Good Neighbor Podcast: Delco
Bringing Together Local Businesses and Neighbors of Delaware County, PA (Delco"") and the surrounding Philadelphia Metro Region.
Good Neighbor Podcast: Delco
'Meat' Ron Pflaumer: The Real Food, No Bull, Creator of Fat Cow Jerky
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'Meat' Ron Pflaumer: The Real Food, No Bull, Creator of Fat Cow Jerky
Ever wondered what happens when a blue-collar worker gets fed up with mediocre store-bought snacks? In this episode of the Good Neighbor Podcast you'll hear how Ron Pflaumer, a construction worker from Drexel Hill, PA turned his passion for transferring his weekend barbecue recipes into his award-winning Fat Cow Jerky—now serving up "udderly perfect jerky" across the tri-state region of Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and beyond over the internet.
Listen to Good Neighbor Podcast Host Bob Blaisse interview Ron about how the Covid-19 pandemic sparked Ron's jerky journey as a successful business owner when he decided to apply his weekend barbecue expertise to create something better than the overly salted jerky options found at grocery stores. You'll hear how Ron went to his secret ingredients barbecue cabinet to take what he knew was best on a steak to make a better jerky. And how, as Ron shares it, his first batch emerged from the smoker with that distinctive original spice blend recipe, which launched what has become a thriving specialty food business now producing over 120 pounds of jerky every week.
Come to know what makes Fat Cow Jerky stand out, the source of its remarkable flavor diversity now going far beyond Ron's signature original blend, with everything from an award-winning pickle jerky to spicy reaper mango habanero and sweet maple breakfast varieties, to a better bacon jerky that's converting skeptics everywhere. And not to be forgotten are Ron’s four-legged fans who beg for his "Canine Cuts" jerky that delivers pawfect single meat ingredient treats with a touch of hickory smoke that dogs love.
Listen and learn from the hardworking Delco spirit of Ron Pflaumer who still maintains his day job as an elevator constructor in Philadelphia, but who, together with his girlfriend Taylor (Ron calls the pretty face of the company), work weekend festivals throughout the Delaware Valley Region to meet jerky lovers and to fulfill orders from fans who buy online directly through their Fat Cow Jerky website.
Fat Cow Jerky
fatcowjerky.com
facebook.com/FatCowJerky
instagram.com/FatCowJerky
484-464-7633
--- About The Show--- Good Neighbor Podcast is a spotlight on local businesses in and around Delaware County, PA (“Delco” ) and Beyond... The executive producer and host, Bob Blaisse, is a community sponsorship advocate, business branding specialist, and publisher of several hometown magazines, including: Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors, Marple Friends & Neighbors and Newtown Edgmont Friends & Neighbors, mailed monthly to more than 12,000 homes in Western Delaware County, PA, and also available for reading online.
Introducing the Good Neighbor Podcast
Speaker 1Hello , delco . This is Michael Barkan , welcoming you to the Good Neighbor podcast , where fans of local businesses and their neighbors come together . It's my pleasure once again to introduce my friend and neighbor , our host Bob Lacey .
Speaker 2Thank you , michael , and thank you for that introduction . And , Michael , it's going to be a good episode here tonight . You're going to get hungry , so you know , stay there . We're going to be hearing about a local business and everybody . It is not a restaurant this time . So , once again , welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast . My name is Bob Blasey and I want to thank you , michael Barkan , for that introduction .
Speaker 2We're coming to you from Delaware County , pennsylvania . We call it the Good Neighbor Podcast , delco , delco being short for Delaware County , and we lovingly refer to Delaware County as DELCO . There's a vibe here that we all talk about . There's movies made and TV shows made here in Delaware County and you've seen a number of them . A new one premiering on HBO coming up in another week or so , so you'll be hearing more about Delaware County . Google that Delco , pennsylvania and see what you learn about our Delco vibe . This podcast intends to bring businesses that kind of serve Delco come out of Delco , maybe on the fringes of Delco and beyond , and tonight that's one of those businesses coming to you from Oxford , pennsylvania , but homegrown really from Delco
Meet Ron Flommer of Fat Cow Jerky
Speaker 2. The owner and the founder of Fat Cow Jerky is here with us for this episode . Let me introduce and bring to the stage the owner of Fat Cow , jerky , ron Flommer . Ron , welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast .
Speaker 3Hey Bob , How's it going ? Long time no see .
