As fourth generation farmers, avid home chefs and lovers of great food we have a natural affinity for locally and regionally grown food.
That passion for local goodness drove us to initiate our innovative Jersey Seafood co-op at our Medford Farm Market. A similar desire has led us to seek out additional locally raised food products that are produced humanely and in an environmentally sound manner. And of course, these items have to taste awesome too!
That quest led us to the Appalachian Mountains of North Central Pennsylvania and Thistle Creek Farms where we found the finest 100% grass fed, dry aged beef we’ve ever encountered.
That passion for local goodness drove us to initiate our innovative Jersey Seafood co-op at our Medford Farm Market. A similar desire has led us to seek out additional locally raised food products that are produced humanely and in an environmentally sound manner. And of course, these items have to taste awesome too!
That quest led us to the Appalachian Mountains of North Central Pennsylvania and Thistle Creek Farms where we found the finest 100% grass fed, dry aged beef we’ve ever encountered.
How the cattle are raised
Thistle Creek’s cattle are born and raised on the rolling hills of the Appalachian Mountains and eat only the grass that Mother Nature intended. Owner George Lake is passionate about sustainable agriculture, constantly working to build the health of his soils. He doesn’t use chemical fertilizers, insecticides, antibiotics, hormones or GMO’s. Thistle Creek’s grassland is teeming with soil microbes and earthworms that are missing from fields that have heavy chemical applications. He plants grasses with deep root structures that reach deep into the soil to bringing up minerals and nutrients that have been locked below for years.
Thistle Creek’s cattle are never confined. They harvest their own feed nearly every day of the year and fertilize the grasses they will one day eat as they move to new pastures. George rotates 500 head of Aberdeen Angus cattle to fresh pasture every day using his ATV and well-trained border collies.
Thistle Creek’s meticulous grazing methods produce a healthier serving of beef. Compared to conventional beef, 100% grass fed beef is lower in saturated fats, has a higher level of beneficial conjugated linoleic acids, is high in omega3 fatty acids and contains additional vitamins and nutrients.
Thistle Creek's beef is dry aged for 21 days! Compare that to the five to seven days for supermarket beef. It’s an expensive and time consuming process. Consequently 100% grass fed and dry aged beef is priced higher than regular beef. Serious beef eaters feel its worth the extra cost.
However, the aging process is vital to helping enhance the tenderness and flavor of the meat by allowing the natural enzymes to break down the muscle tissue. Thistle Creek’s beef is very highly regarded in the restaurant trade, it’s served in some of the finest restaurants and steakhouses in the East.
100% Grass fed beef is naturally leaner than regular beef and cooks about 25% faster. It has a flavor profile that is just outstanding. As vegetable farmers, the comparison we make is that 100% grass fed beef has the taste of an heirloom tomato compared to a super market tomato for regular beef.
Thistle Creek’s cattle are never confined. They harvest their own feed nearly every day of the year and fertilize the grasses they will one day eat as they move to new pastures. George rotates 500 head of Aberdeen Angus cattle to fresh pasture every day using his ATV and well-trained border collies.
Thistle Creek’s meticulous grazing methods produce a healthier serving of beef. Compared to conventional beef, 100% grass fed beef is lower in saturated fats, has a higher level of beneficial conjugated linoleic acids, is high in omega3 fatty acids and contains additional vitamins and nutrients.
Thistle Creek's beef is dry aged for 21 days! Compare that to the five to seven days for supermarket beef. It’s an expensive and time consuming process. Consequently 100% grass fed and dry aged beef is priced higher than regular beef. Serious beef eaters feel its worth the extra cost.
However, the aging process is vital to helping enhance the tenderness and flavor of the meat by allowing the natural enzymes to break down the muscle tissue. Thistle Creek’s beef is very highly regarded in the restaurant trade, it’s served in some of the finest restaurants and steakhouses in the East.
100% Grass fed beef is naturally leaner than regular beef and cooks about 25% faster. It has a flavor profile that is just outstanding. As vegetable farmers, the comparison we make is that 100% grass fed beef has the taste of an heirloom tomato compared to a super market tomato for regular beef.
How it works
We offer you a share of a 100% grass fed Angus steer from Thistle Creek Farms.
