Grass Fed Beef & Organic Pork in Northcenter

Hi Folks,

Just wanted to pass on a recommendation. Since this winter, this group of Iowa grass fed beef ranchers, collectively known as Wallace Farms, has been taking orders and making bi-monthly deliveries to a drop-off location in Northcenter. I've gotten grass fed steak, grass fed ground beef, organic pork sausages, and other items from them, and everything has been uniformly excellent. (A grass fed NY Strip is currently thawing in my fridge, incidentally.) Grassfed beef is difficult to come by in most supermarkets, so buying the meat like this is an easy way to try some out, and it's significantly cheaper than buying through high end grocers like Whole Foods. (This comes from someone who shops at the new Whole Foods on Halsted all the time.) They'll be delivering to Northcenter on Saturday, June 28th in the morning, in the parking lot of the big church on Irving Park and Leavitt (between Damen and Western).
If you're interested in ordering, you should email Nick Wallace, at nick.wallace@wallacefarms.com. I'll follow this post with another one that lists out the recent pricing/availability sheet I got from Nick. I believe orders are due by next Wednesday, June 25th. By the way, I don't work for Wallace Farms, I just buy their stuff and think they offer a great, healthy, environmentally-conscious and thrifty product. And they're nice guys! So if you're interested in trying some grass fed beef, for whatever reason, I encourage you to give it a shot.
P.S. For those of you who live in the far North or Southwest suburbs, they also deliver every month to Wauconda and Aurora. Take a look at their website for more information.

Things vary depending on the season. Anyhow, here's the recent pricing sheet I got from them. I would have linked to a website, (you can see their general products here) but their stock fluctuates, so the emailed lists are always the most accurate. (I just noticed, they've got grass fed all-beef hotdogs. Awesome...)

Wallace Farms & Nick’s Wild Fish
Beef 100% Grass-Fed and Finished, Organic, No Hormones or Anti-Biotics

Variety Sampler $165 Out of Stock
•2 Filets, 2 Ribeyes, 2 N.Y. Strips, 2 Sirloins, 2 Mid-Lines, 2 Roasts, 10lbs Ground Beef
Mini Variety Sampler $105 Out of Stock
•1 Filet, 2 Ribeyes, 2 N.Y. Strips, 1 Sirloin, 1 Mid-Line, 1 Roast, 5lbs Ground Beef
Grilling Sampler $125 Out of Stock
• 2 Filets, 2 Ribeyes, 2 N.Y. Strips, 2 Sirloins, 2 Mid-Lines, 1 Roast, 5lbs Ground Beef
Small Freezer Sampler $50 Out of Stock
• 1 N.Y Strip or Ribeye, 1 Sirloin, 1 Mid-Line, 1 Roast, 3lbs Ground Beef
Large Family Sampler $165
• 5 Roasts, 16lbs Ground Beef
Small Family Sampler $100
• 3 Roasts, 10lbs Ground Beef
Box of Ground Beef $84, $5.25/lb New Price
• 16lbs per box, 1lb each package
Ground Beef Package $160, $5/lb New Price
• 32lbs Ground Beef, 2 Boxes, 1lb each package

A la Carte
All Beef Hot-Dogs, $6/lb
• Approx 1lb per package, 8 dogs per package, No Nitrates or MSG
Hamburger Patties, $5.50/lb
• 1/3lb Burgers in 1lb package
Ground, $5.50/lb
• 1lb each, 90-94% lean
Flank Steak, $10/lb Out of Stock
• 1-2lbs each, also known as London Broil, cook to medium rare and slice thin
Skirt Steak, $8/lb
• 12oz to 20oz each, marinate, slow cook until tender
Short Ribs, Bone-In, $4/lb
• 2-3lb average, bone-in, great for braising
Short Ribs, Boneless, $5/lb Out of Stock
• 2-3lb average, boneless, for braising or could be used in dry cooking method
Korean Short Ribs, $4/lb
• 1.5-2.5lb average, bone-in, cut thin across the grain
Beef Back Ribs, $3/lb Out of Stock
• 3lb average, full racks, great for smoking or braising then grilling
Brisket, $7/lb
• 5-7lbs each, great for smoking or the crock-pot
Liver, $3/lb On Sale for $2/lb!
• 1lb each
Soup Bones, $2/lb 5lb Minimum Order
• Knuckles & Marrow, great for stock, broth and dogs

