There are several reasons why a farming operation shuts down, but one of the biggest reasons is that four enormous companies (collectively known as The Big Four) control a staggering 85% of the beef supply in America today, and a growing percentage of chicken and pork as well.
They’re so large and have bought out so many brands since the 1980's that they can dictate prices, rules, and changes that only benefit the corporation. This relentless consolidation has left many smaller family farms at the mercy of these massive corporations, while they simultaneously create enormous profits for themselves. The Big Four pocket an average of  ⅔ of every dollar we pay for meat in the grocery store–leaving less and less for family farms, who actually produce the livestock, to live on.
However, by changing just a little bit of how we buy food for our families, we can make a dent in this problem. We're not advocating abandoning local grocery stores, but if the average family even occasionally bought some of their staples like beef, chicken, or pork directly from local family farms, those farms would thrive. Plus, the quality and taste are just so good.
One of the biggest parts of creating this change is raising awareness. That's why we created the Founder's Club. We want to make it as easy as possible for anyone to share their support of family farms.
*On average, based on the USDA Farms and Land in Farms 2024 Summary (page 4, paragraph 1)
