Certified Cervena | mountainriver

Certified Cervena Appellation

Cervena Natural Tender Venison

Mountain River Venison is Cervena accredited.

From the fresh, open farmlands of New Zealand comes a meat so tender, so delicious, that it has its own name. It's called Cervena® natural tender venison.

Criteria to Become Cervena Venison

In order to qualify as Cervena Natural Tender Venison, the farmed animals must meet specific criteria:

Three years and under
Transported and processed according to strict quality-assured standards of the Cervena brand; licensed processing plants are audited bi-annually by an independent agency
Naturally raised

The deer must be able to roam and graze freely in natural conditions on the pastures of the farm

No growth hormones or steroids are administered to the animals

The deer are fed only on grass and can be supplemented during the colder months with only natural feed like hay and silage.

Distinguishing Charactoristics

The name Cervena reaches back to historical origins, combining cervidae, the Latin word for deer, with venison.

Cervena® Natural Tender Venison is:

Flavorful - a distinctive, yet mild red meat flavor
Tender - from naturally raised animals three years and under
Consistent - high standards guarantee consistent quality from order to order
Natural - no steriods or hormones, free range

Quality-Assured - “commitment to quality from pasture to plate” is the hallmark of the Cervena product, which is processed and packaged to highest international standards, including US FDA requirements
Healthy - low in fat, calories and cholesterol, and a quality source for protein and iron, Cervena shares a similar nutritional profile to skinless chicken breast, but with a third the fat and more than double the iron
Versatile - the taste and texture of Cervena as well as the variety of cuts available make it conducive to year round eating, from seasonal preparations like braised osso bucco in winter or to a grilled steak in the warmer months

Mild yet distinctive taste - not gamey
Easy to prepare - with quick cooking
High yield - requiring minimal trimming
Long shelf life - for fresh meat that is maintained at 29.5°-31° F
Available year round

About the Name

The name Cervena reaches back to historical origins, combining cervidae, the Latin word for deer, with venison.

The Cervena Appellation

Just as the Champagne appellation immediately communicates the image of quality sparkling wine from the Northwest region of France, there is now an appellation for premium, farmed venison from New Zealand.

Cervena is distinguished from all other venison by the trademarked assurance that the meat has been naturally produced, and processed in accredited plants, according to a system of high quality standards.

No Longer Just for Kings

The Cervena name reaches back to historical origins to give new meaning to a cherished heritage. It comes from a combination of the Latin, Cervidae, meaning deer, and venison (which originally meant "hunting" in Latin, but over time has come to mean deer meat in general).

For centuries, venison was known as a delicacy for kings, and a seasonal menu item. But pioneering New Zealanders have made a serious and long-term commitment to redefining venison as a tasty and healthy farmed meat available all year-round.

A New Culinary Frontier

Cervena represents a blend of nature's gifts and today's modern approach to eating. Cervena venison is mild but distinctive, tender and exceptionally versatile. It is available year-round and is wonderfully suited for even the lightest summer fare.

For chefs, the Cervena name guarantees they are working with the finest meat.

To those already familiar with venison, Cervena represents superior taste, flexibility and artistry. For diners and home cooks, Cervena means light, lean and tender meat for fine everyday cuisine.

Certified Cervena Appellation

MOUNTAIN RIVER VENISON