Where We Source Our Meat, Poultry, and Fish

We get a lot of questions of where we buy our meat, liver, bones, etc., so it seemed like the easiest thing to do would outline it all in one place for you to reference. I consider this post to be a living document and will continue to be updated as we learn about new farms, pricing, etc.

We believe if you honor Mother Nature she returns the favor. Choosing meat from conscious sources may cost a bit more in dollars, but what you get in return is a more nutritious, safer product, and a healthier planet. In this article we’ll quickly share our meat buying philosophy and our favorite places you can order.

In this guide, we’ll share our meat-buying philosophy, explain key terms to look for, and recommend farms that deliver organic meat, poultry and fish to your door for crafting your after birth food. 

 

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Why Source From Conscious Farms?

Animals raised in their natural environments and fed species-appropriate diets produce healthier, nutrient-dense meat. They also support regenerative farming practices that heal the soil, sequester carbon, and preserve ecosystems. By choosing these farms, you’re investing in your health and a sustainable future.

 

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Buying guide for beef, poultry, and fish

Beef

Cows are ruminants, meaning they have multiple stomachs to better digest grass and foliage. A cow’s stomach system is unable to digest soy, corn, and grains properly, which leads to a whole host of issues for the cow.

Also, they’re not meant to live in confined (and often disgusting) spaces. Today, most cows are moved to feedlots shortly after they’re born, which is stressful. This constant stress raises cortisol levels and can make the cow sick and weak. You can even take it a step further and realize that you are taking on the energy of that cow.

Unfortunately, labels on grass-fed beef can be misleading, so, before you buy, it’s important to understand some keywords.

What beef labels really mean: 

• Grass-Fed: This label can be misleading—it only means the cow ate grass at some point in its life. It doesn’t guarantee the absence of grains, antibiotics, or confinement practices. Always research the farm.
  
  

• 100% Grass-Fed and Finished: A better option. This means the cow ate only grass or forage throughout its life.
  
  

• Pasture-Raised: Indicates that cows spent time on pastures but may have been supplemented with grains.
  
  

• Regenerative: The gold standard. These farms use rotational grazing, allowing cattle to feed on nutrient-dense pastures while restoring the land.

 

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Poultry

If you’ve ever seen the documentary Food Inc you’ll know how disgusting large-scale chicken farming can be.  Birds are often tortured, fed an unnatural diet, and poisoned until slaughter which leaves them sick, low in nutrients and more likely to be contaminated with dangerous bacteria.

What poultry labels really mean: 

• Vegetarian Fed: A marketing gimmick—chickens are omnivores and naturally eat insects.
  
  

• Free-Range/Cage-Free: Often misleading; these terms can still mean overcrowded, unsanitary conditions.
  
  

• Organic: A better choice—no antibiotics or GMO feed—but doesn’t guarantee humane treatment.
  
  

• Pasture-Raised: The best option. Birds have access to the outdoors and a natural diet, resulting in healthier, more nutrient-rich meat.
  
  

 

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Fish

• Farm-Raised: Fish are raised in controlled pens that exist within lakes, oceans, rivers, or large tanks.  Salmon for example are fed a mixture of corn, grains, fish oil and ground up wild-caught fish. The fishmeal also includes food coloring, which gives the salmon the pink color (it would be gray otherwise). Wild salmon are pink because they eat krill, which gets its color from red algae.  Farm-raised fish have also been known to be higher in dangerous bacteria.
  
  

• Wild-Caught: Just what you think it is, fish caught in their natural habitat. Definitely the better choice since fish sourced from their natural habitats are more nutrient-dense and free from artificial feed.
  
  

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Where to buy the best quality Meat, Poultry, and Fish

US Wellness Meats - 100% grass-fed/pasture raised, sustainable practices

• Best For: Beef, organ meats, bones, raw butter, and ghee.

• Nationwide delivery with no subscription required.

• Perfect for making nutrient-dense after birth food, such as bone broth and primal chili.

GREAT place to get organs.  We feel comfortable eating our liver from here raw

They have awesome ground organ blends too.  We use their beef organ blend (beef, kidney, heart, liver) in our Primal Chili.

Also great to get bones for making broth, as well as marrow bones for eating marrow.  They have beef, bison, lamb, pork and chicken bones

If you’re new to organs, try their Liverwurst, Headcheese, or Braunschweiger…they are relatively mild and quite delicious.  Our kids love them.

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Grass Roots Farmers Co-Op -  Regenerative

• Best For: Regenerative beef, pork, poultry, and lamb.

• Offers seasoned ground blends like sausage and chorizo

All sorts of cuts including seasoned ground blends like sausage, chorizo, etc.  The Italian sausage blend is SO GOOD.  It’s the sausage we use in the Hearty Sausage Stew. Does not sell organs/organ blends aside from chicken hearts/feet though. 

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Butcher Box - 100% Grass-fed, Grass-Finished Beef, Free-Range Organic Chicken

• Best For: Basics like ground beef, chicken, and pork.

• Subscription service with customizable monthly boxes.

