I have a tendency to skip right by the meat department at the grocery store. The thing is, I’m lucky enough to fill my freezers full of meat my dad raises on his hobby farm, just 15 minutes from my house. And, what I don’t get from him, I get from Shawn’s Quality Meats in Maple Valley, WA. Just like produce, I much prefer to buy meat locally whenever possible.
“When you buy from a small business, you are not helping a CEO buy a third vacation home. You are helping a little girl get dance lessons, a little boy get his team jersey, a mom put food on the table, a dad pay a mortgage or a student pay for college.”
~Unknown
I Don’t Know Where the Meat Was Raised
The great thing about getting my meat from the family farm is that I don’t just know where the meat came from, I get to play a part in getting it from the field to my freezer. I get to see the grass the cow is grazing on and I get to feed apples to the pigs. And, I even get to help cut and wrap.
But, my parents’ farm is small and they both have full-time jobs. They don’t have time to provide me and my husband with all the meat we eat over the course of a year.
Enter, Shawn’s.
They’re knowledgeable on their products, and everything but the chicken is raised right here in the Pacific Northwest.
I Have Access to Meat of a Higher Quality
I’m sure there are plenty of great options at many grocery stores, I’m just lucky enough that I’ve never had to search. Shawn’s only offers all-natural meat – there is no bad choice when you walk into this shop!
It’s tough to beat homegrown meat, but Shawn’s comes close! When Hubs and I are looking for a real treat, we like to swing in and see what they have.
I’d Prefer if My Dollars Supported My Community
I’ve always preferred to shop local when possible. When I can support the guy running a small, family business, I’ll choose that place over the big box store every time.
This is why we get our vegetables from a local CSA all summer, and it’s why most of the meat we buy outside of the family farm comes from Shawn’s.
They Don’t Know Me There
We’re not quite on a first-name basis yet with the crew at Shawn’s, but they always recognize us and usually even remember our most recent conversation. When we went in about a month after our previous visit (which had been a quick stop on the way to go camping), they asked how our camping trip had been!
I’m not saying the crew at my local grocery store isn’t friendly, that would be a lie. And, I’m not saying I don’t shop at the grocery store. But, when it comes to meat, I feel that I have better options, and I much prefer to buy meat locally.
It’s Okay to Be Picky About Your Food – Buy Meat Locally
Over the past several years, I’ve learned how important it is to be particular about what goes into my body. Whenever possible, I opt for high-quality, locally raised whole foods. It feels great to support my community while nurturing my body with healthy foods.
Do you have a favorite farm, produce stand or meat shop?
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