Meat CSA Resources
A list of small to mid-size pasture-based ranches that offer Community Supported Agriculture programs for their meat; that is, a "share" of mixed meat, poultry, and eggs in exchange for a seasonal or a multi-month commitment. Except where there are links to Ethicurean coverage, the following are presented with no endorsement, for informational purposes only; please do your own research to decide if the farm is in line with your particular meat-eating values.
California
- Clark Summit Farm in Tomales, CA, has a small multispecies CSA that Ethicurean editor Bonnie Powell runs (read post). It has a waiting list.
- Bonnie has also helped farmers Alexis and Eric Koefoed start one for Soul Food Farm of Vacaville, CA, which supplies pastured chickens and eggs to Chez Panisse among other fine Bay Area restaurants.
- The Bay Area Meat BAMCSA, which I started in September 2006, has morphed into a really interesting whole-animal "ad hock" buying club with Tamar Adler's help: Check out Meatshare.org.
- Rancher David Evans at Marin Sun Farms has started his own using the BAMCSA model
- Marissa Guggiana at Sonoma Direct has partnered with UC Davis Agricultural Extension to form the Sonoma County Meat Buying Club
- Morris Grassfed Beef in Hollister offers a sort of modified CSA for their beef
- Agricola: flora et fauna, in Dixon, Solano County, sells grass fed beef by the side (half) - or share a half - that is fully USDA inspected.
Massachusetts
- Stillman Farms has a meat & poultry CSA in Hardwick, MA (read NPR article about it)
New York
- 8 O'Clock Ranch in DeKalb Junction, New York
Washington State
- Ethicurean team member Jenni P. helped launch the Crown S Ranch meat CSA for the Seattle area (read post)
- Williamson Farms in Washington has a beef CSA
- Thundering Hooves, also in the Seattle area, is apparently working to get a CSA going.
Wisconsin
- Black Berry Ridge in Wisconsin is doing a beef CSA
Hey! What about where I live?
First try searching Local Harvest and the Eat Well Guide for meat CSAs in your area. If you don't find one, consider talking to a local farm or two about helping them starting their own!
I know of one / I offer one you don't list
Leave a link in the comments and we'll add it when we get a chance.
I want to buy a whole/split cow or hog — where can I find farms that sell them "on the hoof"?
Jo Robinson's Eat Wild website has a great national list of grassfed producers. And of course, you can search Local Harvest and the Eat Well Guide for ranches in your area.