Speaker 2Yeah , long time no see here . We actually have met each other . This is one of those moments where , on an episode of the Good Neighbor podcast , I've nominated the business . Our listeners often nominate them . Others who I don't even know nominate these businesses .
Speaker 2But we met at the car show several weeks ago and I got a chance to get a sample of your fat cow jerky and I was intrigued by your business and I was intrigued by your business . We got talking and I learned that it is kind of one of those full-time , part-time businesses that you started and really becoming successful with . I got a kick out of some of your marketing too , because it was what was the saying I remember like utterly perfect jerky or something like that , and there was a play on those words oh , I remember real food , no bull . So let's talk about it . Let's talk about first . You know jerky in general , but we have to tie it all together . How's a guy who grew up in Drexel Hill in Delaware County , now from Oxford , starting a business ? That's really just kind of a jerky business . But it's got to be different , ron , it's got to be different than all those other jerks selling jerky . Tell me what makes Fat Cow Jerky the best ?
Speaker 3Well , it's
How Jerky is Made
Speaker 3actually made by a blue-collar construction worker . That's what kind of started my whole business . Basically , during the pandemic I got sick and tired of going to the store , spending all my money on overly salted jerky , and I barbecue on the weekends . I said I think I got something . One thing led to another , and what started as a hobby became a demand , and that's how fat cow jerky was born .
Speaker 2So let's . For those who I mean I , I've eaten jerky . I love the taste of it often , but it does get caught in my teeth sometimes . But it's great when you're hunting or when you want to have a snack in your pocket and you don't want to have to worry about getting crushed or getting older . Tell me first it's really beef for the most part , and it's what ? Is it ? Dried beef in a certain way ? Tell us how jerky is made and correct me if I'm wrong . Is it usually always beef ?
Speaker 3Most of the time it is beef , but I am branching out to there is turkey , there is chicken , there is , you know , pork , there's a bunch of different things . Like , I do have a bacon jerky . That is phenomenal , that's been great . Um , basically , you take meat , a very lean cut because fat gets rancid , and then you make a marinade up , let it sit for a day or two , then you turn around and you can smoke it and then finish it in the dehydrator , which I was doing probably about 120 pounds a week when I first started at my house as a side gig .
Speaker 2Wow , your neighbor's smelling the cooking going on all the time .
Speaker 3Oh yeah .
Speaker 2They loved it . You have to give them some to just keep them calm , you know , because it's just too good to have that guy next to you . So then , we're talking about , for the most part , beef , but now comes the secret recipe part . What makes your jerky a little bit different , flavor-wise , than other beef jerky ?
Speaker 3It's not your just normal salt and soy sauce . I actually come from a barbecue background of every weekend just outside with the smoker , so I went into my cabinet and what I thought was good on a steak I put on jerky and it turned out phenomenal . It was the first batch that I went all right , I think I got something for this .
Speaker 2Wow , I thought so when I tasted it . And yet when we were together , I was kind of impressed by it being more than just a few flavors . I mean , let's get that out and then let's talk about jerky a little bit more . But when we , for our listeners , we're talking to Ron Flommer here , who is the owner and founder of Fat Cow Jerky , and you can check out their website . You can see their different flavors we're going to talk about here at fatcowjerkycom
Unique Flavors and Award-Winning Recipes
Speaker 2and I'll give out Ron's phone number in just a bit . But Ron , calm , and I'll give out Ron's phone number just a bit . But , ron , I was impressed by the many different flavorings that you have for beef jerky . Give us a little rundown on what the different ones , what the most popular flavors are .
Speaker 3So I have my original , which is , I say , not your original , because it's actually got my spice blend in it , the one that started the company , and then it kind of branched out with people's ideas . My cousin's wife decided , hey , make a pickle jerky . So now we have an award-winning pickle jerky for taste TV , and that's where I knew I had something after I entered competitions . We have everything from hot , like the Reaper mango habanero , to sweet like maple breakfast and our honey bourbon , which is actually a bacon chunk turned into jerky which is actually a bacon chunk turned into jerky .
Speaker 2Wow , I'll tell you . You had me at pickled jerky . Tell me that one . Is that jerky that's ?
Speaker 3been pickled , or is that pickle flavored jerky ? It's actually pickle flavored jerky . I came up with a marinade , added my own little few things to it and then decided , hey , I think I got something . So I actually sent it to the manufacturer and there's a possibility of us putting it down in their store in Texas .
