Review of Bluescreek Farm Meats Found at the North Market in Columbus, Ohio

Bluescreek Farm Meats, found at the North Market in Columbus, Ohio is one of the only places in Columbus to find locally-raised and organic meats. Whenever I don't mind spending a load of extra cash for an upcoming dinner of cookout, I go to Bluescreek Farm Meats and am never disappointed in their offerings. What makes Bluescreek Farm Meats different from what you're likely to find at Kroger or other local supermarket chains (or even, for that matter, some of the meats at Wild Oats) is that it is naturally raised without a bunch of hormones, antibiotics, or other nasties that are so commonly found in factory-raised cattle, pigs, and chicken. It's not pleasant to think about these things, nor is it always nice to think about what factory-bred animals are fed. Bluescreek Farm Meats is based in Marysville and their animals are only fed the finest Marysville grass and hay since all animals are free-ranging and not kept in pens like factory-bound animals are.

While it may sound like this difference in raising animals for food wouldn't make much of a difference, if you've never had Bluescreek Farm Meats or any other natural locally-raised meat, you'll be amazed at the difference in taste and texture. While chicken is not as easy to cook and is a little stringier and while the beef from Bluescreek Farm Meats tends to be a little more gamey in taste, once you get used to it, it will be hard to go back. The only thing that prevents me from going to the North Market every week to stock up on Bluescreek Farm Meats is the cost. Still, instead of going to the supermarket instead, we generally don't buy meat unless it's locally raised and without all the hormones and additives because we've grown used to a level of quality. I just wish it wasn't so much more expensive to eat healthier, but that goes for almost any product and I have to admit, the beef and chicken from Bluescreek Farm Meats is beyond compare.

Most people having large cookouts, especially if they're health conscious or looking for alternative ingredients head to the North Market, if for no other reason that the large farmer's market with tons of fresh produce from around Ohio. In addition to your fresh veggies, you couldn't go wrong getting your grilling meats from Bluescreek, even if it means you'll have to pay twice what you would for a few pounds of meat than you would at Kroger or Big Bear. Guests, even if they've never had natural chicken or beef will taste a difference immediately, even if they don't say so right away. My mom thought it was some marinade I'd used on my kabobs when in fact, the chicken was straight from Bluescreek Farm Meats, with only a trace of lime as the highlight. In addition to basic beef, chicken, and pork, Bluescreek Meats also offers veal, goat, and lamb, and as with all of their meats, Bluescreek has a ton of different cuts so you can almost always get what you're looking for. If there's something special, you can usually ask the owners Cheryl or David if they can give you the hook up next week. They are nice people and make it worth the extra cost.

I have to admit that I am completely hooked on some of their non-meat items such as their barbeque sauce. I have no idea what they put in this stuff but it's fantastic-really heady and nothing like the bottled stuff you find in stores. Being committed to Ohio businesses and farm products, they sell a wide range of locally-made products such as honey, maple syrup, and wonderful fruit jelly made just outside of Columbus. Being at the Bluescreek Meats booth at the North Market reminds me each time I go that we are surrounded by country and by hard-working farmers.

If you stop by Bluescreek Farm Meats in the North Market, don't be put off by the higher-than-expected prices. It's more expensive to raise animals in a more natural environment, believe it or not, and anyway, the owners are really nice people who seem to care about the people they serve. That's one heck of a lot more than you'd ever expect from the butcher at the Kroger meat department.