The State of Meat in the State of Pennsylvania
ON MAY 12, 2023,, instead of posting about pork sirloin steaks, a farm partner, or the sandwich of the week, Primal Supply Meats announced that the business would close at the end of the month. Immediately the Instagram post comment section filled with sadness, disbelief, and concern over where to buy local, ethically produced, and sustainable meat in Philadelphia.
For six years, Primal Supply was the face of local, sustainable meat in the city. Between 2016 and 2023, the shop rode and perhaps helped drive a wave of increased interest in the meat system, garnering national attention and local adoration.
Luckily, Primal Supply was not the only place to get great meat in Philadelphia. There was—and still is—lots of meat that tastes good, feels good, and does good in the region. So, what options remain for loyal Primal Supply customers or people looking for local meat for the first time?
Pennsylvania produces a lot of meat. From hobby farms raising a few steers to chicken and pork farms with thousands of animals, our state boasts almost every kind of meat production. In particular, there are many farms raising really high-quality meat with care. Animals live outdoors on pasture, often in regenerative systems that strengthen the soil,and they receive no antibiotics and no added hormones. The resulting meat is nutritious, sustainable, and delicious.
And, you can find it in a variety of ways: There are many long-standing walk-in butcher shops, farmers’ market stands, and delivery services that bring the best meat to Philadelphia-area eaters.
(left) Heavy Metal Sausage Co; (top right) Heavy Metal Sausage Co; (bottom right) Heavy Metal Sausage Co
Butcher Shops
The loss of Primal Supply is felt most acutely in the realm of butcher shops. Of those offering local meat within city limits, no one is doing whole-animal butchery every week like they did, but there are still some solid options.
If you’re looking for custom cuts, fresh meat, and a conversation with an expert on cooking each piece, these butcher shops have you covered.
Heavy Metal Sausage Co.
1527 W. Porter Street, Philadelphia PA
Hours: Thursday-Saturday, 10am - 4pm
Heavy Metal Sausage Co. started as a popup in March 2020, eventually opening a retail location in South Philly in April 2022. Specializing in prepared meat products, they initially focused on Italian salumi, French charcuterie, and Pennsylvania Dutch specialities.
Owner Pat Alfiero has always sourced 100 percent local meat. He works with whole pigs and primal sections of beef, making it easy to cut fresh steaks and chops, as needed. After Primal Supply’s closing, that “as needed” went from an occasional special offering to a weekly element of production. All Alfiero had to do was learn some new butchery techniques.
As the only shop sourcing 100 percent local meat in the city, Heavy Metal Sausage Co. is in some ways the most direct inheritor of Primal Supply’s legacy, although it’s not quite the same.
Alfiero offers a range of pork cuts, mostly steaks and chops from pigs from Stryker Farm. He also has a smaller variety of beef steaks cut from shoulders he sources from Happy Valley Meat Co. For holidays he brings in other supplementary meat such as chicken, ground beef, or roasts. It’s not quite a full-service butcher shop, but it’s a strong option.
According to Alfiero, the must-try items at Heavy Metal Sausage Co. are the miscellaneous steak tray and the ring bologna. The miscellaneous steaks are $10/pound, cut from around the shoulder, and the staff will happily talk you through the best cooking methods for each cut. The ring bologna, a Pennsylvania Dutch specialty, is porky, smoky, and perfect on a charcuterie board.
KP’s Fine Meats
2329 E Clearfield St,
Philadelphia, PA 19134
Hours: Thursday – Saturday 10am–6pm.
KP’s Fine Meats also started as a pandemic meat-sourcing project. Kevin Penney and Amanda Grady opened their brick-and-mortar shop in Port Richmond in February 2022.
Penney learned to butcher at the butcher shop his family frequented in South Jersey. He’s committed to bringing back the tradition of going to the family butcher for quality meat with a human connection. KP’s operates with a different model from either Heavy Metal Sausage or Primal Supply. Accessibility and serving the community is Penney’s top priority, which means, at the moment, he’s primarily purchasing from commodity sources to keep his prices affordable.
He also has a robust network of relationships with local, sustainable farmers including Kaiser’s Pheasantry, Smith Poultry, Neighbours Farmstead, and Plowshare Farms. Penney loves the challenge of finding the perfect cut and creating a connection between Philly residents and local farmers. If you’re looking for a specific cut of local meat, give him a call and he’ll make it happen.
