Ordering Bulk Beef

Stormin

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Apr 11, 2006
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Good article but that's some expensive beef.

Just linked the article because it points out the difference between processed weight and hanging weight. Big difference. And you buy processed meat weight in the grocery store.

From out East in Maine and Massachusetts it looks like. And includes full delivery of meat to your door. But yes expensive. $10 per pound processed weight. Which would be about $6.50 per pound based on hanging weight.
 

Sparkplug

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[QUOTE="ameslurker, post: 7952546, member: 16473

One thing on the cut sheet was if we wanted 'dog treats' so we figured why the hell not? We spoil our dog so went for it. Turned out to be literally just chunks of bone with meat remnants on it. When we gave him one he forgot we existed. He was all in on it, hahaha.
[/QUOTE]

We get these for football Saturdays. We leave for the game and I don’t think the dogs care that we have been gone
 

Tre4ISU

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The biggest problem is locker space a lot of them are out 6 months to a yr. Covid really kick started the small locker industry. It's always had it's place but they really got extended during the covid.

Just imagine if there wasn't all the red tape to opening a facility. Especially in Iowa, I bet every small town could run a very profitable locker, especially if it got to the point where the few current ones had time enough to start working in poultry. I've done a decent amount of looking into this as the real estate here would be cheap and an almost perfect building opened up but the red tape is bothersome.

The whole thing for me is that everyone that matters is getting a better deal. The producer is making way more money per animal, you're creating a good business in town with probably 6-8 jobs, and the consumer is able to buy meat for much cheaper. This isn't even taking into account that the product is so much better than even Fareway 90% of the time.
 
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dafarmer

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I am amused by urban people. Get to be friends with a small town locker and he will more than likely inform you about meats. They want you to be satisfied and repeat customers.
 

ISUCyclones2015

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I am amused by urban people. Get to be friends with a small town locker and he will more than likely inform you about meats. They want you to be satisfied and repeat customers.

Yes because people who live in urban areas are the problem. What the **** am I gonna do with a quarter of a cow in my apartment lol
 
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JP4CY

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I am amused by urban people. Get to be friends with a small town locker and he will more than likely inform you about meats. They want you to be satisfied and repeat customers.
What's amusing? The posts in here show that people want to support small town lockers.
 

Stormin

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Apr 11, 2006
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Just imagine if there wasn't all the red tape to opening a facility. Especially in Iowa, I bet every small town could run a very profitable locker, especially if it got to the point where the few current ones had time enough to start working in poultry. I've done a decent amount of looking into this as the real estate here would be cheap and an almost perfect building opened up but the red tape is bothersome.

The whole thing for me is that everyone that matters is getting a better deal. The producer is making way more money per animal, you're creating a good business in town with probably 6-8 jobs, and the consumer is able to buy meat for much cheaper. This isn't even taking into account that the product is so much better than even Fareway 90% of the time.

This locker business is expanding. There appears to be grant money for meat lockers. Check it out.

 
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NWICY

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Just imagine if there wasn't all the red tape to opening a facility. Especially in Iowa, I bet every small town could run a very profitable locker, especially if it got to the point where the few current ones had time enough to start working in poultry. I've done a decent amount of looking into this as the real estate here would be cheap and an almost perfect building opened up but the red tape is bothersome.

The whole thing for me is that everyone that matters is getting a better deal. The producer is making way more money per animal, you're creating a good business in town with probably 6-8 jobs, and the consumer is able to buy meat for much cheaper. This isn't even taking into account that the product is so much better than even Fareway 90% of the time.

I'm not sure but I think if ownership is changed you lose a lot of things that have been grandfathered in. I know of a couple of lockers in my area that were unable to transition successfully because of this (at least that was the version I heard).

The grandfathering thing has never bothered me, new regulations don't always mean better food safety or a better product.
 

ISUTex

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May 25, 2012
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Most likely no. Some lockers will do goat, deer, bison but there probably isn't too many that do poultry.


Gotta do poultry yourself, or find some Amish kids.

A lot of lockers do sell whole chickens if they have a local producer. But, no, they won't process them.
 

cyfan92

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Sep 20, 2011
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I made the mistake and only ordered 10 lbs of pattied ground. This was my first time ordering by myself and I wasn't sure paying the extra processing would be worth it.

It is worth it and we'll be getting much more next time. Being able to just throw patties on the grill without defrosting meat is AMAZING for our working family! I'd highly encourage spending a little more for pre made patties
 

swiacy

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Apr 9, 2009
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Check out Champion Steaks. Farmer owned & hooked up with a local locker. Excellent product & they are opening their own store front on Hwy 34 in Creston, Iowa. They have been operating for several years and demand has given them the opportunity to take the next step.