Meat, poultry sources in Philadelphia-MainLine area?

[GouGou]

Hi. We are in the process of transitioning to TF. We have scoped out several farms and other sources for pastured meats, chicken, etc, and have been pretty disappointed with what we've found.

We're closest to Hendrick's Farm at Telford. We bought chicken there and when we cooked it up it was pretty flavor-less and rubbery-tough. Same with beef & pork. Haven't connected with any lamb sources as of yet.

We're really committed to eating humanely-treated meat and would appreciate any insight or info you mamas might offer.

Also, perhaps pastured meats should be prepared differently?

I know about Main Line Prime over in Ardmore. I went in there when it had just opened and found the prices prohibitive.

Thanks in advance...

Maggy

[tboroson]

Hi! There are a *lot* of farmers who bring good wares into the local farmer's markets! You can also find Amish farmers who bring meat and raw milk into town weekly. How far are you from Phoenixville and Malvern? The P'ville farmer's market is fabulous, there are a few meat vendors. There's an Amish farmer who delivers to Malvern on Saturday mornings, who's products are wonderful. Kimberton Whole Foods also carries a lot of good local meats and raw milk.

[Metasequoia]

Originally Posted by tboroson

Hi! There are a *lot* of farmers who bring good wares into the local farmer's markets! You can also find Amish farmers who bring meat and raw milk into town weekly. How far are you from Phoenixville and Malvern? The P'ville farmer's market is fabulous, there are a few meat vendors. There's an Amish farmer who delivers to Malvern on Saturday mornings, who's products are wonderful. Kimberton Whole Foods also carries a lot of good local meats and raw milk.

:

And if you're interested in buying grass fed cow shares, there are a bunch of local options as well. I usually buy from Pasture's Pride in Kutztown & pick up my share directly from the butcher in Quakertown. Great prices too, I paid $2.45/lb for my last quarter. I called a week ago & Joy said there was a wait list until *next* June though! I've had to wait a couple of months before, but never a year! If I can't get beef from them, I'll need to decide on another farm (of which there are many.)

[EMS]

Have you looked at farmtocity.org? Meadow Run farm has a buying club through them that delivers locally, and the prices are pretty reasonable for grassfed/pastured meat.

[Metasequoia]

Originally Posted by EMS

Have you looked at farmtocity.org? Meadow Run farm has a buying club through them that delivers locally, and the prices are pretty reasonable for grassfed/pastured meat.

I've been to Meadow Run, it's a *gorgeous* farm & the animals all seem happy & healthy. I'd always bought their ground beef at our local WF store, Kimberton Whole Foods & planned on buying a share from them. I bought another pound at KWF & it was *really* gamey. I wonder what the deal was? I haven't tried it since, because I've just gotten cow share after cow share, but I'd suggest trying their meat before buying a share.

Forks Farm delivers to the chain WF, in Devon, PA during the weekend farmers' markets. 570-683-5820 - they're in Orangevile, PA 17859 - not sure where that is w/o looking at a map. They're flyer lists a side & a whole beef for $3.15/lb.

Oh, and you should joing our local crunchy families group.

[tboroson]

Forks Farm is also delivering to the Phoenixville Farmer's Market every third weekend. I expected to see them there last weekend, but didn't see them. But last weekend was crazy, what with Buy Fresh Buy Local week and the Blobfest and all, so maybe I just didn't notice them. Orangeville is up near Williamsport - Metasequioa, I think they're not far off of 80, you could swing through on your Grand Tour of northern Pennsylvania

Holy cow (hahaha), Joy's got a year's waiting list? Oh, no! I suppose you didn't ask about pork shares, did you?

The link to our hippie dippie parenting group is in my siggie

[GouGou]

I've already signed up... but is there a specific thread? What I found was a forum similar to the MDC one...

Thanks everyone for the tips!!! Maybe we'll run into each other at the farmers' markets at some point. I have gone to the Ardmore and Wayne ones thus far, as I'm relatively new to the farmer market scene in our area.