According to Penney, the must-try items at KP’s Fine Meats are the chip steak and sausages. The chip steak, which is cut from the inside round, is sliced so thin it’s a real labor of love. The sausage flavors, such as broccoli rabe and provolone, and beer and cheddar brats, are informed by his culinary school background and perfect for the grill.
Horseshoe Ranch
Farmers Market Stalls
Great meat is only possible because of the farmers who raise it. Luckily for us, the Philadelphia region is full of farms, many of which sell their products at area farmers’ markets. Meat you find at the farmers’ market is usually frozen and comes in pre-packaged portions and cuts. If sustainability, connection to your food source, and really great meat are your priorities, seek out the meat farmer at a market near you.
There are too many farmers’ markets and farmers to include a comprehensive list, so be sure to check your local market if you don’t see it mentioned here:
Horseshoe Ranch
Markets: Fairmount, Headhouse
Horseshoe Ranch raises pastured chicken and eggs on their family farm in Pottsville, PA.
Birchrun Hills Farm
Markets: Headhouse Farmers, Phoenixville, Bryn Mawr, Kennett Square
Birchrun Hills is primarily a dairy farm in Chester Springs, PA. However, one of the by-products of pastured dairy is rose veal, which comes from calves that are raised on-pasture alongside their mothers, drinking milk and eating grass until harvest.
Hillacres Pride
Markets: Headhouse, Collingswood
Hillacres Pride brings their Jersey beef, pastured poultry, and Berkshire pork to market from their farm in Peach Bottom, PA.
Livengood Family Farm
Markets: Clark Park
Livengood Family Farm raises 100 percent grass-fed beef and lamb, pasture-raised pork, and pastured poultry in Lancaster, PA.
Horseshoe Ranch
Canter Hill Farm
Markets: Chestnut Hill, Bryn Mawr
Canter Hill Farm in Malvern, PA, produces pastured pork, beef, poultry, and lamb.
Spring Hollow Farm
Markets: East Falls
Spring Hollow Farm prioritizes humane practices in raising their beef, pork, and poultry in Benton, PA.
Lindenhoff Farm
Markets: Eagleview, Oakmont, West Chester and Kennett Square
Axel and Susan Linde raise grass-fed beef and lamb, and pastured pork, and poultry on 85 acres in Kirkwood, PA.
Wyebrook Farm
Markets: Malvern, Downington
No longer a restaurant, this iteration of Wyebrook Farm produces pasture-raised beef and pork on the farm in Honey Brook, PA.
Jericho Mountain Beef
Markets: Conshohocken
Jericho Mountain Beef raises Angus and American Wagyu beef in Newtown, PA.
Deep Roots Valley Farm
Markets: Phoenixville
Deep Roots Valley Farm, in Mohrsville, PA, raises 100 percent grass-fed beef and pastured poultry.
Hershberger Heritage Farm
Markets: Doylestown, Yardley
Hershberger Heritage farm offers 100 percent grass-fed beef and pastured pork and poultry out of their Sellersville, PA farm.
Naturally at Holben Valley Farm
Markets: Wrightstown
Dennis and Carol Dorney raise 100 percent grass-fed, pastured beef in New Tripoli, PA.
Purely Farm
Markets: Wrightstown, Hunterdon Land Trust
Purely Farm raised pastured pork and turkeys in Ottsville, PA.
(left) Philly Foodworks; (bottom right) Philly Foodworks
Great Meat Delivered Straight to Your Door
It’s hard to beat the convenience of getting meat delivered to your home. You place an order online or sign up for a season-long share, and the frozen meat comes straight to you. Here are some places that make that possible:
Philly Foodworks
phillyfoodworks.com
Philly Foodworks is an online market bringing local food to the Greater Philadelphia region. You have the option of setting up a subscription for regular deliveries of meat, or choosing individual cuts as needed along with your usual groceries. The beef is grass-fed and the pork and poultry are pasture-raised.
Lancaster Farm Fresh Co-op
lancasterfarmfresh.com
Lancaster Farm Fresh is a cooperative of over 100 small farms. The animals are raised with extensive pasture access and natural methods. LFFC offers seasonal CSA shares that provide a weekly delivery of several pounds of meat and poultry you can sign up for on its own or add to your produce or dairy share.
Red Hill Harvest
redhillharvest.com
Red Hill Harvest is an eight-generation farm raising 100 percent grass-fed beef and pastured chicken in Pittman, PA. They ship their meat directly from the farm to your home. It’s easy, fully customizable, and a way to directly support a farm family without having to schlep to the farmers’ market.
