We get asked frequently about shipping steaks and brats to APOs in Afghanistan, Iraq and now Africa. Many people want to send their soldier a taste of home for a special occasion or just a treat. Usually the first thing we get asked is "How does this work?" followed by "Does this really work?" We have designed a specialty shipping container for shipping to places requiring a longer transit time. This container, especially in the winter months, has been known to keep things frozen for 23 days--that's pretty cool. When ordering, it always helps to know which FOB or Camp you are stationed at or your soldier is stationed at and if they receive mail each day, once per week, etc. We pack the containers accordingly.

How much does it cost to get steaks, brats etc. to Iraq & Afghanistan? A good rule of thumb is $150 in shipping for every 12 lbs. of frozen meat. That would equal 60 brats or 24 rib eyes, etc. We request the shipping container be returned, as they are quite pricey and completely reusable. We are not charging for the container or most of the cold packing, just the postage and a small amount of cold packing.

What if my order gets to it's destination, but my soldier doesn't pick it up for a while? It is critical that your soldier pick up his/her gift ASAP. We are not responsible for lost orders, orders that aren't picked up, combat-related delays, incorrect mailing addresses provided to us or other calamities that may occur. We also suggest confirming the correct address for your soldier. If a zip code or line of a mailing address is wrong, it may result in unwanted delays.

Can I track my order? Orders may be tracked while they are in the U.S. Unfortunately, once the military takes possession of them, they are usually no longer scanned and cannot be tracked. We are happy to provide you with a tracking number though.

If you aren't sure about the mail situation or want to start with a smaller product, try our Summer Sausage, Beef Jerky & Beef Snack Sticks. Most of those orders will ship for $15.95. We can even put it into a nice gift box with a card.

Always remember, if you have any questions, please give me a call or shoot me an e-mail. We're here to help.

We hope to hear from you soon.

The holidays will be here before you know it. Unfortunately, we have to create a shipping deadline for our frozen bundles and gifts headed to APOs for delivery prior to Christmas. This year, that date is: Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011--FROZEN ONLY.

NON-FROZEN/SHELF STABLE goodies, such as Summer Sausage, Salsa, Pickles, Preserves, Jerky & more may be ordered through Dec. 12. We make every effort to get orders headed to APOs shipped with 24 business hours.

Although we anticipate these packages will arrive prior to Christmas, unless your soldier is stationed in a very remote area, we cannot guarantee it.

While it is critical that we are provided the EXACT mailing address of your soldier, once the package leaves the U.S. we have no control over how it is handled and are typically unable to track it.

If you have any questions regarding shipping to Afghanistan or Africa, please give us a call, e-mail us or check out an earlier Blog entry about shipping to Afghanistan and Africa.

Merry Christmas from all of us at Schenker Family Farms and thank you for your business!

~Kevin & Cherie Schenker