We’re now in the last few weeks of summer, and before we know it, Labor Day will be here and it’ll be time to enjoy the last few moments of warm weather activities and foods before autumn starts to set in. Whether you’re planning a huge, blowout barbecue with everyone you love or you’re just having a small but tasty meal to celebrate the end of summer, shopping locally for your ingredients will not only get you the most delicious and high-quality foods, but will be good for your community as well.
From picnics to grilling sessions, Berks County is full of local farms and eateries where you can get the best of the best. Here’s where to shop for meats and side dishes for your Labor Day feast this year!
Bendy Brook Farm
Bendy Brook Farm, located in Oley, PA, has been owned and operated by the Mast family since the 1940s. Its cows, chickens and pigs are humanely raised with no chemicals, no GMOs, no hormones and fed natural food sources to increase their quality.
Grass-fed beef is especially important, not only because this diet keeps cows healthy, but also because of the many other benefits of grass-fed beef, including lower fat and higher vitamin and fatty acid content. You can order Bendy Brook Farm meat directly from its website via an order form, or visit the Local Leaf Market in Oley to pick up its products!
Maiden Creek Beef
At Maiden Creek Beef, the team is raising Angus and Hereford cows the way they used to be, with low intervention, pasture grazing and no hormones. It also raise pigs for high-quality pork as well. For those who like a variety of different types of beef, including cuts from all over the cow as well as things like sweetbreads and oxtails, Maiden Creek Beef sells its product in bulk bundles including half cow and whole pig. You can order online and pick up your meat at its location in Lenhartsville, PA, or pay to have it shipped directly to your door!
LaFaver Family Farm
Want luxury cuts of beef like Delmonico, filet mignon, NY strip and porterhouse steak shipped directly to your door, vacuum sealed for freshness? LaFaver Family Farm has you covered. The owners are a first-generation family farm specializing in locally and humanely raised meat with no injections or hormones, and its exceptional quality is matched only by its convenience. Enjoy mouthwatering hot dogs, chip steak, easy premade burger patties, and much more, all raised right in Hamburg, PA!
Fairgrounds Farmers Market
For locally sourced foods to enjoy this summer that go beyond just meat, you simply have to visit your local farmers market, and the Fairgrounds market in Reading is one of the best around. Every Thursday through Saturday, you can stock up on local produce like sweet summer corn, juicy tomatoes, and more, as well as pastries and desserts, fresh flowers and seafood. You can perfectly complete your Labor Day barbecue with one quick visit to this market!
There’s so much to be gained from shopping locally for your ingredients during peak growing season, from healthy and nutritious foods to supporting your community’s economy. Take the excuse this summer to enjoy the bounty all around you, and shop local in Berks County, PA!
