If you are looking for a place to buy pasture-raised pork online or locally you have plenty of choices to choose from. Pasture-raised pork can be purchased from places like local farms, specialty grocery stores, farmers markets and butchers. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, but typically the highest quality pork comes from local, regenerative farms where you can buy either in person or, if you’re outside the area, through online ordering.
When choosing to buy pasture-raised pork from a local farm, you immediately get two benefits. The first is for your health, as grass-fed, pastured meat is more nutrient-dense than cuts of meat from large, industrial farms. The second is that if the local farm uses regenerative farming practices, which is often the case, then you’re also supporting ethical farming practices that help sustain a healthy environment.
Before making the decision to buy pasture-raised pork, it’s important to know the details. The following explores what pasture-raised pork is, why it stands out from conventional pork, and provides you with essential tips to ensure you get the best product at the best price.
Key Takeaways
- Pasture-raised pork refers to pork from animals that eat natural grasses and vegetation, as opposed to the corn and soybean used in large, industrial operations.
- Pasture-raised pork offers many nutritional benefits over conventional pork, as well as a more distinct flavor profile.
- Top sources to buy pasture-raised pork include local farms, specialty grocery stores, farmers markets and butchers.Â
- The practices used on regenerative farms provide environmental benefits, including support for habitat and species diversity, prevention of soil erosion and preservation of freshwater sources.
- Acabonac Farms is a top choice for pasture-raised pork and other meat products for those in the New York area and those buying online from anywhere in the United States.
What Does Pasture-Raised Pork Mean?
Pasture-raised pork, comes from animals that live as nature intended in outdoor areas where they can run and move about freely. They have access to grass, herbs and other natural vegetation, and can engage in natural behaviors.
Because the animals are not cooped together, they also do not require the antibiotics that are typical in conventional settings. In the case of Acabonac Farms, they also are hormone-free.
Why Choose Pasture-Raised Pork Over Conventional Pork?
Pasture-raised pork is better than conventional pork for a variety of reasons. This is especially true with our pastured pork from Acabonac Farms, where the standards for meat production go beyond what most farms do.
Meat from pastured pork has a better taste, as the animals develop natural marbling because they can move around rather than being stuck in small enclosures. The tender, succulent meat offers a richer flavor profile that is slightly sweet.Â
The light, flavorful taste of pasture-raised pork provides a great alternative to beef when creating juicy burgers for grilling or cooking delicious stir fry.Â
Pastured pork also is a valuable source of protein, vitamins B6 and B12, zinc, and selenium. It contains less saturated fat and more heart-healthy polyunsaturated fats, such as omega-3s, as well as higher levels of vitamin E, an antioxidant that protects cells from free radicals.
At Acabonac Farms, all animals are humanely raised and allowed outdoors where they can live a more natural lifestyle, as opposed to the crowded, often dirty conditions of a large, conventional farming operation. Rotational grazing techniques lead to a healthier, more resilient soil that holds more nutrients and may also promote carbon sequestration (the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and into plants and soil via root growth).
5 Best Places to Buy Pasture-Raised Pork
Once you understand the many benefits of pasture-raised, the question then becomes: Where do you buy it? Fortunately, you have many options when it comes to deciding where to buy pastured pork and other pasture-raised meat products.
1. Direct from Local Farms
This is the best approach, if you’re fortunate enough to have a high-quality farm nearby that uses ethical farming practices, humanely raises its animals and takes steps to protect the local environment. Acabonac Farms, located on Long Island, is just such a farm. It’s become a well-known source of grass-fed, pasture-raised beef in the New York area.
Customers who buy from local farms benefit by getting fresh products while they support the local economy. One way to become familiar with what they offer is through a CSA, such as the one provided by Acabonac Farm. A meat CSA involves buying a quarterly membership. Each month, members receive 10 to 15 pounds of “farmers choice” meat, including pastured pork, grass-fed beef, pastured chicken and pastured lamb at a cost savings.Â
2. Buy Pasture-Raised Pork Online
Online purchasing allows anyone, anywhere to access products from regenerative farms. For example, Acabonac Farms offers a convenient online purchasing system that allows you to order every type of grass-fed, pasture raised meat they have available. In addition to pork, this includes pastured beef, chicken, lamb and even healthy raw food products for your pets. Online buyers have the opportunity to build a pastured meat box and buy in bulk.
When searching for online farms and retailers, ensure that there is plenty of information available about the farm, its practices and how products are shipped.Â
3. Farmers Markets
Farmers markets are another great choice for quality food. You get the benefit of direct interaction with the farmer, as well as the chance to support local farms and become a more ethical omnivore.
With farmers markets, it’s typically helpful to shop at more than one because some markets specialize only in certain types of food. Also, what is available at a farmers market will depend on the season.
You can find farmers markets in your area by Googling “farmers markets near me” or “farmers markets in or near (name of city).” Before buying anything, make sure to find out where the farm is located and the type of farming they practice (i.e., regenerative, organic).Â
4. Local Butchers
Some local butchers now focus on providing higher-quality meats. As with local farms, this option depends on whether you have the good fortune to have a butcher in your area who specializes in grass-fed, pasture-raised meat. If so, it’s best to develop a good relationship with the butcher and find out when and how they offer the best recommendations.
