| Go Direct to Your Nearby Farmer for Meat |
Page 1 of 2  If you're serious about grilling, consider buying fresh grass-fed meat directly from a farmer in your area. Fresh meat is sure to put “zing” in your marriage. With summer just around the corner and the grilling season about to start (article published May 2009), it’s time to head to your local grocery store and stock up on meat. If you’re still eating hamburger meat from plastic tubing or buying shrink-wrapped cuts that have been shipped thousands of miles from some feedlot, you might want to consider another option: going directly to your nearby farmer. Did You Say “Direct?” The taste and quality of meat being raised on high-quality feed is excellent. The meat is local, it’s fresh and it’s healthier for you. A better diet for the cow also means better quality. Most small farmers feed their stock grass -- not the corn diet of many agribusiness farmers. Eating locally grown beef offers more beneficial fats, and fewer harmful fats. Grass-fed beef is richer in antioxidants such as vitamin E, beta-carotene and vitamin C. Meat produced from small lots has fewer traces of added hormones, antibiotics or other drugs -- common ingredients in most commercial meat -- which you ultimately digest when chomping down on that burger. Are These Farmers on the Highway? Do you live near a rural area? If so, finding a farmer should be easy. If you’re a city dweller, chances are you can find a farm within a 50-100 mile radius from your residence. One of your best bets in finding a local farmer is asking your neighborhood butcher. They can steer you in the direction of a farmer to work with, and they can cut the meat to your specifications if you purchase a side of beef. Many farmers do the raising and slaughtering so you’ll need to provide your butcher with the side and have them cut and wrap it. You don’t have to go near a farm if you don’t want to. Many farmers have an online presence, making it possible for you to order from them without leaving your home or office.
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