In 1989 Keith Martin left a career in investment banking for greener pastures. Over the next few years he parceled together 200 acres of farmland in Greene County, Pennsylvania, and Elysian Fields sheep farm was born. Today, Martin is a proud owner, along with Chef Thomas Keller, of the Pure Bred brand lamb product found in restaurants and specialty food retailers across the country.
A self-proclaimed “shepherd,” Martin is an advocate for respectful and humane treatment of his lambs, and thus developed and implemented the “Safe Alternative® method” — a highly strategic quality control system used at Elysian Fields, tracking all lambs raised to ensure the delivery of the best possible product. This is Pure Bred. Martin attributes the quality of his product, which chefs and consumers have come to regard as their “brand of choice,” to the healthy, natural lifecycle the lambs experience.