While it can’t be found on any map, the Ham Belt is a band around the world with an ideal environment for the production of dry-cured ham. In the days before refrigeration, this area utilized the four distinct seasons, including cool winters and warm summers, to produce ham items now considered a delicacy. In Italy, it was prosciutto. In Spain, it was serrano, and in Germany it was Westphalian ham. Over in the United States, a similar product became known as country ham.
One of the leading producers of country ham in the U.S. is Goodnight Brothers, a Boone, N.C. company that started when five brothers got into the food distribution business. Jim Goodnight, president, and his cousin Bill, vice president, are the next generation in the family business, which now employs 120 people. It ships its products across the country through retail and foodservice channels, including 1.25-ounce portions for use in sandwiches in Bojangles and Hardee’s restaurants.