Buying local made easy

It’s becoming easier for consumers to find a place to buy local beef. And it’s also easier for producers to link up with consumers. The process is as simple as opening up a cell phone or laptop. Most state beef councils assisted by the Beef Checkoff, as well as many state agricultural marketing associations, now offer online directories connecting producers with consumers. And for beef, the choices are across the board.

State beef directory listings typically identify sources by husbandry system and type of finishing. Many producers indicate they’re Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certified and a majority of the operations offer options such as natural, organic, grass-fed, and no added hormones. Most have links to websites that tell the story of the farm or ranch and offer helpful consumer advice on purchasing, storing, cooking and serving beef.

Below are a few of the states that offer direct-to-consumer listing services that are free and easy to join. Some sites give advice and guidance on how to best market to local consumers.

California

The California Beef Council’s Local Beef Directory has one of the most complete beef directories in the country. Listings run the gamut of production practices.

Minnesota

There are 128 Minnesota Grown beef farms scattered around the North Star State.

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Florida

The Buy Florida Beef Program lists beef operations selling to the public. Producers can choose to make their own marketing templates.

Montana

The Montana Beef Council manages the Montana Beef Directory, which lists dozens of direct-to-consumer operations around the state.

Virginia

The Virginia Beef Council supports the Virginia Beef Directory, where all types of beef are listed under various production practices.

Colorado

The Colorado Beef Council’s Local Beef Directory lists a whopping 163 direct-to-consumer sources of beef.

Ohio

Each of Ohio’s 88 counties lists at least one direct-to-consumer beef producer through the Ohio Local Beef Directory .

New Mexico

With so many choices of beef, the New Mexico Beef Council wants to help consumers find their best option by connecting them with local purveyors.

Alabama

The Bama Beef Sales Directory is supported by the Alabama Beef Council. Nearly every county in the United States boasts a local source for beef.

Missouri

Missouri Grown USA and the Missouri Farm Bureau each host local meat producer directories. Missouri Grown USA also lists direct-to-consumer dairy and egg producers.

Washington

The Washington State Beef Commission hosts a Local Beef Directory on a platform that’s common across many other Beef Checkoff funded sites in other states.

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