Buying Local – Finding Grass Fed Beef In New York

Imagine Americana on a plate. It’s hard not to conjure up mouthwatering images of delicious red meat meals like steak and hamburger. From New York to San Francisco, beef remains a dominant staple of the American diet. When we take a moment and consider the tour de force that the US beef industry truly is, it’s not surprising. In the US, there are more than 800,000 ranchers and cattle producers. Incredibly, 41% of all land usage in the US is taken up by pasture and rangeland. “America made modern beef at the same time that beef made America modern,” writes Joshua Specht in the introduction of Red Meat Republic: A Hoof-to-Table History of How Beef Changed America. 

Frankly, beef is everywhere. So why is it still so uncommon to find local, grass-fed beef in your area? Why isn’t every grocery store in New York packed with beef raised in… well, New York?

The truth is, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), just four massive companies control about 85% of the U.S. grain-fed cattle industry. That means 85% of the steaks, beef roasts, and hamburger that you see on grocery shelves are most likely not local. Why does that matter? Well, getting your meat from a beef farm near you actually makes a big difference – both on and off the plate. At Acabonac Farms, when you know your beef is being raised right in your backyard on grassy Long Island pastures, getting meat from the grocery store quickly becomes a distant memory.

When weighing the benefits between “Big Beef” and local farms, the quality of the cuts, nutrient density of the beef, and diet of the cattle all play major factors in the end flavor result. While supermarkets often source their meat from industrial farms, the best meat markets often choose local suppliers like Acabonac Farms. Why? An unquestionable assurance of quality.

Sourcing beef from a farm nearby also significantly lessens your impact on the environment and can even save you money. Purchasing locally keeps money circulating in your community, and allows small scale farmers to stay in business, preserving the local economy. Cutting down on the need for transportation and middlemen also provides cost savings for the consumer. While supermarkets may mark up beef prices to accommodate for the expense of shipping and storing the meat, local farms are able to efficiently serve those within their own community without the extra moving parts.

If you’re in New York, buying meat from our Long Island farm offers you the comfort of knowing what’s really in your meat, ensuring a quality taste, and the knowledge that it was produced using environmentally conscious practices. All of this adds up to a healthier, tastier meal that you and your family can be proud to put on the table. We understand that finding a local beef farm can seem daunting at first, especially if you are accustomed to the traditional grocery store paradigm. Luckily, Acabonac Farms has been serving local New York residents with top-notch quality grass fed beef for years. We’ve made the process easy and enjoyable, so getting your beef locally can become your new normal!