The Ma Baensch Difference

Baensch Food Products Co. is a regional small business that produces a premium product. Our ingredients are of the highest quality and we will never compromise that.

Ma Baensch uses wild, Grade A quality herring caught in the Bay of Fundy by an exclusive supplier in Nova Scotia, Canada. Most other herring brands acquire their herring from Canadian suppliers in a variety of A, B and C Grades.
Ma Baensch hand sorts and packs the herring tidbits, selecting only the firmest fillet cuts. Most other herring brands are machine packed using other parts of the fish.
Ma Baensch uses pure liquid beet sugar. Most other herring brands use standard corn syrup.
Ma Baensch uses fresh Spanish onions sliced on site for daily production which eliminates the need for refrigeration. Most other herring brands use pre-processed, treated onions.
Ma Baensch herring is marinated overnight and drained the next day for hand-packing in fresh marinade to provide that special Ma Baensch flavor. Most other herring brands pack in the original marinade.
Ma Baensch uses Wisconsin’s Natural Buttermilk and Natural Sour Cream for the highest quality. Most other herring brands use a lower grade of dairy products and acidified sour cream.
Ma Baensch herring is always packed by hand to protect each plump little fillet and provide the perfect herring experience. Our employees are proud to “Put their Smile in every Jar”.
 

 
How Premium Herring is Made
Ma Baensch Food Products imports Grade A herring tidbits from Nova Scotia. This premium herring is caught in the North Atlantic, filleted, precut and packed in barrels exclusively for Ma Baensch in a special salt brine. The herring is kept refrigerated throughout the entire process. Then, one barrel at a time, we sort the tidbits and place only the firmest, select pieces in stainless steel tanks and rinse them in overflowing, fresh cold water. This process ensures that Ma Baensch herring maintains the quality taste that is uncompromising.

After rinsing, we marinate the premium herring in Lena’s secret wine sauce. When the marinating process is complete, the premium herring is drained, hand-packed into jars and filled with fresh wine sauce or cream sauce. Unlike some of our competitors, Ma Baensch uses only the highest quality ingredients including liquid beet sugar, natural diary products and Spanish onions, sliced fresh each day, in our herring recipes. Our unique process is the reason why we are confident that Ma Baensch premium herring is the “Baensch” mark of herring.

Herring For Your Health
Are you aware that, beside the delicious addition herring makes to your dining, it is extremely healthy?  It is rich in nutrients that promote health in many ways.  Herring is:
Rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids, and thus healthy for your heart and brain!
Rich in Protein and Calcium which makes it an alternative to meat or dairy products!
 

Check-out the facts on herring health benefits!

Quality Assurance
Ma Baensch herring in wine sauce and sour cream and chive sauce are specialty items for those consumers looking for a high quality product with natural ingredients. The Ma Baensch plant conforms to all HACCP requirements and our entire product line is certified kosher through the Chicago Rabbinical Council. Ma Baensch superior quality is consistent. Once consumers try Ma Baensch, they’re hooked and they agree Ma Baensch is The Best Taste From The Sea …Naturally.

The Story Behind Herring
Herring is most popular in cultures that have roots in the Baltic Sea region. Most of those cultures use herring as a main staple to their diets because it is so readily available and nutritious. After immigrating to America, however, herring became a special treat that was eaten around the Christmas and New Year holidays. In some families it is considered good luck to eat herring on New Year’s Eve. Today, herring is more than a holiday treat and Ma Baensch herring continues to be a Midwest tradition. Herring is an easy-to-serve snack or appetizer for any occasion, any time of year.