/ck/ - Food & Cooking

>>18866973
Search the internet for farms around you. Most farmers haven't figured out to have an internet presence, so taking a drive around the country-side or visiting local or regional farmer's markets is also an option. I lucked out and was able to join a private association to buy grass-fed beef and raw milk directly from a local farmer. We purchased half a cow that I split with my family, it worked out to be around $3.50/lb hanging weight after the processing fee for the butcher. Don't butcher it yourself, you'd probably have to pick up the cow from the farm with a trailer and kill it yourself if you really wanted to do that. At that point you might as well just buy a calf and raise it yourself in your back yard or indoors. The beef we've gotten locally is superior to anything in the grocery store. The flavor is out of this world, very buttery and earthy. My only complaint is that the cuts are fairly small compared to the grocery store, but it's still cheaper per lb buying wholesale cow. Maybe the size of the cuts were bc of how I told the butcher to process it, or because the breed they raise are smaller than other cattle, or because they don't raise them as long before they slaughter them. I don't really mind eating smaller cuts, but that's the biggest complaint I have for my local farmer. Also in general, local meat will always come frozen, even at the farmer's market, it's really not that big of a deal. If you're buying from farmer's market retail, then you'll pay more than the grocery store. We also got a quarter pig last year, worth it 100%. Deep freezer is necessary. Again, don't butcher it yourself plz. Pic not related to half cow, pic is from another local farm.