally raised poultry (or beef or pork), contact Little Hop on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LittleHopFarm, email susanfreeze85@gmail.com, or give Susan a call at 563-608-6623 or Mike a call at 563-920-5239. This delicious, locally produced meat will be a great addition to grilling season!