Local Meat

My friend Tess wants to know about local meat sources--and the good news is, there are several good ones around here! I was a vegetarian for more than ten years until I got pregnant with my son and decided I needed more protein. With all the great sources of local, sustainably raised meat in Western Mass, the decision was much easier to start eating it again. Here are our favorites--definitely not an all-inclusive list, and I am sure there are others we don't know about.

Wheelview Farm in Shelburne sells grass-fed beef through Green Fields Market and also their farm store. It's worth a drive up to their farm, which has some stunning views and where you can see the cows for yourself. They have the hairy Scottish highlanders and also Banded Galloways. You can help yourself to what you want out of the freezer and leave your money in the box with a note saying what you bought. They also have an Open Farm Day (or weekend) every June.

Crabapple Farm in Chesterfield sells grass-fed beef and lamb at the Greenfield Farmers Market (along with eggs if you get there early enough). I don't know if they also sell directly from the farm or not.

Bostrom's Farm in Greenfield sells grass-fed beef and pork products. They have recently been at the Greenfield Farmers Market, but they also sell directly from the farm.

Not Your Ordinary Farm in Guilford, VT sells pork products through the Greenfield Farmers Co-op. We love their sausage in particular--they make many different kinds.

Green Fields Market has eggs from a variety of local producers, as well as some local meats (and many other local products).

Diemand Farms in Wendell does eggs and turkey. I'm not sure what else. Their products are pretty widely available in grocery stores. We have pre-ordered Thanksgiving turkey from them at Fosters. They are a bigger operation than the others farms listed. We have been meaning to go over there and check out the farm.

Songline Emu Farm in Gill sells emu meat through Green Fields Market. Maybe also at the farm, I don't know. Ground emu has a texture and flavor similar to beef but with a nutritional profile more like other poultry.