Slow Meat
The many fans of Philadelphia’s Primal Supply Meats were saddened when the purveyor of sustainable meat closed its doors last spring after seven storied years in business. A Slow Food Philadelphia Snail of Approval award winner, Primal Supply was founded by Heather Thomason, who championed local farmers and helped revive the art of whole animal butchery in Philadelphia.
Thomason told the Philadelphia Inquirer that the shut-down came about because Primal Supply was “no longer able to continue operations in a sustainable way,” given “the mounting economic and social challenges that were set in motion by the pandemic more than three years ago.”
While she may be out of business, Thomason remains true to her original mission of educating people about and connecting them to sources for humanely raised, pastured, grass-fed meat and poultry. In fact, she’s keeping alive a newsletter she started when she was running Primal Supply to “bring attention to the small businesses and food co-ops working directly with local farmers that deserve your support and patronage.”
There’s no question that large-scale industrial farms are terrible for the environment and horrific for the animals raised on them. So, if you do choose to eat meat the best option is to source it from local producers tending small, pastured flocks and herds, who are committed to treating animals humanely.
In addition to some of the options Thomason provides in her newsletter, here are some suggestions for buying sustainable meat:
Lancaster Farm Fresh Co-op
A nonprofit agricultural cooperative made up of more than 100 small farms in Lancaster County, LFFC offers chicken and meat CSA shares that include a wonderfully wide variety of items, including chops, roasts, ground meat, sausages, whole chickens, and more. (I’ve been a subscriber for years, and I’ve never been disappointed.) Shares are delivered weekly to a huge number of pick-up locations around the Philadelphia metropolitan area and beyond.
It’s not too late to sign up for a fall CSA share. They are now taking orders for Thanksgiving turkeys!
Wyebrook Farm
This Chester County farm raises purebred Black Angus cattle and heritage breed pigs who spend their lives on pasture or foraging in wooded lots. An on-farm butcher utilizes the whole animal to reduce waste. Order through an online store for pick-up at the farm in Honey Brook, Pa.,
or for delivery to Delaware County, Chester County, and Elverson. They also sell at several farmers’ markets in season.
Livengood Family Farm
This certified organic farm in Lancaster County sells pastured beef, pork, lamb, and poultry. Order online for pickup at the farm or the farmer’s market in West Philadelphia’s Clark Park.
Canter Hill Farm
Beef, pork, lamb, and pastured poultry (including Muscovy ducks, heritage turkeys, and ostrich!) are available from this farm in Malvern.
While Canter Hill can be found at the Bryn Mawr Farmers Market during the season, currently their products are only available for pick-up at the farm:
2138 Valley Hill Road, Malvern, PA 19355
Hours: Fridays from 12 – 4
Phone: 610.827.1594
Ironstone Creamery and Farm
Located in Coopersburg, Pa., this farm offers humanely raised pastured meats and dairy. In addition to pork cuts and poultry (including some of the best boneless chicken breasts I’ve ever tasted), they sell whole and half hogs and offer a meat CSA from June to October. You can find Ironstone’s products at the Lansdale and Swarthmore farmers markets in season. Contact them for pick-ups at the farm.
—Eils Lotozo