I am wondering about the quality of the pork in Poland. What are most of your livestock animals fed? Are they pretty much free-range, or are they kept in pens, like most American livestock, where they are forced to eat an unnatural diet of mostly corn?
There are two kinds of porkers in Poland: the ones kept on big farms for mass production and the ones kept by individual farmers, or rather peasants, in small sties next to the house. The latter ones are tastier, I suppose, but fewer in the market.
As for pigs which can roam freely in Poland, there are none, I am afraid. You are mistaking pigs with hens and Poland with Vietnam or Angola.
Does this vary by region? I will be exclusively in the southeast - from due south of Gorlice to south of Jaslo. What quality of meat should I expect there?
The farms in southeast Poland are small, not industrial type production. Meat should be tastier there.
But, to tell the truth, you can buy meat safely everywhere in Poland provided it is sold in the butcher`s or a store. They sell meat which has been certified by vets.
If you buy meat from a private person, you might run into health problems. It is called "meat of unknown origin" in Poland.
I have been told that Polish meats and produce are much more organic than most that are made available in America - would most of you agree or disagree with that?
First let`s explain what organic means.