If you don’t see your specific question below give us a holler at 978.362.8642 or email us at info@waldenlocalmeat.com
WHERE DO YOU DELIVER?
We currently deliver free of charge all the way from Portland, Maine to Central New Jersey; check out the maps below! If you are outside the delivery area, we are happy to deliver to a work or friend’s address!
DO WE DELIVER TO YOU?
MAINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND, CONNECTICUT, NEW YORK, AND NEW JERSEY!
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WHAT SIZE SHARE SHOULD I GET?
The average person eats 1/2 lbs. of meat per serving.
Remember you can always adjust your share weight range from your member page!
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IS IT ORGANIC? IS YOUR BEEF REALLY GRASS FED?
Although all of our suppliers pledge not to use pesticides, herbicides or antibiotics of any kind, not all of our suppliers have pursued USDA organic certification because it is tremendously costly for small producers. We have found that there are other, perhaps more important, indicators of quality and sustainability. Most beef that is certified organic still comes from a cow raised in a feedlot, where it is fed corn or grain, which is completely unnatural for a grazing animal. Although it’s great that the corn is organic, any type of grain wreaks havoc on a cow’s digestive system and produces meat that is much less healthy: higher in saturated fat and the “bad-fat” Omega-6s. We think our own standards are much tougher; you can learn more about them on our standards page. Our beef is 100% grass-fed and finished – they receive no grain, no soy, no corn, and no wheat ever.
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WAIT, YOU HAVE FISH TOO?
Yes indeed! We offer a rotating seasonal selection of wild-caught North Atlantic fish fillets, rated as at or above the natural fluctuation of the target population level by NOAA. One pound each of two different fish every month (2 lbs total). Some species include: haddock, swordfish, hake, monkfish, black sea bass and pollock (no shellfish).
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IS THE MEAT FRESH?
Our meat generally reaches our members more quickly than a typical industrial producer would – mostly because it is traveling a shorter distance. What depletes the flavor of the meat is not letting it age properly (in the case of beef), slowly freezing it or quickly de-frosting it (as in a microwave). After dry aging, our beef is custom cut and flash frozen, transported in a below-zero degree freezer, and left for you packed with cold packs and/or dry ice. We believe this results in the best tasting meat possible.
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IS THERE A WAY TO SKIP OR DELAY A SHARE, OR CANCEL ANYTIME?
Yes, you can cancel or skip a month anytime by selecting the skip or makeup day option on your member page, unless your share has already been assembled (your share is packed a few days before delivery, and we send you a few email reminders!). If you’d like to skip multiple months, just email us at members@waldenlocalmeat.com and we’ll put your deliveries on hold while you’re away. You can restart at any time without having to re-enter all of your information. We also offer every other month, or every 3rd month shares if this works better for your family!
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WHEN WILL MY SHARE BE READY?
We deliver once per month and your first delivery date will appear on your member page a few days after you sign up. Your NEXT order will be confirmed via email at the beginning of the month and then again 3-4 days prior (your delivery will generally be within 25-30 days of your previous delivery). We also have makeup days if you are not available on your regularly scheduled date, which you can select on your member page.
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DO I NEED TO BE HOME WHEN YOU DELIVER?
Nope! Everything is packed with a reusable orange dry ice bag when needed, so it will stay cold for several hours on your doorstep. If you do not have a safe drop spot for us to leave your delivery, we would suggest delivering to an office location.
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DO I NEED A BIGGER FREEZER?
Probably not – a 10lb order is about 1 cubic foot of space, which fits fine in any home refrigerator / freezer (assuming it’s not already full with items that you can’t identify, in which case it’s maybe time for a clean start?). You can also skip anytime if you run out of room.
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WHAT WILL I GET EACH MONTH? CAN I CUSTOMIZE MY SHARE OR ADD TO IT?
