True Partnerships with Farmers and Ranchers

To provide the highest quality, local and organic meat choices, we visit producers to see first-hand their passion for how they raise their animals. Learn more about these real relationships.

The Meat Purchasing Team at Whole Foods Market holds dear to our hearts the company’s core value opens in a new tab of creating “ongoing win-win partnerships with our suppliers.” Having worked here for a number of years now, I can honestly say that our teams go the extra mile to forge and nurture long-term partnerships with our meat suppliers. Some of our suppliers have been with us for almost 30 years!

In creating true winning partnerships, the first step is communication. We talk with our suppliers frequently, visit with them regularly, collaborate with them on new initiatives, and work with them on new products. For Whole Foods Market to be successful, we need to ensure that our suppliers are also successful. This is how a true partnership works. Our farmers and ranchers also like to come to our stores to sample their product and to connect directly with our customers. They appreciate having the opportunity to help our customers learn where their food comes from and how the animals are raised, which also helps explain why their products are so good!

Over the next few weeks we’ll feature several of our farmers on this blog so they can tell you about their experience of partnering with Whole Foods Market. Together, we are proud to bring you the best grass-fed, local, organic and seasonal meat and poultry in the industry!Can’t wait to meet them? Well, here’s a look at one of our partners, Pitman Family Farms.


This blog post previously contained an outdated video about a supplier. We have removed the video to prevent confusion. We have always believed in and fought for the improvement of welfare for farm animals industry-wide, and all the pork, beef, chicken and turkey in our fresh meat cases comes from producers who have achieved certification to Global Animal Partnership’s 5-Step® Animal Welfare Rating system opens in a new tab.


Don’t forget to friend us on our newly launched Facebook page specifically for all you meat lovers opens in a new tab out there!

Explore More