Who They Are
PURE ISLAND is a family-operated beef farm run by the Martin family — Jim and Birgit Martin and their sons, Nick and Alex — located in Gore Bay on Manitoulin Island, Ontario. They’ve been farming since the late 1990s, combining deep agricultural experience with a passion for high-quality beef production.
Jim grew up on a dairy farm and later expanded into beef, carrying the tradition forward by developing strong breeding, cattle management and industry leadership experience, including roles with beef producer associations. Birgit brings expertise in agronomy and forage production, essential for pasture and grass-fed systems. Their sons help with operations and specialize in field crop production and showing cattle.
What They Do
Pure Island produces premium beef raised with a focus on flavour, animal care, and natural feeding practices.
Beef Raising & Breeding: They raise their own cattle herd — primarily Shorthorn and Black Angus — on pastures and rotation systems that emphasize natural growth and forage quality.
Grass-Fed & Grain-Fed Beef: The farm offers both grass-fed beef and traditional grain-fed beef, both free from hormones and antibiotics and dry-aged to enhance tenderness and flavour.
Dry-Aged Beef Production: A key part of their process is extended dry aging (typically about 30 days) to develop exceptional eating quality in every cut they sell.
What Makes Them Special
Farm-to-Table Quality: Every animal is raised on the family’s farm and sold directly to consumers and retailers, avoiding commodity markets and focusing on traceability and quality.
Dry Aging & Natural Flavour: Their extended dry-aging process and careful breeding help deliver rich, tender, distinctive beef — far beyond typical grass-fed products — earning a loyal following in Ontario (including butcher shops in Toronto).
Location Advantage: Manitoulin Island’s limestone-rich soils, fresh water, and cool climate create ideal conditions for forage growth and cattle health — a unique environment that informs the character and quality of their beef.
Sustainable Practices: The Martins emphasize natural grazing and forage-based diets year-round (with stored forages in winter), promoting animal welfare, pasture health, and consistent quality for their grass-fed products.
