Diverse Expertise Drives Vertical Integration at Family Business
At the Aspen Food and Wine Classic in June, Michael Jurgielewicz ’13 and his team greeted festivalgoers with 5,000 portions of savory duck carnitas seasoned with guajillo chiles—and company-branded rubber duckies. Many people returned for a second taste. In keynote talks, celebrity chefs commented on the popularity of the dish.
Michael, brothers Joey MMH ’16 and Jim, and their father, “Dr. Joe” DVM ’83, own and operate one of the largest duck farms in America, Joe Jurgielewicz & Son. At their Pennsylvania and Illinois locations, they breed, raise, process, and sell more than five million Pekin ducks annually. Their products land in the kitchens of Michelin star chefs and in markets around the world.
