Ownership Transition Brings Fresh Vision for Quality-Centered Foods in Northeast Ohio Amish Country
Located in the heart of Middlefield, Ohio — the center of Northeast Ohio Amish Country — Heritage Meats has long been recognized for offering locally-sourced, high-quality meats at fair prices. Formerly operated by Perry Miller and Dan Schrock, the business has grown into a trusted destination for families and individuals seeking meat and other goods they can feel good about.
Now, Heritage Meats is entering a new chapter as ownership shifts to Mark Miller, a leader in the region on healthy livestock production, and John Kempf, a nationally respected agriculture consultant noted for his work in soil, plant, and human nutrition and food-system health. This transition, effective in late October, marks more than just a change in leadership — it signals an expansion of Heritage Meats’ mission: to become a destination in Ohio Amish Country for essential foods that are packed with flavor and aroma, and that meet the needs of an increasingly informed and health-conscious community.
The Vision: Staple Foods for True Health
“Our vision for Heritage Meats is to become the destination for staple foods that are selected for flavor as the first priority, and that have a beneficial impact on health and vitality — meat, eggs, dairy, flour, oil and more,” Kempf explains. In a community surrounded by local farms and based in the rich agricultural landscape of Northeast Ohio Amish Country, they want to provide products that deliver exceptional flavor and quality, and also improve health.
Kempf describes how many perceived “food allergies” are actually multi-dimensional sensitivities tied not just to ingredients, but production methods. For example, dairy sensitivities often stem from homogenization, A1 proteins, pasteurization, or toxins from genetically modified feed. “One individual might be sensitive to one of those factors, and someone else is sensitive to a different factor,” he says. “At Heritage, we want to solve for all of them at once by bringing in products that are completely clean, and can be consumed by anyone. In the case of dairy, that can mean sourcing from 100% grass-fed, A2/A2 protein, non-GMO, non-homogenized, and available both pasteurized and unpasteurized, depending on people’s needs.”
The best-quality milk Kempf has ever tasted is from a nearby local farm in the region, known for grass-fed, nutrient-rich milk, yogurt and kefir with high butterfat content. These products will complement other offerings and ensure options for families with a wide range of nutritional needs.
Building on a Strong Foundation
Heritage Meats has developed a well-earned reputation for quality — particularly with beef sourced locally in Northeast Ohio. “Our vision is to maintain that legacy while expanding it and supporting the community more than ever,” says Kempf.
Mark Miller brings both historical experience and practical expertise. As a local farmer in the Northeast Ohio Amish Country region, he has been a leader in developing grass-fed beef genetics and pastured livestock production. Miller is leading the development of the livestock-production and meat-quality standards that Heritage Meats will use to source their beef, hogs, dairy products, broilers, turkeys and eggs from the local region. “We prefer to source as much from the community as possible,” Miller says. “We have access to animals of superior quality from outside our region, but we prefer to support local growers in Northeastern Ohio Amish Country and provide an outlet for those who meet our quality and flavor standards.”
A Destination for the Community
For Miller and Kempf, Heritage Meats is more than a business — it’s a community cornerstone in Middlefield and throughout the Northeast Ohio Amish Country region. Their plans include expanding product lines (meat, eggs, dairy, flour, oil) while staying rooted in local partnerships and traditional values of the Amish Country region. “There are many growers in our region who can produce to our quality standards,” says Kempf. “Our job is to make quality food accessible, consistent and trustworthy. We want Heritage Meats to be the place people know they can count on in Ohio Amish Country for the foods that truly nourish their families.”
Heritage Meats is located at 15561 W High St., Middlefield, OH 44062 (Harrington Square). Phone: 440-548-1018. Website: heritagemeats.net. Known for high-quality meats at fair pricing and now backed by a renewed vision for flavorful, high-quality foods throughout the Northeast Ohio Amish Country region.
