Where Can I Purchase a Side of Beef Near Me? Your Guide to Local Beef Sources

Purchasing a side of beef can be an intimidating process, especially if you’ve never done it before. As someone who has bought beef locally from farmers for my family for years, I want to share my tips to help you find and buy amazing quality beef straight from a farm near you.

Why Buy a Side of Beef?

There are so many benefits to purchasing beef directly from a farmer rather than from a grocery store. Here are some of the main reasons why buying a side of beef is worthwhile:

• Quality – Beef from local farms is vastly superior in flavor and tenderness. The animals are well cared for and allowed to graze on pasture which improves the nutritional profile of the meat.

• Know your farmer – You can meet and get to know the people who raised your beef. Ask questions and learn about their practices. Developing relationships with local farmers supports your community.

• Affordability – Buying a whole or half side of beef saves you a significant amount of money per pound compared to cuts bought individually from the store.

• Customization – You can choose the exact cuts you want so nothing goes to waste Get exactly the right amount of steaks, roasts, and ground beef your family will eat.

• Sustainability – Supporting small local farms is better for the environment than industrial beef production and transportation. The beef only travels a short distance from pasture to plate.

Where to Find Beef Farmers Near You

Finding a farmer to purchase beef directly from used to require word of mouth connections, but thankfully there are now great online resources that make it easy to locate beef producers in your area. Here are some places to start your search:

• Farmers markets – Ask vendors at your local farmers market if they sell beef or know any beef producers in the area Getting a personal recommendation can help ensure a good experience

• Online farm directories – LocalHarvest.org and EatWild.com have searchable listings of farms across the U.S. You can enter your zip code to find nearby beef farms.

• Facebook groups – Search Facebook for groups related to buying meat locally in your city or state. Members often share supplier recommendations.

• GoogleMaps – Search Google maps for terms like “grass-fed beef farm” near your location. Check their websites or call potential farms to ask about purchasing.

• Friends and neighbors – Ask people you know if they have a local farmer they purchase beef from. Word of mouth can be a great way to find quality sources.

Questions to Ask Your Farmer

Once you’ve found some potential farms to buy beef from, here are some key questions you’ll want to ask:

• What cuts of meat do you offer in a side of beef? How much total meat pounds should I expect?

• Where are your cattle raised and finished? Are they 100% grass-fed or grain finished?

• Are growth hormones or antibiotics ever used? How are the animals humanely raised and processed?

• What is the price per pound for a side of beef? Do you offer discounts for buying a whole side?

• Do you allow customers to customize their beef order or modify from standard cut lists?

• How and when will the beef be processed? How long will it take to receive the beef after purchase?

• Do you deliver beef sides locally or should I plan to pick it up? Is there a delivery fee?

Don’t be shy about asking lots of questions to the farmers. A good beef producer will be happy to share details about their practices and beef.

Tips for Purchasing Your Beef Side

Follow these tips for a smooth purchasing process once you’ve found a farm to buy from:

• Plan ahead – You typically need to order several weeks to months in advance to give the farmer time to coordinate processing.

• Read the contract – Carefully review any purchase agreement and cut list provided. Make sure you understand all terms, costs, and processing timelines.

• Understand the costs – Expect to pay $6-12 per pound for a quarter or half beef side. Prices vary greatly by region, breed, and farm. Confirm any additional processing, cutting, wrapping, or delivery fees.

• Arrange transportation – Make sure you have ample freezer space and a way to transport a large quantity of frozen meat from the farm or processor. Some farms may deliver for an added fee.

• Provide instructions – Give clear instructions on how you want your cuts customized if such flexibility is offered. Provide any special processing requests like grass-finished, dry-aged, or organ meats.

• Pay your deposit – Put down a deposit when ordering to secure your beef side. This gives the farm money to cover processing costs.