Copyright 2011 Baron Farms
Regulations
Rules Governing the Purchase of Beef Directly From the Farmer
The USDA regulates our food supply and generally do a pretty good job of it. It has placed some rules and regulations on those of us who desire to sell directly to the public.
The USDA says I can sell m
y beef directly to you with the following provisions; You
have to purchase the animal, or a percentage of the animal while the animal is still
alive. I cannot legally sell you our beef that has already been processed and sitting
in a freezer. This regulation allows you to do your due diligence by allowing you
to physically see the animal before it is processed. If you're satisfied with your
assessment, then the USDA is happy letting you decide to purchase it.
Unfortunately, this regulation is often disregarded by those who raise a few beef animals for sale to friends and neighbors. Sometimes you'll see an advertisement advertising 'locker' beef available for pickup. Now there is more than one reason to be careful with this arrangement. Frankly, I wouldn't trust the beef of someone who is willing to disregard the rules so easily.
How do you protect yourself? Because it's against the law, it's best not to purchase this beef at any price. And if someone is willing to disregard the law, they likely are also willing to be less than honest when representing their product.