Grass-fed beef in the U.S. is a fast-growing consumer phenomenon that is starting to attract the attention of more cattle producers and food companies, but there is a lack of coherent information on how the market works. While the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) produces a vast body of data on the conventional beef sector, its data collection and reporting efforts on grass-fed beef are spotty. Pockets of information are held by different private sector organizations, but they have rarely been brought together.
This report addresses that gap by providing a comprehensive overview of the U.S. grass-fed beef sector, with a focus on market and economic dynamics. It brings together available data on the current state of the sector, identifies barriers to growth and highlights actions that will help propel further expansion. It analyzes consumer demand, supply chains and both domestic and imported grass-fed beef production models, all the while comparing grass-fed beef with conventional beef to highlight their differences.
Published April 2017 by Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture.