Pork

Our pork is raised by a neighbor who has been practicing organic farming for most of his life. He raises 75% Berkshire--25% Duroc hogs on organic grains of corn, oats, barley, roasted soy, and flax seed. They are raised outdoors and on deep bedded straw and never given hormones or anti-biotics. He normally sells them to Niman Ranch but we thought we would try to sell them local first.

Large Variety Sampler $130-140 22-26lbs Varies by Package Weights
• 8 Boneless Chops, 2 Roasts, 2 Bratwurst Packages, 2 Bacon Packages, 2 Italian Sausage Packages (links), 2 Breakfast Sausage (links), 2 All-Pork Hot Dogs, 3Ground Pork Packages (1lb approx)
Small Variety Sampler $70-80 12-15lbs Varies by Package Weights
• 4 Boneless Chops, 1 Roast, 1 Bratwurst Package, 1 Bacon Package, 1 Italian Sausage Package (links), 1 Breakfast Sausage (links), 2 All-Pork Hot Dogs, 2 Ground Pork Packages (1lb approx)

A la Carte
Whole Tenderloin $15/lb Out of Stock
• Approx 1lb each, vacuum sealed, prime cut of the hog
Boneless Chops $8/lb
• America’s Cut, 2 per package, 10-12oz chops, 1.5 inch thickness
Chef Prime Roast $7/lb
• Front of the Loin, 2.5-3lb each package
Sirloin Roast $7/lb
• Back of the Loin, 2.5-3lb each package
Fresh Belly, Uncured $4/lb
• 2-3lb each package, perfect to cure and smoke for homemade bacon
Baby Back Ribs $4/lb Out of Stock
• Whole Racks, Approx 1.5lb each
St. Louis Style Spare Ribs $4/lb
• Whole Racks, Approx 1.5-2.5lb each
Bacon $6/lb
• Approx 1lb each, Lighty Smoked and Cured (Does contain minimal nitrates)
Pork Roast $5/lb Request Larger or Smaller if you wish
• 2.5lb-4.5lb each package, Boneless Shoulder, Net Wrapped
Bone-In Hams $6/lb New Item!
• 3-5lb Average, Lightly Smoked and Cured (Does contain minimal nitrates)
BBQ Shredded Pork $6/lb New Item!
• 1lb average, Cooked with Russ & Franks BBQ Sauce (award winning)
Honey Glazed Ham $6/lb New Item!
• 1lb average, Pineapple and Honey Glazed, Sliced Thin
Pork Patties $5/lb New Item!
• 1lb per package, 3 patties per lb
Shanks for Osso Bucco $3/lb Buy 1, Get 1 Free
• Approx 2-3lb each shank, 2 per package, 5-6lb total package weight
All Pork Hot Dogs $6/lb
• Approx 1.5lb package, 5-6 per package, No Nitrites, No MSG
Bratwurst $6/lb
• Approx 1lb package, 4 per package, No Nitrites, No MSG
Breakfast Links $6/lb
• Approx 1lb packages, 10-14 links per package, No Nitrites, No MSG
Italian Sausage (links) $6/lb
• Approx 1lb packages, 4 per package, No Nitrites, No MSG
Ground Pork $5/lb
• Approx 1lb each package
Lard $3/lb
• 4lb tubs, Great for pies!
Liver $3/lb Buy 1 get 1 free!
• 1lb each package, sliced


Poultry
Chickens coming in July!

