Today is National Jerky Day, and there are a wide variety of options available for you to enjoy. Jerky is a great product that has been around since ancient Egyptian times. Throughout history, there have been many ways to preserve meat. However, the dehydration process that makes jerky allows it to be a highly nutritious source of protein that is low in fat. 

Our traditional style of jerky can actually be accredited to the indigenous population of individuals from the Andes mountains in Peru. Making jerky was possible due to their high altitude that allowed them to make what is called Ch’aki. I think it sounds almost identical to jerky. 

It wasn’t until the early 1800’s that cowboys made salted beef which is closely related to our beef jerky. Today, there are numerous options for jerky. For example, traditional beef jerky to alligator, kangaroo, and even ostrich. Feel free to travel around and find some jerky for you to try, maybe even step outside of your comfort zone and try something exotic. 

Texas Real Food put together a great article highlighting the 6 best jerky places in Texas. Click here to read it. Here at Arcola Feed, we love Texas-made jerky! Come visit us for National Jerky Day!