The largest Emu production farm in the country is located in Liberty, N.C.
When asked about what emu products take like, Amaroo Hills Farm Owner JaAnna Winslow said, “It absolutely does not taste like chicken.”
Located in Liberty, N.C., Amaroo Hills is the largest emu farm in the United States. It has approximately 2,000-2,500 birds on the farm at a time, and primarily serves individuals who are a part of the alpha-gal community.
Alpha-gal is a sugar molecule found in all mammals except humans and other primates. Ticks ingest alpha-gal while they are feeding on other mammals, such as deer or dogs. When a tick bites a human, alpha-gal is transferred into the bloodstream. For some people, this initial exposure can trigger the development of alpha-gal syndrome, which is an allergy to the consumption of mammal meat.
The 450,000 individuals in the United States who are affected by this allergy cannot consume pork or beef, commodities that are typical for most of the population. Winslow says that because emus are birds, members of the alpha-gal community can consume their products without the fear of an allergic reaction.
To watch the full interview, where Winslow goes in-depth and offers a behind-the-scenes look at Amaroo Hills Farm, click here.