As with farmers markets, you can find a local butcher by Googling “local butchers near me” or “local butchers in or near (name of city). If you’ve never been a local butcher before, it’s helpful to ask questions about where they source their meat to get a better idea of its quality. If it’s important to you that the meat came from a regenerative farm, make sure to ask about that issue, as well. None of this information will likely be apparent just from reading labels.Â
5. Specialty Grocery Stores
Some areas may have specialty grocery stores that carry pastured pork and other grass-fed meats. These grocery stores can be a great source of high-quality meat. However, unlike purchasing directly from a farm either in-person or online, it’s important to verify what labels on meat really mean, even those in specialty stores.Â
You can find a specialty grocery store by Googling “specialty grocery stores near me:” or “specialty grocery stores in or near (name of city).” As with local butchers, you’ll want to ask where the store sources its meat to ensure the quality of its products.Â
Understanding labels: Pasture-Raised, Organic, and Free-Range
Labels can get confusing because there are so many and also because they don’t often mean what you think they mean upon first reading. Here’s the scoop on three common labels.
Organic. Organic meat indicates that the animals were raised on feed free from synthetic pesticides and synthetic chemical fertilizers, with year-round access to the outdoors and ample space to move around. These animals are not treated with antibiotics or hormones. However, they may be fed grains instead of grass, and sometimes the "outdoor area" may be a small lot.
Free-range. A free-range label indicates that the animal spent the majority of its time outdoors, engaged in natural behavior. However, the size of that outdoor area varies. And they may also not access areas where they can forage — it depends on each farm’s management practices. A recent investigation found that some farms kept “free-range” chickens in crowded conditions, leading to lesions, injuries and deformities.
Pasture-raised. Pasture-raised animals are raised outdoors on pasture or grassland, with access to fresh air, sunlight and natural vegetation. Unlike conventionally raised pigs, pasture-raised animals are allowed to engage in natural behaviors and, in the case of Acabonac Farms, are raised on a farm that engages in sustainable farming practices.
How to Get the Best Price on Pasture-Raised Pork
The best approach to getting the most for your money and best prices is to buy pasture-raised pork in bulk, bundles or as monthly subscriptions.Â
Acabonac Farms offers pork as part of its Build a Box buying option. Choices include breakfast sausage links, kielbasa, pork baby back ribs, pork loin chops, spicy Italian sausage (Sicilian style) and uncured pork bacon.Â
Discounted pork can also be found in curated bundles. For example, three pounds of ground pork is available as part of the Ranchers Pantry bundle. Also, the Hold the Lamb bundle includes 1 pound of pork ribs, 1 pound of pork chops and one pork tenderloin.
Buy Pasture-Raised Pork Online or Locally in New York from Acabonac Farms
If you’re ready to enjoy the nutritional and environmental benefits of pasture-raised pork, Acabonac Farms offers an assortment of pork products. They include breakfast sausage links, pork loin chop, both spicy and sweet Italian sausage, meatball mix, kielbasa and weisswurst. You’ll not only enjoy the pork, but also know you are supporting a local farm that practices regenerative farming.
You can order pasture-raised pork online from Acabonac Farms using our convenient online ordering system or in-person for those living in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey. The farm is located in Middle Island, N.Y.
Frequently Asked Questions about Buying Pasture-Raised Pork
What is the difference between pasture-raised and free-range pork?
Pasture-raised pork means animals have access to outside areas where they can engage in natural behaviors and forage on local vegetation. Free range indicates that the animals have access to the outdoors, but there is no set standard for the size of the area or how long the animals stay there. It depends on the practices of each individual farm.
Is pasture-raised pork healthier than conventional pork?
Yes. Pasture-raised pork is a good source of protein, as well as vitamins B6 and B12, zinc and selenium. It also contains less saturated fat and more heart-healthy polyunsaturated fats, as well as higher levels of vitamin E. These benefits are magnified when buying for a local farm that practices regenerative farming practices.
Can I find pasture-raised pork at regular grocery stores?
It’s possible to buy pasture-raised pork from a specialty grocery store, but it’s important to read the labels carefully and understand exactly what they mean. Organic, for example, does not necessarily mean the meat comes from animals raised on an environmentally focused farm that uses regenerative farming practices.
Why is pasture-raised pork more expensive?
One of the reasons that large, industrial operations crowd animals into small areas and limit the room they have to roam is because it is a cheaper process than what is required to raise pastured pork or other meats. A regenerative farm requires more land use and a longer period of time for the animals to grow, as they do not use growth-promoting hormones.
How can I verify that pork is truly pasture-raised?
When buying directly from a farm or at a farmers market, make sure to research the farm online and find out the details of how they raise their animals and the types of farming practices they follow. A lack of details on these issues is a warning sign. Also, read online reviews to get a sense of the quality of their products. Â