Where To Buy The Best Grass-Fed Beef Austin Has To Offer
Discover > Farm to Table Eating in Texas > Where To Buy The Best Grass-Fed Beef Austin Has To Offer
Is there anything better than strolling through a relaxed, farm-fresh market on a beautiful morning or afternoon, sipping on an aromatic coffee, breathing in the fresh breeze, having dozens of natural, healthy food options to choose from while the kids are enjoying themselves in a safe environment? Not many things. And, luckily for us, Austin has a spread of interesting markets with a family-friendly vibe to choose from when weâre in the mood to shop along to foot-tapping music â itâs never been easier, or more enjoyable, for the whole family! Itâs an opportunity to take your furry friends for a walk as many markets are pet-friendly, plus itâs a great way to get the kids excited about trying different, healthy foods and helping them learn about living a sustainable lifestyle. Remember to keep your dog on a leash and ask the butchers if they have any bones for you to take home!
Here are 5 exciting farmers markets in the Austin area that the kids will love and where you can find grass-fed beef.
Barton Creek Farmers Market
This multi-award-winning market is situated at the back of the Barton Creek Mall. Itâs an easy and convenient place to shop for grass-fed beef (even grass-finished beef) amongst other local produce such as healthy beverages, cheeses, unhomogenized milk, organic fruits and veggies, and naturally prepared foods. This is an open-air market but its also great having a mall nearby so you can pick up anything you couldnât find at the market before you head home.
Boston Creek Farmers Market is a weekly, Saturday market that focuses on having a large variety of stalls, live music playing throughout the market (over a solar-powered PA system!), and activities tailored specifically to kids to create an enjoyable atmosphere for all ages. Child-friendly activities at this open-air market include a regular music hour dedicated to the kids as well as a frequently-occurring petting zoo.
Opening times: Saturday 9 am to 1 pm
Where to find it: 2901 S Capital of Texas Hwy, Austin, Texas 78746
Dog-friendly: Yes
SFC Farmers' Market Downtown
Located downtown at Republic Square, this is one of two market initiatives run by the Sustainable Food Center (SFC). The SFC has won many awards for its markets in recent years. Youâll be sure to find plenty of grass-fed beef options available here, even including ground beef, as well as free-range chickens. There's always a bountiful supply of fresh produce such as cheese and eggs. Youâll also be spoilt for choice with a delicious variety of ready-to-eat foods, veggie-tasting stalls, and offerings from many local award-winning artisans.
You can watch the kids running around while you enjoy a coffee at the cafĂ© or opt for a picnic and listen to the sounds of some original, live music at one of the cityâs coolest hangouts on Saturday mornings.
Opening times: Saturday 9 am â 1 pm
Where to find it: 422 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX, 78701
Dog-friendly: Yes
SFC Farmers' Market at Sunset Valley
The other initiative offered by the SFC is just as delightful as itâs counterpart with grass-fed beef and local produce in plenty of supply. Thereâs a dedicated play area for children called, âThe Imagination Playground.â Thereâs veggie-sampling, live music and plenty of parking at the Sunset Valley Market.
Wagyu beef from Peeler Farms
Opening times: Saturday 9 am â 1 pm
Where to find it: 3200 Jones Rd, Austin, TX, 78745
Dog-friendly: Yes
Texas Farmers Market at Mueller
Another consistently award-winning option for the whole family is the Texas Farmers Market at Mueller where you can enjoy some breathtaking scenery due to its lakeside location. Farm-fresh produce and grass-fed meat can be found in abundance at this local food market located at the âBrowning Hangar.â
The festive atmosphere on the grassy lawns makes this market a fun outing for the kids who can enjoy the occasional pony rides, face painting, and clowns while the adults relax with a coffee while stocking up on enough grass-fed meat and fresh local groceries for the coming week.
Opening times: Sundays 10 am â 2 pm
Where to find it: 4209 Airport Blvd. Austin, Texas 78722
Dog-friendly: Yes
Why Buy Grass-fed Beef
When you're shopping for beef, you might be tempted to buy the cheapest stuff you can find. But before you do, consider this: the cattle business is a massive industry that affects the entire planetâand that's why it's so important to choose wisely when buying your meat.
Factory farming is a huge part of the problemâand it's what most people rely on when they buy their food. It's also what you should avoid at all costs! These practices are not only bad for our environment but also terrible for the animals themselves.
Grass-fed beef is a much better alternative than factory-farmed beef in nearly every way: it's better for your body, the planet, and the animals involved in its production.
Grass-fed Beef vs Grass-finished beef
The difference between grass-fed beef and grass-finished beef is that both are raised on pasture, but one may be finished on grain.
Grass-fed beef comes from cows that have only grazed on pasture and eaten natural grasses in general, while grass-finished beef is from cattle that have exclusively eaten grass and foraged their entire lives.
Some âgrass-fed beefâ may have been given supplemental grain, growth hormones, or finished with grain feeding to ensure meat marbling. However, despite the practice, it is still different from grain-fed beef, which eat grain, corn, hormones, and antibiotics.
Overall, grass-fed beef typically contains less total fat than grain-fed beef, meaning it has fewer calories. It also tends to be leaner and richer in fatty acids and the âgood fatâ called conjugated linoleic acid or CLA. On the other hand, grain-fed beef has a whiter colored fat and more marbling, which can add flavor to dishes.
Grass-finished cattle, on the other hand, are never fed grain or corn feed, antibiotics or growth hormones and are not confined. Thus, if you are looking for a leaner option with fewer calories and more health benefits, then grass-fed beef may be the way to go.
So beef up your taste buds and check out the markets listed above to try some out!
Here are more farms in Austin to pick up grass-fed beef.
Looking for the best BBQ in Austin? Check it out here.