Speaker 2Wow . Well , that's the beginning . That's the beginning of fat cow jerky going out of Delco , as we say , delco and beyond . And you know you're serving Chester County , being out in Oxford right now , but I met you at a show and a car show in Edgemont , pennsylvania , and I think , from what you told me then , your weekend , your festivals are , you know , plentiful . You're , you're always someplace letting people taste that cow jerky . Do you have a crew that has to go with you ? Who's the company besides you ?
Speaker 3Well , basically we get our face of the company . My girlfriend Taylor , she's the one that comes with me to all these events , you know . So everybody likes a pretty face to walk up , and then they see me and go oh , I see , well , she , so she brings them in and then you sell them on the jerky .
Speaker 2but listen , you don't have to sell them . You didn't have to sell me . Uh , everybody , it was the flavor of fat cow jerky that brought me over Um , and , and I had to taste it . And then , of course , you taste one flavor , you've got to taste another flavor , and so I remember the question that I asked Ron when we were there . I said you know , ron , my intrigue is always can I give a salted , you know , jerky to my dog ? And I'm always worried about that . But you had an answer for that , didn't you ?
Speaker 3Absolutely . We have canine cuts
Business Growth and Canine Treats
Speaker 3, it's a one ingredient . All natural dog treat , we have liver and we have chicken also .
Speaker 2So when , when we call that jerky , it's really those kinds of treats , those kinds of meats that have been air dried and then flavored with some flavor that works for , you know , without too much salt or without something that they shouldn't have .
Speaker 3And we actually don't add anything . We put the meat directly into the smoker . It gets a little bit of hickory smoke on it and it dries it out . So there's no preservatives , nothing added . It's literally a one ingredient treat .
Speaker 2Real food , no bull , as you say , right ? Yeah , well , that makes sense . If you'd like to talk to Ron Flommer and learn how he's making some of the best jerky in Delaware County , pennsylvania , in Pennsylvania , maybe Chester County and beyond , call Ron at 484-464-7633 . And you can also direct message Ron through social media . I understand it's a lot of people following Ron on Facebook and Instagram following Fat Cal Jerky , and so , between the social media and the website , fatcaljerkycom , you can fill out a form , you can call Ron and find out more about bringing Fat Cal Jerky , perhaps even into your own store or your own restaurant . He's a great guy . You do take calls , right , ron ? I mean you actually answer most of the calls that come into your business .
Speaker 3Absolutely . I am everything from the trash man to the CEO . You're not getting an AI bot . I answer the phones . If I don't , please leave a message , because I'm doing my other job as an elevator constructor in the city , so don't always have service .
Speaker 2Let me get that straight . So you're a full-time blue collar worker , you're an elevator construction guy in the city of Philadelphia and full-time boyfriend , it seems , and also now probably full-time business owner with Fat Cow Jerky . I'll bet you it takes a lot of time , a lot of weekends , but it's a mission of love and a culinary treat . You're making people happy , A lot of people buying your product . I hear .
Speaker 3Yeah , I'm really happy and we do have some hometown roots . You know Roma , deli and Delco . They're selling our products and we'll be popping up a lot of other different places once I get some time to actually visit the stores different places , once I get some time to actually visit the stores .
Speaker 2Well , if you are listening and you're in Delco and you're someone that would like to support a homegrown Delco business , delco person that is starting their business but it's not new anymore but it is successful already . Great packaging . I might add Fat Cow Jerky Check it out fatcowjerkycom and talk to Ron Fl flommer
Balancing Work and Business
Speaker 2, who is the owner and the founder , really the chef of fat cow jerky , and call ron if you'd like . He does pick up his phone . He tells us 484-464-7633 and , uh , talk to ron , or um , the beautiful taylor who you might see at a trade show , um coming up as , uh , you'll look for the brand now Fat Cow Jerky , because you'll want to get the free samples that Ron gives out at those events . I loved it , ron . That's why I wanted to hear you on the Good Neighbor podcast .
Speaker 3Appreciate it , Bob . It was a great time and catch us all over Delco .
Speaker 2Amen to that everybody Give Ron a call and enjoy that . Fat Cow Jerky . Thanks for being a guest here and thanks for being a Good Neighbor business in our community , ron .
Speaker 1Thanks . Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor podcast hosted by Bob Lacey . This is Michael Barkan inviting everyone to get on the Good Neighbor team . Nominate your favorite local business to be featured on an upcoming episode by going to gnpdelcocom or by calling Bob at 610-557-3745 .