State Guide

Grass-Fed Beef in Illinois: Where to Buy

Illinois has two very different grass-fed beef markets in one state. Chicago, with its dense Whole Foods and Mariano's network, its Green City Market, and its Publican Quality Meats, is among the best-supplied cities in the Midwest. Downstate Illinois, meanwhile, has a working agricultural landscape where direct-from-farm purchasing is practical. Seven Sons in neighboring Indiana ships to all Illinois addresses, Northstar Bison in Wisconsin is also close by, and Thousand Hills — rooted in the upper Midwest — is widely available on Chicago shelves.

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Illinois has a strong urban food culture centered on Chicago, where the Green City Market (Lincoln Park, Wednesdays and Saturdays, year-round) is one of the best farmers markets in the country and regularly features Midwest grass-fed beef producers. The Illinois Stewardship Alliance and EatWild.com list downstate operations by county, particularly in the Shawnee National Forest region and the Prairie du Rocher area.

Online Delivery to Illinois

These suppliers ship frozen nationwide and deliver to all Illinois addresses.

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White Oak Pastures

Farm Direct

Bluffton, Georgia

½
4.8

Direct-to-consumer sales from one of America's most celebrated regenerative farms. 100% grass-fed, carbon-negative certified, on-farm processing. Ships nationwide; farm tours and on-site store also available.

Animal Welfare ApprovedCertified Regenerative by AGWNon-GMO Project Verified+1 more
$12–$45/lb
✓ 100% Grass-Fed
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Alderspring Ranch

Farm Direct

Pahsimeroi Valley, Idaho

½
4.9

Alderspring Ranch is a family-operated ranch in the Pahsimeroi Valley of Idaho raising certified organic, 100% grass-fed beef on 46,000+ acres of wild mountain rangeland. Their operation holds both USDA Organic and the stricter Real Organic Project certification — believed to be the largest contiguous certified organic rangeland in the continental US.

USDA Certified OrganicReal Organic Project (ROP)
$14–$76/lb
✓ 100% Grass-Fed✓ Organic
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Seven Sons

Farm Direct

Roanoke, Indiana + ~150 partner farms nationwide

½
4.9

Seven Sons is a family-owned regenerative farm in Roanoke, Indiana run by seven brothers. They offer 100% grass-fed beef, pastured pork, heritage lamb, bison, and pasture-raised chicken from their 500-acre home farm and a curated network of ~150 vetted partner farms — all under a Subscribe & Save program or a la carte ordering with farm-store pickup.

100% Weird Free Guarantee (proprietary)No Antibiotics EverNo Added Hormones+1 more
$12–$55/lb
✓ 100% Grass-Fed
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Northstar Bison

Farm Direct

Cameron, Wisconsin

½
4.7

Northstar Bison is a vertically integrated regenerative meat company based in Cameron, Wisconsin, specializing in 100% grass-fed and finished bison alongside beef, elk, wild Alaskan seafood, and pasture-raised poultry. Their Zero Stress Field Harvest — animals harvested on the ranch rather than transported — is a core welfare and quality commitment.

Open Gate Certified (proprietary transparency standard)No Antibiotics EverNo Added Hormones
$22–$35+/lb
✓ 100% Grass-Fed
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Primal Pastures

Farm Direct

Murrieta, California & Arizona

½
4.6

Primal Pastures is a family-operated regenerative farm in Murrieta, California raising 100% grass-fed beef and pasture-raised chicken, pork, and lamb. Solar-powered and direct-to-consumer, they ship nationwide and also operate a 30-acre organic u-pick eco-farm open to the public.

The Primal Standard (proprietary)No Antibiotics EverNo Added Hormones+1 more
$14–$65+/lb
✓ 100% Grass-Fed
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Crowd Cow

Farm Direct

USA, Uruguay & Japan (farm-specific)

½
4.6

Crowd Cow connects consumers directly to independent farms across the US and internationally, with each product listing showing the exact farm it came from. No subscription required. Carries 100% grass-fed beef, Wagyu, heritage pork, and wild seafood with full sourcing transparency.