• Discount: $50 off your first box with this link

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Buy Ranch Direct - 100% Grass Fed & Finished, Pasture-Raised

• Best For: 100% grass-fed and pasture-raised meat, bones, and organ blends.

• Membership discounts available.

Great place to get organs and bones, as well as organ blends.  This is another farm where we feel comfortable consuming our liver from raw.

They have a membership for a one time fee of $50.  Includes 5 pounds of ground beef or chicken. Membership gives you a discount off every purchase, and no order minimums.  We are members and think it's so worth it! All kinds of delicious salami, bone broth, and whole small animals. 

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Force of Nature - Regenerative

• Best For: Regenerative beef, wild game, and organ blends.

• Available nationwide and in specialty grocery stores like Whole Foods.

• Discount code: Use code MAMAMEALS10 for 10% off EVERY order

Beef, Elk, Venison, Bison, Pork, Chicken, Wild Boar. Ground organs blends (beef, chicken, venison, bison); does not have a whole organs

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Vital Choice Seafood - Wild Caught Fish & Supplements

• Best For: Wild-caught fish and seafood supplements.

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Wild Pastures - Grass-Fed and Finished & Pasture-Raised

• Best For: Subscription boxes featuring grass-fed beef, pasture-raised pork/chicken, and wild-caught seafood.

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Greener Pastures - Regenerative 

• Best For: Organic, pasture-raised chicken

• Discount: Use code MamaMeals15 for 15% off the 5 standard bundles
  

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Pasture Bird - Pasture-Raised Chicken

Best for: Pasture raised chicken only

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So where do WE order from?

We definitely bounce around a bit.  We are lucky that we order meat from different farms quite often for the business, and we will often tag on some meat for ourselves on an order to take advantage of free shipping.  We often follow sales as well.

Generally speaking… We have a subscription with Force of Nature for beef and Greener Pastures for chicken.  We then place another order from time to time with US Wellness to get knuckle bones, marrow bones, liver, tallow, organ blends, and other things that the meat only companies don't have. 

Regarding raw liver, I personally feel comfortable eating raw beef liver, from a farm I know and trust.  That would include (but not limited to) US Wellness Meats, Buy Ranch Direct, Force of Nature.  Don’t take my word for it though…do your own research!

Our Meat-Buying Philosophy

At Mama Meals, we prioritize postpartum meal delivery that’s sourced from farms we trust. We aim to support regenerative practices that nurture the earth while providing the most nutrient-dense foods possible.

Here’s how we shop:

1. Force of Nature and Greener Pastures: For monthly basics like beef and chicken.

2. US Wellness Meats: For specialty items like liver, marrow bones, and tallow.

 

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Ok, but who has the best price?

I have actually done quite a bit of comparison on all of these websites on different cuts.  The price difference was relatively marginal–some farms had lower on some cuts, but higher on others, and vice versa. I say shop around and get as much as you can from one place to avoid multiple shipping costs. This is why we tend to order from US Wellness a lot.  We love the quality, and huge variety.

Tips for saving money on quality meat

• Compare Prices: While pricing differences are often marginal, shopping in bulk or finding sales can help you save.
  

• Minimize Shipping Costs: Order as much as possible from one farm to avoid multiple fees.
  

• Don’t Stress Perfection: If budget doesn’t allow for a cart full of regenerative meat, choosing conventional options and cooking at home is still better than eating out.
  
  

Wrapping It Up

We know sourcing high-quality meat can feel overwhelming, what’s important is doing your best. 

If you find yourself in a bind and need to buy lower-quality meat from the store, don’t stress! Cooking at home is almost always better for your health because YOU control the ingredients.

And if budget is a concern, we implore you to reassess where you’re spending your money.  Superfluous purchases and eating out add up quickly.

Investing in nutrient-dense foods is an act of love—for yourself, your family, and the planet.

By supporting regenerative and sustainable farms, you’re also ensuring future generations have access to better food. If you’re creating a first 40 days postpartum care plan, these resources will help you prioritize nourishment and healing.

Stay tuned for updates as we continue discovering new farms and sharing tips. Have a favorite farm we missed? Let us know in the comments below—we’d love to hear about it!

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Quality ingredients is a cornerstone of the Mama Meals philosophy, when you order any of our packages or pantry products, you can rest assured that you (or the loved ones you’re gifting to) are receiving the very best food available, plus you’re contributing to the regenerative revolution–taking part in a new paradigm. One that prioritizes care over convenience, preparation over shortcuts, and support over solitude. 

With so much love, 

Holly + Mama Meals team

 

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SOURCES:

1. https://regenerationinternational.org/why-regenerative-agriculture/
2. https://www.pasturebird.com/blogs/farmtalk/free-range-vs-pasture-raised
3. https://www.pasturebird.com/blogs/farmtalk/pasture-raised-vs-grass-fed
4. https://www.pasturebird.com/blogs/farmtalk/what-does-pasture-raised-mean-1
5. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1286537/
6. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/05/010511074623.htm
7. Consumer Reports’ Tests: Conventional Ground Beef Twice As Likely To Contain Superbugs as Sustainable Beef
8. https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2015/08/why-grass-fed-beef-costs-more/index.htm 
9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish_farming