Q & A with Pork ‘N Pine’s Jason Toraldo

If you hear Christmas music playing, smell a great pulled pork sandwich, and see someone in a Santa suit riding a bike down the street pulling a Christmas tree, make sure to say hi to South Baltimore’s own Jason Toraldo, creator of Pork ‘N Pine. In this Q & A, Toraldo sat down with SouthBMore.com to share more about his innovative and festive business.

Pork ‘N Pine is Baltimore’s finest Christmas tree delivery service. We pride ourselves in delivering fresh cut, Douglas Fir Christmas trees that are grown locally here in Maryland. Each tree sold is accompanied by a pulled pork sandwich from HarborQue Barbeque & Catering, and is delivered to your doorstep by a festive courier. Typically delivery locations within 2 miles of our South Baltimore headquarters are delivered by bicycle. We provide our customers with a wonderful tree, a delicious sandwich, and a Christmas experience.

2. How did you come up with this idea?

The original vision for Pork ‘N Pine was to be able to have a Christmas tree lot located in South Baltimore where people could come select their own pre-cut tree. When speaking to a friend about the idea he mentioned that his father would be willing to sell pulled pork sandwiches to hungry customers as they select their tree. Typically tree farms and tree lots will offer hot chocolate or hot cider, but I have never seen pulled pork on the menu. The unusual combination of a Christmas tree and a pulled pork sandwich made brainstorming business names interesting, and once Pork ‘N Pine was mentioned we knew we had to look no further. After much searching, I couldn’t find a space that would agree to my idea, so I decided I would simply deliver the tree and sandwich to customers. Delivering by bicycle whenever possible came naturally since I already prefer this method of transportation in the city. Wearing a Santa suit and playing Christmas songs while delivering just seemed necessary to really complement the experience. For the inaugural 2011 Christmas season, my goal was to sell at least one tree. I decided if I were able to get at least one customer I would throw the biggest Christmas spectacular possible on their doorstep. That first season, to my surprise, I ended up selling 18 trees and far surpassing my goal. Since then the business has grown tremendously, but I still have just as much fun as I did on that first delivery.

3. If people want to purchase a tree and sandwich, how much does it cost? And, what’s the best way for them to get in touch with you?

To order your tree and pulled pork sandwich please visit our website, www.porknpine.com. Just click on the “How to order” tab and schedule your delivery date, time, and make your payment. All orders placed prior to December 1st are $65. Orders placed after December 1st will be $70, so place your orders early!

4. Clearly you are a big fan of Christmas. What do you love most about this holiday?

Ever since I was a child Christmas has been my favorite holiday. My family had many traditions when it came to Christmas, and one of the most memorable was always the selection of the Christmas tree which we typically cut down at a friend’s farm. This was truly an exciting day, and the whole group of us would trudge through acres of property to select the perfect tree. I should mention that there were no “traditional” Christmas trees on this property, and we would typically end up cutting down a species of tree known as a Leyland Cypress. By the time we were finished adjusting the height of the tree in order to fit it into our house, it usually resembled an evergreen globe, and we jokingly nicknamed it the “Toraldo Christmas Bush.” Perhaps this is the reason that I am so strict in the selection of trees that will grace my customers homes. Regardless, the time spent with family and the process of going to get the tree will always be a fond memory for me. I could ramble off dozens of Christmas family traditions, and each one held a special magic and warmth that I always associate with the Christmas season. The idea that I can be a part of another families holiday traditions by delivering them a Pork ‘N Pine tree and sandwich makes me feel very privileged.

5. It must be a workout dragging all those trees (and sandwiches!) around on your bike. How do you make sure you are ready?

The physical training process for the delivery season has never been formally documented. People commonly make the mistake that tree delivery has everything to do with strength. The truth is, endurance and agility are the most important factors. You need to be more like a alley house cat and less like lion. You need to be light on your feet and able to climb consecutive flights of stairs with a tree haphazardly perched on your shoulder. It’s not a question of if you will embarrass yourself by falling down or getting stuck in a doorway, instead the question is how many times during that day will you embarrass yourself by falling down or getting stuck in a doorway. I think the only training that could actually mimic the experience would be if you blended the training for the Lumberjack World Championships with a triathlon while hundreds of people are laughing at you instead of cheering for you. Maybe this isn’t the best time to mention this, but I will need someone to help with my deliveries next year, any takers?

6. Do you have any spinoff ideas in the works for future events or holidays?

So many holidays so little time. I have a few other ideas in the works for other holidays but I haven’t made them a reality as of yet. Perhaps 2015 will present me with a window of opportunity to showcase one of the ideas. I will be sure to keep SouthBMore in the loop!

7. What do you love about living in South Baltimore?

I have lived in South Baltimore for the past nine years, and am constantly reminded of how lucky I am to be here. Having the ability to walk or bicycle to my favorite restaurants, bars, parks, and sporting events is definitely advantageous. Most importantly however, I love the fact that South Baltimore has the charm of a welcoming neighborhood while still being part or the larger urban landscape. The people who call South Baltimore home are wonderful as well. I have had the fortunate opportunity to meet many people in the the neighborhood through Pork ‘N Pine and they have always been supportive. South Baltimore is a great place to call home!

Photo via Pork ‘N Pine’s Facebook Page