Aaron grew up with La Quercia and has been involved with the family business for a majority of his life. He currently works as their Western Sales Representative. His parents, Herb and Kathy Eckhouse, started La Quercia with the goal of making uniquely delicious cured meats from humanely raised American pork. Though their appreciation of fine cured meats was sparked by several years in Parma, Italy, it was the bounty of their home region that inspired them to start curing meats in their Des Moines basement. They were captivated from day one! A decade later, the Eckhouses and their team salt, turn, and trim each piece by hand at their aging rooms in Norwalk, Iowa. La Quercia uses pork from family farms in the Midwest that raise their animals humanely and without the use of antibiotics.