Loading search results…
Loading products…
Grugras Dairy is our family farm in Paradise, Pennsylvania. We raise the dairy and meat we sell right here. For years we ran a conventional commercial operation. Then one of our children got sick. Our father started asking what we were putting in the feed and on our own plates. He did not like the answers. We switched to organic, natural farming. It was a lot of work. The animals got healthier, and so did our family. Now we sell what we raise to other families who want the same thing.
From Grugras Dairy
From reservation to your freezer - here's what to expect
Pay a deposit to hold your spot in the next harvest. The amount varies by farm and product.
The farm coordinates with their USDA-inspected processor. You'll receive updates as your harvest approaches.
Fill out a simple cut sheet to specify your preferences - steaks, roasts, ground beef ratios, and more.
Your beef is dry-aged, custom cut to your specs, vacuum-sealed, flash-frozen, and labeled for easy identification.
Final payment is due about 5 days before pickup. Collect your beef directly from the farm or designated pickup location.
Pay a deposit to hold your spot in the next harvest. The amount varies by farm and product.
The farm coordinates with their USDA-inspected processor. You'll receive updates as your harvest approaches.
Fill out a simple cut sheet to specify your preferences - steaks, roasts, ground beef ratios, and more.
Your beef is dry-aged, custom cut to your specs, vacuum-sealed, flash-frozen, and labeled for easy identification.
Final payment is due about 5 days before pickup. Collect your beef directly from the farm or designated pickup location.
Grugras Dairy is our family farm in Paradise, Pennsylvania. We raise the dairy and meat we sell right here. For years we ran a conventional commercial operation. Then one of our children got sick. Our father started asking what we were putting in the feed and on our own plates. He did not like the answers. We switched to organic, natural farming. It was a lot of work. The animals got healthier, and so did our family. Now we sell what we raise to other families who want the same thing.
Here's what to expect when you buy beef by the share
Based on a 500lb Whole Cow (your exact mix depends on your cut sheet choices):
Cuts you might get
Cuts you might get
Cuts you might get
* Exact percentages vary based on the animal and your custom cut preferences
~25 cubic feet
For a 500lb Whole Cow - about a dedicated upright or large chest freezer (15-20+ cu ft)
Pro tip: A standard upright freezer shelf holds about 10-15 lbs of packaged beef. Plan for about 1 cubic foot per 15-20 lbs.
Understanding how beef pricing works · Whole Cow
Unlike grocery store beef (priced by the package), farm-direct beef is sold by the share - typically quarter, half, or whole cow. The final price depends on the animal's size and your custom cut choices. This might feel unfamiliar at first, but it's how you get the freshest, highest-quality beef at the best value.
Whole Cow: $8.65/lb (hanging weight)
You pay based on the "hanging weight" - the weight of the carcass after initial processing but before cutting and trimming. Final packaged weight is typically 60-70% of hanging weight.
e.g., Whole Cow: ~500 lbs hanging × $8.65/lb ≈ $4,325. Packaged weight is typically 60–70% of hanging weight.
The carcass weight after initial processing (hide, head, organs removed). This is what you're billed on.
Whole Cow: ~500 lbs hanging (estimate)
What you actually take home after cutting, trimming, and packaging. Usually 60-70% of hanging weight.
From ~500 lbs hanging: ~325–350 lbs packaged
* The "loss" is from bones, fat trim, and moisture - all normal parts of butchering.
Today: Deposit
Reserves your spot in the next harvest. Amount varies by farm and product. Deposits are non-refundable.
Before pickup: Remaining balance
Typically due 5-7 days before your pickup date. Final amount based on actual weight.
Processing fees may be billed separately by some farms - check the product details above for specifics.
“Easy to work with, cool little place to pick up the beef”
— Tim Johannsen
Common questions about buying beef direct from the farm
Plan for about 1 cubic foot of freezer space per 15-20 pounds of packaged beef. A quarter cow (typically 100-130 lbs packaged) needs 5-7 cubic feet — about half a standard chest freezer. A half cow needs 10-14 cubic feet, and a whole cow needs a dedicated 15-20+ cubic foot freezer.
Properly vacuum-sealed and frozen beef maintains peak quality for 12-18 months. Ground beef is best used within 4-6 months for optimal taste. Store at 0°F (-18°C) or below. Once thawed, cook within 3-5 days and never refreeze raw thawed meat.
A deposit holds your spot and is applied toward your final payment. Deposits are non-refundable. The amount varies by farm and product. Contact the farm directly with questions before you reserve.
Only for a half or a whole share. After placing your deposit, you'll receive a "cut sheet" where you specify steak thickness, package sizes, soup bones, organs, and more. The processor follows your instructions. Quarter shares typically use a standard cut plan set by the farm or processor.
The final payment is typically due 5-7 days before your scheduled pickup date. The farm will send you an invoice with the exact amount once the final weight is determined after processing. Payment methods vary by farm.
Each farm sets the deposit for each product. It is applied toward your final payment. Check the product details above for the amount due today.
That's expected! Animal sizes vary naturally. Your final price is based on actual weight, not the estimate. If it's lower, you pay less. If higher, you pay a bit more. Typically the variance is 10-15% from estimates. Your deposit amount stays the same regardless.
Have another question?
Chat with Kyle about buying from Grugras Dairy
Use the chat bubble on this page — we'll help with shares, deposits, pickups, and how buying from this farm works.
From Grugras Dairy · Deposit due today, pay balance at pickup