We're planning to hit Ph'ville tomorrow sometime.
:

[Metasequoia]

Originally Posted by tboroson

Forks Farm is also delivering to the Phoenixville Farmer's Market every third weekend. I expected to see them there last weekend, but didn't see them. But last weekend was crazy, what with Buy Fresh Buy Local week and the Blobfest and all, so maybe I just didn't notice them. Orangeville is up near Williamsport - Metasequioa, I think they're not far off of 80, you could swing through on your Grand Tour of northern Pennsylvania

Holy cow (hahaha), Joy's got a year's waiting list? Oh, no! I suppose you didn't ask about pork shares, did you?

The link to our hippie dippie parenting group is in my siggie

Damn - I totally could've swung by there! I had company for the ride home - "Oh hey, I'm just going to swing by this farm here to pick up a haf a cow.." - it would've been a *really, really* tight squeeze with 6 passengers.

Originally Posted by GouGou

I've already signed up... but is there a specific thread? What I found was a forum similar to the MDC one...

Thanks everyone for the tips!!! Maybe we'll run into each other at the farmers' markets at some point. I have gone to the Ardmore and Wayne ones thus far, as I'm relatively new to the farmer market scene in our area.

We're planning to hit Ph'ville tomorrow sometime.
:

Aw shucks, I missed ya. Like Tara said, I was touring bumblef*ck, PA.

[sparkletruck]

i just moved to de, and have been looking for meat too. here is one source i found. i emailed and they sent me a price list. but maybe ill check the farmers market in p-ville. Or one of the WF. DE apparently does not know what whole foods is, let alone WHOLE FOOD! its a nightmare down here - lol.

[tboroson]

sparkletruck, where in DE? I went to college in Newark If you're northern DE, you might be interested in our Circle of Friends group, too!

[Metasequoia]

Originally Posted by sparkletruck

i just moved to de, and have been looking for meat too. here is one source i found. i emailed and they sent me a price list. but maybe ill check the farmers market in p-ville. Or one of the WF. DE apparently does not know what whole foods is, let alone WHOLE FOOD! its a nightmare down here - lol.

Hey mama, would you mind PMing me the beef price list? TY!

[Metasequoia]

Originally Posted by tboroson

sparkletruck, where in DE? I went to college in Newark If you're northern DE, you might be interested in our Circle of Friends group, too!

I've had a window open to respond to this thread for a few hours & in the mean time, you asked about the beef before me!

And I thought you weren't recruiting....:nana:

[GouGou]

Metasequoia: By the time we made it out the door on Saturday, the Ph'ville market was already closed, so no, you didn't miss me at all

DH is on call this saturday, meaning it's me alone with the littles, so perhaps if the weather's nice we'll take a trip over there.

Meanwhile, Todd from Forks Farm was at Devon Whole Foods' parking lot with pamphlets and stuff to sell. Apparently this is part of her circuit. I picked up a flyer. She's got some nice offerings, it seems.

Oh... and in case you're wondering how you'd recognize me at any one of these places... I'm probably the one in the kooky tie-dyed yoga pants.

[Metasequoia]

Originally Posted by GouGou

Metasequoia: By the time we made it out the door on Saturday, the Ph'ville market was already closed, so no, you didn't miss me at all

DH is on call this saturday, meaning it's me alone with the littles, so perhaps if the weather's nice we'll take a trip over there.

Meanwhile, Todd from Forks Farm was at Devon Whole Foods' parking lot with pamphlets and stuff to sell. Apparently this is part of her circuit. I picked up a flyer. She's got some nice offerings, it seems.

Oh... and in case you're wondering how you'd recognize me at any one of these places... I'm probably the one in the kooky tie-dyed yoga pants.

I have the flyer from Forks Farm too, $3.15/lb for a half or whole. Not too bad, but I'd like to check out the farm mentioned above too. I emailed them for a price list.

[Metasequoia]

I got the price list from Breakaway Farms in Manheim PA (linked to above):

Whole beef: $3.75/lb

Half: $4/lb

Quarter: $4.25/lb

**These are all hanging weights!