A Taste Of Home: How To Buy Meat From Local Farmers

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I’ve been part of the slow food movement for many years, and recently, I’ve noticed more and more people are paying attention to where their food comes from and are turning towards buying meat from local farmers.

While buying meat from a local farmer is more involved, it’s definitely worth the effort. In this guide, I’ll help demystify the process and give you lots of practical tips to make your transition to farm-raised meat as smooth as possible.

How To Buy Meat From Local Farmers

The first step — and probably the hardest step — is finding out where to buy meat from local farmers. Luckily, there are a few different ways you can go about it. I suggest you start asking around at your local farmer’s market or tap into your network of friends, family, and coworkers for a recommendation.

If reaching out to your circle doesn’t prove fruitful, your next step should be checking out the internet. A simple Google search will pull up a list of local farmers and directories that help put customers in touch with local farms and ranches. Some directories even include information about the farm, so you can see what the livestock is fed and whether it’s organic or not.

After you find a farmer, you’ll want to ask about their availability and whether or not they have any cows, hogs, or chickens available for slaughter. This varies depending on your location, but I’ve found that grain-fed cows can be slaughtered year-round, while grass-fed cows are typically only available between September and December. But this all depends on the farm. Some even sell frozen meat, which you can purchase well after the slaughter date.

Keep in mind that prices and availability will vary depending on the time of year, the location of the farm, and the individual farming practices. So, to avoid any unwanted surprises, make sure that you agree on both the timing and pricing ahead of time.

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Why Should You Buy Meat From A Farmer?

I’m often asked why people should buy meat directly from farmers, and truthfully, the benefits are almost too numerous to list out. In addition to being delicious and cost-efficient, farm-raised meat doesn’t have to go through the same packaging, storage, and transportation process as traditional meat. As a result, local beef is typically fresher and more nutrient-dense.

There’s also no question that supporting local farmers is much more environmentally friendly than buying meat from supermarkets.

If you dig into the business of the corporate meat industry, you’ll quickly learn that it’s just a few companies controlling the entirety of the market. Meat is big business, which has brought about a noticeable decline in quality with an increasingly high toll on the environment, and the reality is that most grocery stores get their meat from factory farms. These factory farms are one of the driving forces behind deforestation, greenhouse emissions, pollution, antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, and loss of biodiversity.

Luckily, local farmers fill the gap by offering high-quality meat in most areas. By supporting them, you’re not just getting high-quality food, but you’re also becoming part of a community that values sustainable and ethical farming practices.

With all the benefits you get from buying meat from a local farmer, you’d probably expect to pay 10 times more for healthier, fresher, more environmentally friendly meat. But you can actually end up saving money by switching to local meat.

Is It Cheaper To Buy From Local Farms?

A lot of people are surprised to find out that buying meat from a local farmer can actually be cheaper than getting it from a grocery store. In addition to cutting out any middlemen and going directly to the source, most farmers give you the option of buying in bulk at a lower per-pound cost. In fact, I’ve mostly bought meat in bulk when buying locally; it’s often been the only option.

The exact amount your beef or pork will cost varies depending on the market, but for the most part, it’ll feel like you’re paying more on the front end. However, you’ll find that your overall costs are significantly lower than they’d be if you were regularly buying small amounts of meat.

Don’t get me wrong, the sticker shock can be jarring. My first half-cow came in at around $2,000. But it was enough meat to keep my freezer stocked for well over a year, and paying a flat rate meant I saved even more money than I had initially expected. Had I purchased the meat from a grocery store instead, I would have spent $3,000 to $5,000 for the same mix of high and low-end cuts. So overall, I saved between 33 percent and 60 percent by buying meat in bulk from a local farmer.

Is Farm Fresh Meat Better For You?

Any health-conscious readers will be happy to hear that farm fresh meat is much better for you than prepackaged grocery store meat. Due to the more natural diet and limited time spent in transport, farm-raised meat is usually lower in calories and unhealthy fats and higher in healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. Small farmers are also less likely to overuse growth hormones and antibiotics.

While these health benefits are already significant on their own, the main health benefit of eating farm fresh meat is that it wasn’t raised on a factory farm. Because of the cramped, often less-than-ideal conditions, factory farms are a breeding ground for bacteria, parasites, and viruses. On the other hand, I’ve noticed that smaller-scale farmers and ranchers work hard to keep their animals clean and healthy.

Is It Safe To Buy Meat From A Local Farm?

People wonder about safety when buying from local farmers for the first time, but I’ve found that farm-raised meat is as safe — if not safer — than the meat you buy from a grocery store.

Although your local farmer doesn’t have the same level of oversight as a large-scale commercial farmer, most still go through USDA or alternative certification programs that ensure their animals are healthy and well cared for.

Additionally, local farms are generally much more accessible than factory farms. Curious consumers can visit the farm, ask questions, and observe farming practices firsthand to ensure they feel confident in the quality of the meat before they purchase it.

And finally, these small-scale farmers and ranchers depend on word-of-mouth recommendations, so they’re heavily invested in making sure you have the best experience when purchasing meat.

How Do Farmers Sell Their Meat?

Let’s jump into how local farmers sell their meat. You can buy meat from local farmers in two ways: whole shares and cuts. Whole shares refer to large portions of the animal and include the option of buying an entire animal, half of it, or just a quarter. Cuts are pieces of meat that have been butchered and portioned and are ready to buy and use as is. You’re used to seeing cuts in stores like steaks, roasts, chops, ribs, and ground meat.

Between the two, cuts are undoubtedly more convenient. They’re small, so they take up less space and don’t require any additional butchering. And since I already knew my way around a roast, chop, or steak, I knew what to expect in terms of taste, texture, and cooking and grilling times.

