Nitrate free bacon

Is there such as thing as commercially available nitrate free bacon?  If so, where can I find it?

The brand "North Country Smokehouse" uses celery powder instead of nitrates so it is nitrate free. I have seen it in grocers like Hannaford.

Some local producers make it and it's easy to special order here at almost every grocery store (except the big ones that don't buy locally).  But that's this little corrner of canada.

Might be worth asking at your local grocery shop if they can order it in from one of their suppliers.  One shop near me keeps it in stock but frozen due to shorter shelf life and the trend away from extra salt.

When I made it at home, it took nearly double the salt and had half the shelf life, so freezer makes sense as it extends shelf life and mellows the salty taste.

I don't know if charcuterie shops are normal where you are, but they can usually make a big batch and you can freeze in small portions for when you are ready.

Celery powder actually contains nitrates, too - just naturally-occurring ones. Tomato/tomahto.

John, since you raise pigs, why not make your own nitrate free bacon?

Hi Anne,

That backs into my primary concern.  I have plans to stop raising pigs.  I am 76, and my plans are to have the pigs gone by the time I am 80.  I had a concerning incident with the boar a couple of months ago.  I got in his pen to make repairs, and he felt the need to come up and use me as a scratching post. He had no intention of harming me; but things could have gone very wrong. Normally I toss a cup of grain into the opposite side I will be working on. This time the need to rub up against me was stronger than the need for food.  Anyway, I was struggling to keep my balance.

That makes a lot of sense.  It is good to find your options now.

Anyway, I found the nitrate free bacon at a grocery store about 30 miles away. I normally end up in the area about once a month, so it should work out ok.  

It is the old administrator in me.   Managers run their operations for today and next month.   Administrators run their operations for 5 to10 years from now.