Fish
10% Discount on Orders of 10lbs of Seafood or More!
Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon, Fresh/Frozen, $13/lb Out of Stock Until July
• The salmon is fished by a small family fishing camp off the Cook Inlet. Clean glacier-fed waters supply the perfect environment for the healthiest fish you can eat…..loaded with Omega 3 Fatty Acids. All fillets are boneless, each one is between 8oz and 14oz, vacuum sealed and flash frozen.
Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon, Smoked, $15/lb
• Small portioned filets, 6-10oz each, vacuum sealed
Wild Alaskan Lox from Sockeye Salmon, $16/lb New Item!
• Each filet is around 10-12oz
Wild Alaskan Sablefish, Fresh/Frozen, $15/lb Back in Stock!
• Caught by another small family fishing operation, this fish is also loaded with Omega 3 Fatty Acids. It is a white fish that has great fish flavor with plenty of natural oils…..a must try if you like a variety of fish. Each filet is 8-14oz, there are some small bones that will pull out easily after cooking, skin-on.
Wild Yellow Fin Saku/Sushi Block, Frozen, $14/lb
• This fillet is perfectly cut for even slices when preparing sushi or sashimi. 8oz each, about 2 inches wide by 6 inches long, vacuum sealed.
Wild Yellow Fin Tuna, Frozen, $12/lb
• Each fillet is 6oz to 8oz, vacuum sealed, seared medium rare, or cooked fully for great tuna salad…..also known as Ahi Tuna.
Wild Mahi Mahi Tuna, Frozen, $11/lb Limited Supply
• Each fillet is 8oz, vacuum sealed, light in flavor, perfect for a citrus marinade, great for any cooking method.
Wild Red Snapper, Frozen, $11/lb
• Each fillet is 6oz-8oz, vacuum sealed, a white fish with medium flavor and texture.

Shrimp
All of the shrimp offered is from Wood’s Fisheries, a very professional and sustainable operation based out of Port St. Joe, Florida. They are strong supporters of the Certified American Wild Gulf Shrimp Program and have a high tech processing facility that allows them to eliminate the use of chemicals and preservatives in their freezing process. http://www.woodsfisheries.com
Wild American Gulf Shrimp, Large, $25/bag
• 2lb Retail Bags, 16/20 per LB, Shell-On, IQF
Wild American Gulf Shrimp, Large Pieces, Peeled & Deveined, $45/bag
• Ready to cook since they are already peeled and deveined, 5lb bags, Individually Quick Frozen, for those who don’t have the time.
Wild American Gulf Shrimp, Royal Red Variety, Large, $70/bag
• Found at depths reaching 1 mile or more, these shrimp are deep red and very sweet and are in high demand each year, a culinary treat! 5lb bags Only, 10/15 per LB, Shell-On, IQF
Wild American Gulf Shrimp, Colossal, $75/bag,
• Huge, 3-4 makes a meal, 5lb Bags Only, $15/lb, 8/10 per LB, Shell-On, Individually Quick Frozen (you can pull out a few at a time)
Wild American Gulf Shrimp, Large, $55/bag,
• 5lb Bags, $10/lb 16/20 per LB, Shell-On, Individually Quick Frozen (you can pull out a few at a time)

Scallops
Wild USA Caught Giant Sea Scallops, “Dry” (No chemical preservatives), $75/bag
• 5lb bags, 8-10 scallops per/lb, Individually Quick Frozen ( you can pull out a few at a time), Restaurant Quality
Wild USA Caught Giant Sea Scallops, “Wet” (sodium tripolyphosphate included to help retain moisture) $60/bag Very Limited Supply
• 5lb bags, 8-10 scallops per/lb, Individually Quick Frozen (you can pull out a few at a time), Restaurant Quality

Ask about special orders on other wild seafood!

Do they deliver any fresh meat or is this stuff all frozen?

It's all frozen and vacuum-sealed. I generally put it in the fridge and let it thaw for a day. I'm not a chef, but it doesn't make much difference to me. (Actually, the Wendy's ads with the "fresh, never frozen" claims drive me crazy because the quality of meat used at most fast food joints is just, well, it's not good.)

costco has dakota beef organic grass fed for $4/lb, individually wrapped by the pound but sold in 3 lb packages.. sold fresh, not frozen. i always balked but it's noticeably tastier, even for burgers