Try out Sanabel, it's a halal butcher. If you are in Rockville I recommend Halal Gourmet.

I think the most reliable way to get a lower price per pound for good quality is buy in bulk. You can buy a 1/4 or 1/2 cow share. You will need an extra freezer.

I understand wanting to look for better quality meat but there's always an element of overthinking it too. Think about it carefully - does your favorite local takeaway place use good quality meat or ordinary meat that we'd sneer at from the Giant and similar places?

It's going to be next to impossible, if outright impossible, to get good quality beef or lamb for low prices. Which makes sense when you think about it. But your standard meat from the Giant will be perfectly fine. That's what most people eat. And they survive.

Chicken and pork are not going to be too expensive even for the organic versions. I can get a whole 4.something pound Bell and Evans roasting chicken for $22ish. Pork is fairly inexpensive too. You can get a big piece of pork shoulder for pot roasts or slow roasts for 20-something from WF or a good butcher's.

Columbia Pike Sunday farmers market has a good organic butcher from Berryville who has better prices and quality than WF since Bezos took over.

Farmer’s market/local farm. More $$$ but ethical/environmentally friendly and so so tasty.

Anonymous wrote:Organic Butcher McLean > Balducci's > WF

But its also

$$$ > $$ > $

The reality is you get what you pay for in terms of meat, its quality, and how local/well the product was raised

-1. Do NOT buy OBoM liver. Chicken is good there, but you may prefer Bell&Evans Organic at Balducci's. Balducci's Volpi brand is very good, but make sure there are no air leaks in the seal. WF shrimp can be hit or miss, so smell it; chicken is good.

Another unmentioned value option is FreshMarket $3.99 ground chuck Tuesday. USDA top 2%. Very worth the money.

Anonymous wrote:In addition to MOMs, Wegmans, WFs, I'd add a halal butcher if you can find one. I've been going to one and the meats are very fresh and they sell parts the groceries don't carry like soup bones for broth.

Agree with the previous poster. If you are near a Food star has an on-site Halal butcher.

In addition to MOMs, Wegmans, WFs, I'd add a halal butcher if you can find one. I've been going to one and the meats are very fresh and they sell parts the groceries don't carry like soup bones for broth.

MOM’s and Wegmans.

PP here, the link lists the farms.

https://momsorganicmarket.com/departments/meat-and-poultry/

MOM’s sources the meat and chicken from local farms. The price is generally less compared to WF.

Organic Butcher McLean > Balducci's > WF

But its also

$$$ > $$ > $

The reality is you get what you pay for in terms of meat, its quality, and how local/well the product was raised

I have seen grass-fed beef recently at Costco. And if you are willing to expand your definition of quality to things like quality grades, then Costco would be a consistent choice of high-quality meat at reasonable prices, as would supermarkets for certain cuts when they are on sale.

Don't think you're going to do better than WF. They do have Prime sales every now and then. The local WF had serious sales on pork tenderloin the other day and I picked up a few packages for the freezer. Four tenderloins each for about $6-7.

Some people say MOMs has cheaper chicken and that may be true.

Where does everyone go to for affordable meat and dairy that is also good quality (as in, mostly grass fed or free range, organic feed, things like that).
I've always used WholeFoods since that's the nearest and walkable from home, but I realize it is expensive and thought there may be better deals out there.
I've also looked up farm shares (recommended by neighbors) but those seem even more expensive. We tend to go through quite a lot, like at least one substantial meat dish per day - tried to cut down but H and kids were very unhappy...
Sorry if I sound clueless.
TIA