With time comes change and he is the last butcher in Geraldine.
Geraldine Butchery is a boutique supplier of meats, free range eggs and condiments.
It prepares meat to order, and tries to source it from farmers within 50km of Timaru.
Since reopening after Covid-19 lockdown, Mr Jones had noticed the small businesses around town were busier.
"People want to support the little guy. They understand that small towns need their small enterprises."
He bought his beef and lamb at the Temuka stock sale with help of stock agent Rod Sands, of PGG Wrightson.
“We try to be as local as we can, support people in our patch the same way they have supported us."
His free-farmed pork comes from Christchurch’s Apple Tree Farm and chicken is bought free range from Tegel.
Geraldine had become a foodie destination that would not survive without the support from the rural community, he said.
“I am not into producing bulk, cheap food and a lot of the cafes and restaurants around town know it. I would not be open without the support of a loyal clientele and rural community.”
He has no plans to quit yet.
I would like to retire at some stage but that is a few years away yet," he laughed.
"They will have to carry me out in a box some day. I have been working for myself for too long to do anything else, this has been my life for 40 years."