That said, I think you get the best deal buying a share. You have access to a broader range of cuts and can experiment with different cooking methods and recipes. It’s also cheaper than buying cuts since you’ll usually get bulk discounts. And, since you’ll get to keep parts of the animal that are often discarded, it’s much less wasteful. So, I recommend buying a share.

While buying a whole or even a quarter of a cow might seem excessive at first, it’s surprisingly practical. You can either stock up for a while (which comes in handy during the holiday season) or find a few friends and family members to share a side of the meat with. That way, you can take advantage of the bulk discount without biting off more than you can chew.

Considerations Before Buying Meat Direct From Farmers

There are a few things that you’ll want to consider before your first time buying meat from a farmer. For one, your local farmers may have a limited variety of cuts or livestock, and meat might not be available year-round. And if you do buy a substantial amount of meat, you’ll need to make sure that you have adequate fridge and freezer space.

You’ll also have to consider the live weight versus hanging weight versus take-home weight. I’ll break this down for you:

What To Consider Before Buying Meat Direct

While a cow’s live weight might be 1,200 pounds, the hanging weight will be around 750 pounds. Of that 750 pounds, you’ll usually take home around 490 pounds of trimmed, boneless meat. In my experience, I’ve seen the vast majority of animals are priced by their hanging weight. So before buying a whole or half cow, make sure you ask the farmer what their average cow weight is. Otherwise, you might be left disappointed with either too much or too little meat.

Why Does Farm Meat Taste Different?

I know it’s weird, but most Americans are so used to the taste of grain-fed meat that grass-fed meat can take some getting used to. In nature, most livestock animals have a diverse diet that includes everything from roots and grass to fruits, seeds, and flowers. But in large-scale factory farms, livestock is fed almost exclusively grain. Grain is cheap, readily available, and leads to more rapid weight gain than a traditional diet.

More fat means more marbling, which makes meat tender and juicy and gives it a mild, slightly buttery taste. In comparison, grass-fed beef is lean and deeper in color, with less fat marbling. It can have an intense, gamey flavor that I find absolutely delicious. But if this is not your thing, you can seek out a local farmer who does a combo of grass-fed and grain-fed diets, and the taste will be more like what you are used to while still reaping all the benefits of buying local.

How Do You Maximize The Shelf Life Of Beef?

One of the first things I learned about purchasing meat in bulk is that you’re going to need plenty of storage space. I can’t stress it enough: buying a whole or quarter animal takes up a ton of room — especially if you buy a cow. Fortunately, there are a few different easy ways to store the meat. You can try canning it or throwing it into the dehydrator to make homemade jerky. But by far, the best way to maximize the shelf life of your beef is to freeze it.

While refrigerated beef has a shelf life of just a few days, frozen meat stays fresh for well over 12 months. After a year in the freezer, you may notice a slight decrease in quality. The meat might be a bit tougher, show some signs of discoloration, and be lacking in flavor. But, as long as it is stored properly, it’ll still be safe to consume. In my experience, you’ll need just over 4 cubic feet of freezer space for every quarter of beef. Since I like to buy larger quantities of beef at one time, I keep a spare chest freezer just to ensure I never run out of space.

How To Buy Meat From Local Farmers FAQ

When first switching to buying meat directly from farmers, people have a lot of questions. I’ll address some of the ones I encounter most often.

Can You Buy Pork From Local Farmers?

You can absolutely buy pork from many local farmers! Pigs and hogs are the third most common livestock in the US, so you shouldn’t have too hard of a time finding pork.

There are a few reasons why buying pork from local farmers is superior to getting it from conventional supermarkets. For a start, farm-raised pork is more sustainable, and the pigs usually enjoy more humane living conditions.

There’s also a significant difference in quality as factory farms focus on a few highly specialized pig breeds that grow quickly, put on a ton of weight, and show consistency. On the other hand, small farms tend to raise heritage breeds, which are well-known for their superior nutritional profile. Their meat is also significantly more flavorful and has intense fat marbling that makes it incredibly tender and juicy.

Can I Special Order Only The Cuts Of Meat I Want?

Unfortunately, not all small-scale farmers have the necessary equipment or manpower to sell only choice cuts. In addition to requiring less work, selling whole, half, and quarter animals is far more economical for both consumers and farmers. It also reduces waste while maximizing efficiency. But don’t worry if the first couple of farmers you talk to don’t sell specialty cuts. You can always try another one.

Are There Other Meats I Can Buy Directly From Farmers?

I’ve already covered how to buy local beef, chicken, or pork from farmers — but the truth is that you can often buy a wide variety of meat and meat products. For one thing, many farmers offer a selection of less common cuts like heart, kidney, tongue, and liver. Some even sell prepared products, like sausage and cured meats. Every farm is different, but other types of meat I’ve seen for sale include:

Other Types Of Meat You Can Buy From Farmers

How To Support Local Farmers Beyond Just Buying Meat?

Farmers don’t just sell meat, so there are plenty of other avenues for supporting them. In addition to meat, many also sell produce, eggs, crafts, live plants, and seeds. Some may even run tours of their farms or hold events. But I’ve found that the best way to support your local farmer is to simply spread the word and encourage your friends and family to check them out and purchase their wares.

Buying meat directly from local farmers can be a rewarding experience that strengthens your ties to your community, benefits the environment and local farmers, and — most importantly — provides you with delicious, nutritious meat. Plus, if you’re buying in bulk, you might even end up saving a few bucks! While finding the right farmer can take a minute, follow the tips I’ve given you in this guide, and you’ll do just fine.

Your Turn!

• What other products besides meat do you plan to buy from local farmers?
• Have you ever bought meat from a farmer before? If so, how was your experience?

By Ryan Mitchell on June 11, 2024   /   Homesteading   /   Leave a comment

Tags: Animals, Kitchen, Pantry