Meat (or “mmmmeat” as my sister likes to say, with a distinctly Homeresque intonation) is one of the food categories that should be easy to source locally in Waterloo Region. Should be but isn’t. As we saw from the Region’s Food Flow Study (see blog entry from July 9th), going to the supermarket is not going to cut it for the 100-Mile Challenge. Like with everything else, we need to put a little more effort into our shopping habits in order to be sure our meats are local.

Luckily, there are several good places to start. The Healthy Butcher is located within the Healthy Haven on Bruce St. in Kitchener. When you walk up to the counter the first thing you see is a huge map of southwestern Ontario and the locations marked where their meat is sourced. Almost all are within the 100-miles! Oakridge Acres, home of our first potluck, stocks fresh and frozen meats from many nearby farms. Plus the owners, Mark and Cindy Gerber, are two of the nicest people in the 100-mile radius. Our Farmers Choice on Courtland in Kitchener is tucked out of the way, but a real treasure trove for local naturally raised hormone free meats, as well as produce, dairy and other local goods.

Francine Lafontaine has this to offer:
At the suggestion of a friend I checked out Brady's Meats on Phillip St. this past Saturday. They carry a wide range of meat products from beef, pork, poultry, as well as game. Rob is the owner and he spoke to me at length about the local farms that supply him. He is very passionate about the products that he carries and is very interested in the 100 mile challenge. While not all of his meats are organic, they are drug free, free range etc. Thought other 100 milers might be interested in checking it out and if they go in they should make a point of talking to Rob as he would be very happy to answer all their questions about his products.

Adria Cehovin likes Charles Quality Meats:
My suggestion for buying local and affordable meat (no hormones or antibiotics), would be from Charles Quality Meats. I have been a customer for years and have been very impressed. They have three locations to reach them and also raise their own livestock. They have a store in St Agatha, and a booth at both the Kitchener and St Jacob markets. They have beef, pork (‘nitrate free’ (same as free of chemical nitrates for Canada does not distingush between natural and chemical nitrate), and lamb. From my experience once you taste their meat it is hard to go back to anything else! Their phone number in St. Agatha is: 519-886-7931.

Matthew Kadey suggests the following local yet exotic option:
I have discovered an excellent local meat source you may want to tell the 100 milers on your website. The Banbury Farm in St. Agatha has wonderful emu meat. Though people may think it is strange, it tastes a lot like beef but much more healthy. And very reasonably priced. A pound of ground is only $4. I was paying $7 for a pound of elk before. The steaks are very flavourful and Michael who raises the emu is always happy to show people around the farm to see how he raises these prehistoric birds.

Farmers’ markets are a good source for local meats, but you still have to ask questions. Andrea Yurkiw had this experience:
On Saturday, I was at the Kitchener Market and decided to ask the staff at Witteeven Meats where their beef comes from. I have been purchasing meat from them for a long time and decided that I would check that it was 100 mile meat. Since they are from St. George it made sense that it would be ‘local’. Much to my chagrin I was informed that most of it is from Ontario but some of it is from Alberta. The young man could not tell me which was ‘local’ and which was not. Needless to say, I left that stall with no beef. I proceeded to go to Charles Quality Meats and ask the same question. Their reply was that not only was it local, it was from their own farm. I guess it just goes to show that you have to ask in order to be certain what is local!

Thanks for your suggestions everyone!