Source for non-mega-farm pork?

[wryter2000]

Costco has a brand of pork that doesn't come from those horrid-mega-farm places, but they only have loin and rib. With just me, there's no point to cook a bunch of ribs, and the loin is as tough as shoe leather.

What I really want is some pork shoulder, but the only place I can get that is horribly expensive. (Really, really delicious, but a big roast cost me $70.)

Does anyone know of any widely available pork shoulder that doesn't come from one of those awful pig factories?

[appleannie1943]

1. Sorry, just looked. Our local meat market in PA

only ships smoked meats. Are you within driving distance of a farm market anywhere? That would be your best bet in finding locally butchered meat.

[tonyt53]

2. There are actually small hog farmers that sell no more than 10 a year.

Might take some looking though. I bet they know of somebody that doesn't want an entire hog and would be willing to share the cost of the rest of the hog with you. My wife and I have done this very thing with beef for several years. The same family has bought the other half of the cow for the past 15 years or so. No feed lots for our beef!

[wryter2000]

7. I would like that

Maybe I'll try to think up some people to do it with. Thanks,

[Warpy]

3. It costs more to raise animals humanely

and I don't eat pork at all because of the cost at the health food store versus the cruelty and environmental havoc caused by turning intelligent animals like pigs into protein factories.

There are a few ways to address this: raise your own, if you're in a city, make friends with a farmer and go the WWII "pig club" route, or get a permit and hunt for the wild variety in the southeast US, where they've become a major pest.

Personally, if I didn't find the flavor of turkey similar enough to substitute in recipes, I'd go the health food store route, paying the price and saving it for holidays.

[DinahMoeHum]

4. Failing "widely available", try LocalHarvest-dot-org. . .

https://www.localharvest.org

and plug in your desired info.

[hlthe2b]

5. local farm? Check in with a local independent butcher shop ...

Last edited Thu Sep 21, 2017, 07:45 PM - Edit history (2)

Otherwise, Only Whole Foods comes to mind $$$$$

[wryter2000]

6. Local far is how I got the $70 roast

And it was fantastic. I may make a smaller purchase in the future.

[wryter2000]

8. Thanks, everyone

There is a brand at Costco that's raised humanely. I can't remember the name now. Maybe I'll contact them when I get the name again and ask if there's a way to get some shoulder.

I thought I'd heard one of the big producers was doing away with the huge hog farms, but I can't seem to figure out who it is. Maybe I hallucinated it.

[dem in texas]

9. Feral Hogs are a big problem in Texas

They are extremely destructive and hated by farmers and ranchers. When my husband was younger and hunted at lot, he'd take a feral hog ever so often on the lease where he hunted. He'd get it dressed by the game butcher, cut into chops, ribs and roasts and have the rest made into breakfast sausage. Same taste as supermarket pork.

[wryter2000]

10. I'm pretty sure there are feral pigs in Marin

Not too far from where I live. Maybe I'll Google buying part of one. I have a feeling I'll end up with a $70 roast. I know where to buy that in Oakland.

[WhiteTara]

11. I used to buy a half a pig from a local farmer

We really liked it, for just 2 people, it sure is a lot of meat.

[NJCher]

12. Whole Foods

does a good job overall of vetting their suppliers. My spouse (a professional in the culinary field), who is very picky about this sort of thing, will only buy meat/poultry there, on an every day basis.

D'Artagnan is carried by WF. They also have an online store, if I remember correctly.


Cher

[wryter2000]

13. Thank you

I'll give them a try.