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 offer a gift certificate if the shipping container is 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 $12.95.  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.

We have been getting a lot of e-mails and telephone calls lately asking if there is still time to order Christmas gifts to be shipped to APOs and FPOs.  The answer is yes!  Shipping perishable items like steaks is always a little risky, especially to some of the remote outposts in Afghanistan, but the cooler weather makes a big difference.  

If you are looking for a less expensive gift, try one of our non-perishable gifts, like our one of our gift boxes filled with jerky and salsa.  We get a lot of compliments on our gift boxes featuring a Summer Sausage, snack sticks, jerky and old fashioned baked beans.  It's amazing how much a taste of home hits the spot!

Do you have a loved one serving our country overseas and want to send him or her a taste of home for the holidays?  We get a lot of e-mails and calls inquiring about the costs and rules of sending goodies to APOs & FPOs.  Hopefully, this will help answer a few of those questions...

1.  We are NOT allowed to ship pork or pork products to Afghanistan or Africa.

2. Transit times vary by FOB or Camp.  Some places only recieve mail once per week, whereas other recieve mail everyday.  If your loved one is stationed at a FOB or Camp that recieves mail only once per week, we recommend sending them only shelf-stable products such as our Beef Snack Sticks, Summer Sausage, Salsa, etc.  If your loved one is stationed at a FOB or Camp that recieves mail every day it is much less risky to send frozen products such as a Sirloin Steak Bundle or All Beef Cheddar Jalapeno Brats.

3. Military mail is much like mail here in the US, the closer it gets to the holidays the more mail there is.  To ensure a speedy delivery, we recommend shipping your gift/order as early as possible.  It is always better to recieve a gift early than have it delayed.

4. Shipping Costs.  Shipping is pricey and will vary according to weight and contents.  It is considerably cheaper to send a non-perishable gift package than a perishable one.

Always remember:  We're here to help.  If you have any questions just e-mail us or give us a call.  

-The Schenkers

Check out the October 2009 Issue of Progressive Farmer Magazine for an article on niche farmers featuring...Schenker Family Farms.  The article also mentioned our affiliation with AdoptaPlatoon, our national sales and our shipments of steaks to servicemen and women in Iraq & Afghanistan.  Great job on the article Mark!