A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about Garlic Summer Sausage from one of my favorite meat processors, Klement’s of Milwaukee. I enjoyed the product, and it was at a deeply discounted promotional price, which was even better. Today I was zipping through Aldi’s for staples, and noticed they had a garlic summer sausage as well, and fairly inexpensive. Their in-house brand name is Simms. Many of their other processed meat products use the brand name of ParkView. Not sure why the distinction.
This product is made for Aldi at Abbyland Foods, (USDA est. 1633) in Little Chute, WI. Little Chute is almost dead center of the state, halfway between Chippewa Falls and Wausau. They kill cattle and hogs up there in Little Chute, make a gaggle of processed smoked and fresh meat, and still find time to run a truck stop, c-store, and a couple restaurants. Abbyland started in 1977, and today has over 1000 employees and sends product all over the USA. Google Earth pic of the plant, below.
Besides the value pricing, what I liked about this sausage was the garlic was more pronounced than the Klement’s product, but they are both good. Either one of these brands are much better (and considerably cheaper) than Hickory Farms, scourge of every shopping mall in the land at this time of year. Ingredients with the Simms are straightforward, pork, beef, salt, and the list of the “less than 2% stuff.” (Various flavorings and preservatives). It’s a fine grind in an artificial casing. Nice flavor and texture.
Simms Garlic Summer Sausage