America is a nation of snackers and Americans have recently started moving away from potato chips and cookies and turning to healthy snacks, or at least “healthier for you” snacks. Among the categories they are turning to is high quality jerky. Premium jerky is the fastest-growing category of the estimated $2 billion U.S. meat snacks category.

The Up North Jerky Outlet, headquartered in Troy Michigan, has catapulted into the category with its devotion to quality, all-natural ingredients and uniquely flavored approach. We here at Peppers of Key West prefer the spicier side of jerky with flavors including, but are certainly not limited to: Cherry Maple, Honey Barbeque, Blazin’ Hot, Sweet-n-Hot, Peppercorn, and a flavorful Teriyaki. Most of these flavor options are available in beef, turkey, venison, and elk. Up North Jerky products contain no gluten or high fructose corn syrup and have no added nitrites or MSG.

The overall meat snacks category is currently growing at a 12% rate with a previously estimated growth rate of 10 percent from 2010-2014. The better-for-you, premium subset of the category, where Up North Jerky participates, increased at a rate of almost four times greater than mainstream brands.

Novices can “jerk” virtually any type of meat! On a small scale it is relatively simple; the only equipment required is a dehydrator or oven set at a low temperature. Marinade your choice of meat – beef, turkey, elk, venison, pork, buffalo, ostrich, or chicken – and remove the moisture content from the meat with the dehydrator!