The farms and businesses/non-profits below are suggested based upon my (Jen’s) personal recommendations. I use these businesses, based not upon government labels but on personal business ethics and practices relating to REAL FOOD health. Please note that I do not necessarily promote all products sold at these businesses, however there are enough outstanding products that allow me to endorse their business without hesitation. This page of Real Food Freaks is purely Jen’s recommendation and not a paid advertisement for any organization. This list is for reference purposes and is only intended as a starting point for my local readers. All information should be verified for its fit for your personal or family consumption.
* – Highly recommended
Please tell these resources that you found them on Real Food Freaks!
Health Food Stores/Co-ops/Buying Clubs
*Valley Co-op 301.745.6284 – www.valleycoop.org – (various choices, call for options)
Healthway Natural Foods – 301.739.1462 – www.healthwaynaturalfoods.com (great for supplements and some real food items)
The Common Market – Frederick – 301.663.3416 – website (plenty of choices especially in off-season months, just be careful where the food is coming from and watch labels)
Country Breeze Farm Market – 717.375.4115 (some organic, sprouted grains and reasonable prices on real food baking goods)
Jen’s PA Buying Club – email for details (jen@realfoodfreaks.com)
Eggs
*Meadow Ridge Farm – Merv 717.530.5999 ext. 2 (soy free and GMO Free pastured eggs and chickens)
*Family Cow – Edwin 717.729.9730 – www.yourfamilycow.com -(soy free and GMO free pastured eggs) (see interview with farmer here)
*Mt Vernon Farms (Viriginia’s Shenandoah Valley) 540-987-9559 – www.mountvernonfarm.net – (Soy and GMO free pastured eggs) (See a review of this farm here)
Valley Co-op 301.745.6284 – www.valleycoop.org – (various choices, call for options)
Shagbark Mountain Farm – 301.834.9808 shagbarkmtcattle@myactv.net (soy free eggs but farmer not sure if there are GMOs in feed)
Milk and Cream
goat and cow – no hormones or antibiotics
*Meadow Ridge Farm – Merv 717.530.5999 ext. 2 (goat and cow milk- not “labeled” organic but 100% grass-fed cows and soy and GMO free goat feed)
*Family Cow – Edwin 717.729.9730 – www.yourfamilycow.com – (Certified organic milk, grass-fed dairy cows) (see interview with farmer here)
Valley Co-op 301.745.6284 – www.valleycoop.org – (various choices of pasteurized milk, call for options)
Windmill Meadow Farms – Jacob Horst – 301.739.5258 (grass-fed minimally pasteurized cow milk with cream line)
Raw Milk Cheeses – goat and cow
*Meadow Ridge Farm – Merv 717.530.5999 ext. 2 (goat and cow milk cheeses- not labeled organic but 100% grass-fed cows and soy and GMO free goat feed)
*Family Cow – Edwin 717.729.9730 – www.yourfamilycow.com – (Certified organic milk, grass-fed dairy cows) (see interview with farmer here)
Valley Co-op 301.745.6284 – www.valleycoop.org – (various choices, call for options)
Windmill Meadow Farms – Jacob Horst – 301.739.5258 (100% grass-fed minimally pasteurized cow milk with cream line)
Kefir
*Meadow Ridge Farm – Merv 717.530.5999 ext. 2
Family Cow – Edwin 717.729.9730 – www.yourfamilycow.com – (Certified organic) (see interview with farmer here)
Butter – goat and cow
*Meadow Ridge Farm – Merv 717.530.5999 ext. 2 (goat and cow butter- not “labeled” organic but 100% grass-fed cows and soy and GMO free goat feed)
*Family Cow – Edwin 717.729.9730 – www.yourfamilycow.com – (Certified organic, pasteurized, grass-fed cow butter) (see interview with farmer here)
Windmill Meadow Farms – Jacob Horst – 301.739.5258 (grass-fed minimally pasteurized cow butter)
Valley Co-op 301.745.6284 – www.valleycoop.org – (various choices, call for options)
Beef
no hormones or antibiotics
*Family Cow – Edwin 717.729.9730 – www.yourfamilycow.com – (Certified organic, grass-fed, excellent taste) (see interview with farmer here)
*Meadow Ridge Farm – Merv 717.530.5999 ext. 2 (not “labeled” organic but 100% grass-fed)
*Mt Vernon Farms (Viriginia’s Shenandoah Valley) 540-987-9559 – www.mountvernonfarm.net (100% grass fed, processed spring and fall only) (See a review of this farm here)
Valley Co-op 301.745.6284 – www.valleycoop.org – (various choices, call for options)
Windmill Meadow Farms – Jacob Horst – 301.739.5258 (100% grass-fed steers – option to buy whole or partial)
Shagbark Mountain Farm – 301.834.9808 shagbarkmtcattle@myactv.net (100% grass-fed beef, hung 14 days)
Pork
no hormones or antibiotics
*Windmill Meadow Farms – Jacob Horst – 301.739.5258 (Pastured and milk fed pork – option to buy whole or partial)
*Mt Vernon Farms (Viriginia’s Shenandoah Valley) 540-987-9559 – www.mountvernonfarm.net (soy free, pastured) (See a review of this farm here)
Valley Co-op 301.745.6284 – www.valleycoop.org – (various choices, call for options)
Shagbark Mountain Farm – 301.834.9808 shagbarkmtcattle@myactv.net (pastured, milk feed, but also supplemented with grains)
Chicken
no hormones or antibiotics
*Meadow Ridge Farm – Merv 717.530.5999 ext. 2 (soy free and GMO Free pastured chickens)
*Family Cow – Edwin 717.729.9730 – www.yourfamilycow.com -(soy free and GMO free pastured eggs) (see interview with farmer here)
*Mt Vernon Farms (Viriginia’s Shenandoah Valley) 540-987-9559 – www.mountvernonfarm.net (See a review of this farm here)
Valley Co-op 301.745.6284 – www.valleycoop.org – (various choices, call for options)
Shagbark Mountain Farm – 301.834.9808 shagbarkmtcattle@myactv.net (pastured, supplemented with soy free grain, but may have GMOs)
Goat Meat
*Meadow Ridge Farm – Merv 717.530.5999 ext. 2 (soy free and GMO Free pastured goats)
Shagbark Mountain Farm – 301.834.9808 shagbarkmtcattle@myactv.net
Lamb
*Mt Vernon Farms (Viriginia’s Shenandoah Valley) 540-987-9559 – www.mountvernonfarm.net - (100% grassfed deliciousness!) (See a review of this farm here)
Shagbark Mountain Farm – 301.834.9808 shagbarkmtcattle@myactv.net
Seafood
*Friedman Family Fisheries, Inc – 410-358-3008 triplef@qis.net
Avi is a Maryland local who fishes in Alaska in the spring and summer months. He fresh freezes his salmon in Alaska then ships back home to MD. His seafood is sustainably caught and tastes AWESOME! Salmon is available for sale September – April-ish. If in the Hagerstown area you can purchase his products through Valley Co-op without having to drive to Baltimore.
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