We procure a whole animal from the farm, it is shipped to a USDA certified beef processor and butcher near Lancaster, PA. Our butcher handles all animals humanely under the direct observation of a USDA inspector. The beef is butchered into popular cuts and vacuum packaged in clear plastic and labeled according to the cut. Vacuum packaging ensures a very long shelf life in your freezer. We offer ¼ shares and 1/8 shares, if you are interested in a half share or a whole animal please contact us for more information and pricing.
Decide if you want a 1/8 share or a 1/4 share, size and cut estimates are below. Our 100% grass fed beef shares are great to split with a friend relative or neighbor. Click on the button below or visit our online store in the navigation bar at the top of this page and place your order. You can either pay in full upon ordering or just pay a 50% deposit and the balance after your animal is processed.
As this is a co-op based upon the sharing of a whole steer we do not have the animal delivered to the butcher for slaughter until all or almost all of the shares are sold. This typically doesn't take too long as local, 100% grass fed and dry aged beef is a rare and popular commodity. After slaughter and cutting the carcass hangs dry aging for 21 days, so it likely will be 45 to 60 days from the time of your order until your beef is ready to be picked up. We will contact you in advance for the pickup date and location.
We procure a whole animal from the farm, it is shipped to a USDA certified beef processor and butcher near Lancaster, PA. Our butcher handles all animals humanely under the direct observation of a USDA inspector. The beef is butchered into popular cuts and vacuum packaged in clear plastic and labeled according to the cut. Vacuum packaging ensures a very long shelf life in your freezer. We offer ¼ shares and 1/8 shares, if you are interested in a half share or a whole animal please contact us for more information and pricing.
Decide if you want a 1/8 share or a 1/4 share, size and cut estimates are below. Our 100% grass fed beef shares are great to split with a friend relative or neighbor. Click on the button below or visit our online store in the navigation bar at the top of this page and place your order. You can either pay in full upon ordering or just pay a 50% deposit and the balance after your animal is processed.
As this is a co-op based upon the sharing of a whole steer we do not have the animal delivered to the butcher for slaughter until all or almost all of the shares are sold. This typically doesn't take too long as local, 100% grass fed and dry aged beef is a rare and popular commodity. After slaughter and cutting the carcass hangs dry aging for 21 days, so it likely will be 45 to 60 days from the time of your order until your beef is ready to be picked up. We will contact you in advance for the pickup date and location.
Share Contents and Costs
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1/8 Beef Share
A 1/8 share weighs approximately 45 pounds and contains approximately: 4 Delmonico steaks 4 New York Strip steaks 1 London Broil 2 Filet Mignon steaks (2/pkg.) 1 Flat iron steaks 1 Ranch steaks (2/pkg.) 2 Sirloin steaks (approx. 8 oz.) 2 Chip steak 1 Boneless Chuck roasts 1 Sirloin Tip roasts 1 Rump roasts 2 Beef Cubes (1 lb. pks.) 11 Ground Beef (1 lb. pks.) 11 4 oz. Hamburger patties (4/pk.) Miscellaneous inventory which may or may not include Tri Tip, Petite Tender, Flank steak, Mock Tender The exact weight of each animal varies. The above cuts and weights are estimates. The cost of a 1/8 Beef Share is $540.00 based on a final packaged weight of 45 pounds. If the final packaged weight differs from 45 pounds we will either refund or invoice the difference @$11.99/lb. |
¼ Beef Share
A ¼ share weighs approximately 95 pounds and contains approximately: 8 Delmonico steaks 2 T-Bone steaks 2 Porterhouse steaks 2 New York Strip steaks 2 London Broil 2 Filet Mignon steaks (2/pkg.) 2 Flat iron steaks 2 Ranch steaks (2/pkg.) 4 Sirloin steaks 4 Chip steak 2 Boneless Chuck roasts 2 Sirloin Tip roasts 2 Rump roasts 4 Beef Cubes (1 lb. pks.) 22 Ground Beef (1 lb. pks.) 22 4 oz. Hamburger patties (4/pk.) Miscellaneous inventory which may or may not include Tri Tip, Petite Tender, Flank steak, Mock Tender The exact weight of each animal varies. The above cuts and weights are estimates. The cost of a ¼ Beef Share is $1035.00 based on a final packaged weight of 90 pounds. If the final packaged weight differs from 90 pounds we will either refund or invoice the difference @$11.49/lb. |