Do you know of innovative ways farmers and ranchers are increasing consumer access to local food? One of the exciting innovations in our region is the Sierra Foothills Meat Buyers Club, a way for consumers to buy higher-quality beef, lamb, pork and goat meat and support local ranchers at the same time. Four ranchers in Placer, Yuba and Nevada counties joined together with the Placer-Nevada Counties University of California Cooperative Extension to create the club.
Ranchers at High Sierra Beef, Highland Farms, Coffee Pot Ranch and Sinclair Family Farm offer buyers a variety of cuts of grass-fed, hormone-free meat. The first market was held last July in Penryn, and buyers can also pick up pre-placed orders in Lincoln and Auburn. The club reports earning around $1,000 in sales per month and growing. The ranchers have also considered exploring corporate and business sales with several local companies and sites.
Innovation doesn't come without its challenges. For some ranchers, they have to drive an hour or more to sell their cattle. Driving to USDA-certified slaughterhouses also takes time away from ranching, and increases the cost of selling meat locally. One of the club's ranchers has to travel two hours roundtrip to Dixon in order to sell his meat at the in-town farmers' market.
Share your stories of other innovative ways farmers and ranchers in our region are finding to increase consumer accessibility to locally-produced food by emailing rucs@sacog.org.