Raleigh, NC – A new website is connecting North Carolina meat farmers and consumers.
MeatSuite is a website designed by Cornell Cooperative Extension Agriculture Educators, to help consumers in New York and North Carolina find locally produced, high quality meats in bulk.
The website launched a version for North Carolina, thanks to a 2018 United States Department of Agriculture grant the N.C. Choices Program at N.C. State University received.
Local foods systems provide several advantages. Buying locally strengthens regional economies, supports family farms, and provides delicious, “fresh-from-the-farm” foods for consumers.
The website is designed to increase “freezer trade” (the sale of whole, halves, quarters of animals and bulk bundles of meat). The goal is to give the consumer a platform to find a farm that fits their needs and preferences when sourcing locally raised meats. Consumers can search for farms in their neighborhood or by species across the region. They will learn how each farm raises their livestock and about their farming practices; allowing them to choose the meats that meet their family’s wants and needs and, ultimately, Find your Farmer!
On Wednesday, the website provided information for 81 farms across the state of North Carolina, listing contact information for farmers and types of meat they sell.
They specialize in 100% Angus grassfed grass finished beef.
There are currently two Chatham County farms listed on the site: Smithview Farm and Crawford Dairy Farm.
Smithview Farm is located near Pittsboro, N.C. They specialize in 100% Angus grass fed grass finished beef. They are certified by the American Grassfed Association (AGA). Their grazing management utilizes holistic planned techniques to preserve the soil, hold the water and carbon to constantly improve microbial behavior. They constantly rotate their herd to different pastures with fresh forages to consume. Thus, their steers are raised in a low stress environment of calm, open pastures feeding on mother’s milk and high quality forages from birth to harvest. They are never confined to muddy, crowded conditions or feedlots.
Crawford Dairy Farm is located in Chatham County, just outside of Chapel Hill, NC at 4085 Crawford Dairy Rd. In addition to being a local dairy since 1952, their farm raises quality beef, pork, and eggs. They offer meat by the specific cut – you are not required to purchase a 1/4, 1/2, or whole cow/pig. Their meat is readily available for pickup Monday-Sunday. They can have your box ready for convenient and quick pick-up at the farm. Fresh brown eggs are also available for sale.
If you are a North Carolina farmer interested in signing up, you can do it for free at Meatsuite.com.
This website was made possible through a NE SARE Partnership Grant. SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) is part of the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. SARE offers competitive grants to projects that explore and address key issues affecting the sustainability and future economic viability of agriculture.
Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) is a non-profit community education agency. We are affiliated with Cornell University as part of the national land grant university system started in 1862. The Cornell Cooperative Extension System extends Cornell University’s land-grant programs to citizens all across New York State.