Small local farm-raised meat is often exposed to less antibiotics, hormones, and often raised in more humane and ethical conditions compared to the large corporate producers and processors. Local sourcing can influence farm practices, promote sustainability and provide you with fresher, healthier, tastier foods for your family.
Do you really know where the meat you purchase from the big box stores is from? Labeling laws do not always trace the full life of the animals. Buying directly from local farmers means you can know more about animal welfare and feeding practices while keeping money within the community and supporting small-scale agriculture and rural livelihoods over industrial systems.
Buying in bulk (e.g., quarter, half, or whole animals) directly from farmers can be more cost-effective per pound compared to retail prices, especially for families or groups. Buying direct also keeps more money in the local community with more going to the local farmer and processor.
The best meat I have ever had, straight from a local farm. I know where the meat is coming from, I help support a local farmer, and best of all, I am not supporting some mega corporation!
Regenerative practices and the humane treatment of animals is very important to me and the reason I want to find a farmer that aligns with my values.
We have a large family and want good quality food without paying premium prices. Buying in bulk and stocking our freezer is a way to save money and to also have peace of mind knowing we have a couple months of food available in case of an emergency.
Start local: Beef shares are typically picked up packaged and frozen after slaughter directly from the processor. It is best to start your search locally for easy and close pickup to save on the expense, hassle and risk of shipping of frozen meat. Meat processors are regulated at either at the state or federal level, so it is best to The USDA regulates shipping or selling processed meat across state lines and each state regulates the selling of meat within the state. Regulations vary by state, but farmers are generally allowed to sell animal shares directly to consumers for personal use and delivery your animal to a local custom processor for slaughter, dressing and aging. You will purchase your share of the animal from the farmer and them most likely deal directly with the custom processor to pay for the processing according to your cutting instructions.
Ask the farmer: All farm operations are different and the farmer listing descriptions in our directory are created directly by each farmer. We encourage the farmers in our list to describe their farm, animal care, feeding, and practices in as much detail as they can. Farmers in our directory pay a small yearly fee to be listed and are eager to get serious inquiries from consumers wanting to buy direct. Our directory makes it easy to directly contact farmers in our list. We encourage the farmers to include any website or social media links so consumers can connect with them directly in other forms as well. The certifications area of a listing is only shown for farmers who have verified the are currently in a third party certified programs.
Weeks to months: Most farmers are trying to pre-sale their livestock prior to them being ready for slaughter. Each farmer will have different time frames and available animals. Typically you will commit to the meat share with a deposit and when the animal is ready, the farmer will schedule a date to deliver the animal to the processor for slaughter, dressing and aging. The processing can take a few weeks before your freezer ready meat is ready for pickup. The full time frame can be anywhere from a few weeks or a few months. Some farmers may process animals without being pre-sold with a properly licensed processor in order to have the some frozen beef available for immediate sale.
This freezer beef is packaged and frozen for pick up, so please make sure you have freezer space available. Below are some general guidelines for beef share purchases.
Survival: In the United States, four major corporations—commonly referred to as the "Big Four" beef packers—control approximately 80-85% of the beef processing market. The companies are JBS, Cargill, Tyson Foods, and National Beef for the beef industry. It is similar with Pork with 70% being controlled by the top 4 companies, and poultry with 60% being controlled by the top 4 companies. These multi-national corporations are the "main" purchasers and effectively set the price for the farmer. The only real alternative for a farmer to escape this system is to market and sell directly to the consumer.
The Farmers2Freezers directory is designed to empower both the consumer and the farmer. Consumers are increasingly wanting to know the source of their meat and to keep their support local. Farmers are motivated to sell direct shares if they can get customers without having to spend thousands marketing. Farmers2Freezers is trying to make this possible!
Get Listed: Our directory is mainly for livestock farmers eager to sell animal shares directly to consumers. Our directory is a basic marketing tool for individual farmers and we are not attempting to get a share or involved with any transactions between the farmer and the consumers. We simply want to make it easy for consumers to find local producers raising the type of animals the are comfortable purchasing. Our directory is also available for state custom or licensed processors that are also interested in processing meat shares for either the farmer or consumer. Please refer to our Producers page for an explanation of our standard subscription plan and optional enhanced listing options. We offer some sample listings to help you understand what is possible and help you prepare your listing. The standard listing information can be submitted with our form on the Get Listed page.