Each 6-8 lb complete share generally comes with one pound of ground beef, 1 type of sausage and/or bacon, and the remaining 4lbs a mix of cuts that you specify in the order form (either roasts or steaks/chops/ribs). Larger sizes are generally the same proportion of cuts (e.g. a 10-lb share starts with 2lbs of ground beef and a sausage, plus 8lbs of cuts you specify). You can opt out of anything you do not like (beef/pork/chicken or specific items) or update your preferences anytime via our member site. You can also choose a completely customized share and pick only what you want. Each month we release a list of seasonal specials, which are available on your member page. Make sure to tag us @waldenlocalmeat when you open your share!
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WHAT FARMS DO YOU WORK WITH?
We are pleased to partner with over 70 of the best regenerative farms in New England, New York and New Jersey. These farms undergo a rigorous onboarding process to confirm our standards are met and in the spirit of transparency, we print the name and location of each farmer on every cut label (except in the case of things like bacon, ground beef and sausages that are made in larger batches). We visit our partner farms regularly and aim to maintain long term mutually beneficial relationships based on shared values. If you are a farmer and would like to partner with us, please email us at info@waldenlocalmeat.com.
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AFTER I DEFROST THE MEAT, HOW LONG CAN IT STAY IN MY REFRIGERATOR?
If the vacuum seal of the package is not broken, your meat has a shelf life in a refrigerator of more than 2 weeks. Once you break the seal you should consume the meat in 3 days if ground, 5 days for cuts/sausages. The best way to defrost is in a bowl of cold water, or in your refrigerator overnight; the worst way to defrost would be to use your microwave.
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IS IT EXPENSIVE?
We believe meat that costs a few dollars per pound actually costs far more than that… in environmental destruction, the animal’s lack of well-being, and long-term human health. Our prices are honest and offer great value relative to all-natural grocery stores. Our share program includes items that would range from $8 to $35+/lb, and we try to provide a balanced delivery each month to ensure everyone receives some high-value items. We are also offering a very different product from what you see in a grocery store. Our animals are raised on pastures in New England and New York, moved regularly, never fed antibiotics, and have plenty of space to enjoy their lives. They are raised by humans, not machines, on farms that are slowly rebuilding New England’s agricultural heritage. And you can taste the difference!
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WHY DON’T YOU CHARGE MORE?
Our prices are a fair reflection of what it costs to produce the highest quality products. Our goal is to make them available to as many people as possible while covering our costs, most of which goes towards supporting the small farms in New England that we’re trying to bring back!
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WHEN WILL I BE BILLED?
We authorize your card for the expected amount about a week prior to delivery, which gives you time to resolve a billing issue prior to delivery. Your share is then billed when assembled, usually a day or two before delivery. Note that add ons from our monthly specials are generally billed separately. You can find your delivery date on your member page
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CAN I PRE-PAY MY ACCOUNT FOR A DISCOUNT?
We do offer this option for members through our monthly specials list – we encourage you to try a month first. We offer discounts for 6-month and 12-month plans.
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DO YOU SELL GIFT CERTIFICATES?
The best way to give Walden as a gift is to signup with the info of the recipient. We do not recommend sending a share as a surprise (since it is perishable!) but if you would like to be the person receiving notifications so that you can communicate with the recipient, feel free to use your own email address when you sign up. Note also that if you are already a member you will need to use a different email address than your current account address!
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ARE YOU HIRING?
Yes indeed! Checkout our careers page for available positions
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DO YOU HAVE NUTRITION REFERENCES?
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WHAT ABOUT PRIVACY?
Because we value our own privacy, we value yours too. Here’s Our Policy!
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WHAT DOES LOCALLY SOURCED REALLY MEAN?
It’s a great question. We believe local is better defined by you and your community than us – we want the farm location or fishing port we print on every label of meat we drop at your door to be a town you recognize and one that would be a common-sense choice as part of your regional food-shed. Today we source 100% of our meat from farms and fishing ports in the New England and New York region.
You can read more about Our Standards Here.
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WALDEN IS COMMITTED TO SOURCING LOCALLY, DOES IT SELL LOCALLY TOO?
Yes – we’re dedicated to making local work holistically! Not only do we source local, we sell local and deliver every share with our own delivery vans to our members here in the Northeast!