For La Quercia entrepreneurs Herb and Kathy Eckhouse, “Life, liberty and the prosciutto of happiness” is more than just a wink and a nod to the Declaration of Independence. Despite its cheeky tone, the cured-meat company’s catchphrase fits neatly into both their personal and corporate ethos.
La Quercia is an artisan cured meat company — or “salumificio” — and its logo’s underline is “American made, American inspired cured meats.” Some of America’s most famous chefs and restaurants are sold on buying American à la Eckhouse. The Eckhouses are sold on America — and Iowa — too, and on its amazing, stubborn bounty.
“I look around,” Herb, 63, says. “and we’re having this terrible drought, and it’s still beautiful. Things are still growing.” Outside the plant earlier this month, the air was still and hot and the sun beat down sharp and hard in that Iowa countryside way. Yet, an untended volunteer cherry tomato plant near the front door collapsed beneath the weight of its own perfect fruit, a serendipitous testimony to the Eckhouses’ pork-centered paean to Iowa.
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