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Clint Green and Jens Hertha at the store.

Photo courtesy Hertha and Green

Steveston store front.

Photo via doriginalsausagehaus.com

Steveston’s Sausage Kings

By Joe Leary

Published 11:50 PDT, Fri April 25, 2025

Last Updated: 11:51 PDT, Fri April 25, 2025

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With tariffs being levied on Canadian products shipped to the US and reciprocal costs placed on incoming American goods—it’s clear that divisions are drawn and previously dependable, cross border consumer markets have been changed dramatically.

There has never been a better than now to practice the mantra: “Think Local; Source Local; Shop Local; Elbows Up”. And with myriad quality suppliers and manufacturers across our great land, it’s becoming increasingly more important to support Canadian goods all across the country.

Let’s focus on one of them, based in Steveston. Clint Green and partner Jens Hertha are examples of a solid, locally-based business, increasing its profile and expanding its footprint. You could say they are ‘King of the Links’, as their sausage business has grown tremendously as the pair have been working in tandem since 2020.

The origins of the company date back to 2012 when Jens Hertha decided to switch careers and leave the corporate banking business and make a drastic change to fulfill a dream to bring the flavours of Germany sausages and other tasty meats to his new home—the quaint fishing village of Steveston, BC. He opened D-Original Sausage Haus in February of 2012. Fast forward to 2020, when Jens’ friend of many years, Clint Green returned home and became Jens’ business partner.

“At the time I was making printing plates for boxes,” says Green. “I went to Toronto and got deeper into the corporate world but things kind of changed for me after a few company mergers and COVID hit, it was time.”

After losing his job, Green said that the opportunity to enter the world of sausage presented itself. “Jens started the business and basically ran it for nine years and then I bought out his old business partner.” Green said that he had always been a big fan of D-Original Sausage Haus and shares the values that Jens' established. Learning the craft of sausage making, was the next step and he has been in sync ever since. “We partnered with Continental Sausage in Surrey and they do everything to our specifications, exactly the way we want it.

“It started off pretty good and I learned the butchering trade and the grinding and curing and more. As for what separates D-Original from the others, it’s all in the content.

“Instead of using trim, we use lean leg meat and we trim out anything else and we clean the meat out. Because it’s so lean we then take fat and add that to it. Our sausage has less fat than the competition.”

With a full range of products, D-Original offers bratwurst, pepperoni, chorizos and meats smoked and cured, they also offer a large selection of European varietals and over 60 options of cheese and international and local gourmet products. D-Original Sausage Haus also prepares custom platters, charcuterie boards and made to order sandwiches. The growth in the business has been notable.

“We’re working very hard to increase our foothold as we lost our original factory due to location and had some struggles for a while,” he says. “We found a better place to manufacture and have lately been focusing on providing pepperoni sticks in various breweries tasting rooms. “We work by consignment and the bars don’t pay us until they sell it.”

The pair share a philosophy in delivering only high quality, hand crafted and delicious meats along with a high level of customer service in a relaxed, friendly and welcoming atmosphere. As good corporate citizens, they are heavily involved in the community and supporting local charities

Hertha and Green continuously expand their product line through creative partnerships and direct involvement in manufacturing. The pair look forward to continuing to bring top quality products with amazing flavours to Steveston and the surrounding area.

With a storefront in the quaint environs of Steveston Village, D-Original is poised to take the sausage world by storm.