No Antibiotics EverNo Added HormonesCertified Humane (select farms)
$10–$45/lb (grass-fed)
✓ 100% Grass-Fed
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ButcherBox

Subscription

Australia, New Zealand & USA

4.3

ButcherBox is the largest grass-fed beef subscription service in the US, delivering curated boxes of 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef (plus chicken and pork) directly to consumers. Flexible plans, frequent promotions, and the most competitive per-pound pricing in the subscription category.

No Antibiotics EverNo Added HormonesHumanely Raised+1 more
$6–$11/lb (subscription pricing)
✓ 100% Grass-Fed
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US Wellness Meats

Subscription

Missouri & Midwest USA

½
4.5

One of the original direct-to-consumer grass-fed beef companies in the US, operating since 2000. Offers an unmatched selection of specialty cuts, organ meats, bones, and tallow from Missouri and Midwest farms. The top choice for ancestral diet and carnivore community shoppers.

No Antibiotics EverNo Added HormonesUSDA Process Verified
$10–$35/lb
✓ 100% Grass-Fed
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Good Ranchers

Subscription

USA (100+ independent family farms)

½
4.5

Good Ranchers is a subscription-based meat delivery service sourcing exclusively from 100+ independent American family farms — no imported meat. Offers both a grain-finished (USDA graded Prime and Choice) and a dedicated grass-finished beef program, with free shipping on all orders nationwide.

USDA Prime (select products)USDA Choice (select products)No Antibiotics Ever (chicken)+1 more
$109–$364/box
✓ 100% Grass-Fed
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The Five Mile Beef

Farm Direct

Southern Utah & Nevada (700,000-acre ranch)

½
4.8

The Five Mile Beef is a single-ranch, direct-to-consumer operation spanning 700,000 acres across Southern Utah and Nevada. All beef is 100% grass-fed and grass-finished on native pastures — no grain, no vaccines, no hormones. Same-day local delivery to St. George, UT and Tonopah, NV; nationwide UPS shipping for all other addresses.

Grass-Fed Certified (self-declared)All-Natural (self-declared)No Vaccines Ever+2 more
$9–$48/lb (bulk shares from $11.67/lb equiv.)
✓ 100% Grass-Fed

Find Grass-Fed Beef at Illinois Grocery Stores

These retail brands are stocked at grocery chains in Illinois. Check the store locator on each brand's website for the nearest location.

Grocery Stores in Illinois with Grass-Fed Beef

  • Whole Foods MarketMultiple Chicago locations — largest selection in state
  • Mariano's / KrogerChicago metro — carries Verde Farms in most stores
  • Trader Joe'sChicago metro and select downstate cities
  • Sprouts Farmers MarketChicago suburbs
  • Natural GrocersChicagoland and select downstate
  • Sunset FoodsChicago North Shore suburbs — premium selection
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Verde Farms

Retail

Uruguay & USA

4.4

AGA-certified 100% grass-fed beef available at Whole Foods, Kroger, Target, Sprouts, and many regional chains. Sourced from Uruguay and domestic US farms. The most accessible grass-fed brand for shoppers who prefer to buy at retail.

American Grassfed Association (AGA)USDA Certified Organic (select products)Non-GMO Project Verified+1 more
$7–$20/lb
✓ 100% Grass-Fed
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Panorama Organic

Retail

California & Oregon, USA

4.4

Panorama Organic is a farmer-owned cooperative of 50+ ranches in California and Oregon producing USDA Certified Organic, 100% grass-fed beef. As a cooperative, the farmers own the brand and share in profits — and all 500,000+ acres of pasture are certified organic.

USDA Certified OrganicAmerican Grassfed Association (AGA)Non-GMO Project Verified+2 more
$8–$25/lb
✓ 100% Grass-Fed✓ Organic
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Thousand Hills Lifetime Grazed

Retail

Midwest, Northeast & West USA (50+ farms)

½
4.5

Thousand Hills Lifetime Grazed is one of the few brands to explicitly certify that cattle were never fed grain at any stage of life — not even in the feedlot before slaughter. AGA-certified and Audubon Bird-Friendly certified across all 50 ranches in their Midwest, Northeast, and West Coast network.

American Grassfed Association (AGA)Audubon Conservation Ranching / Bird-Friendly LandNon-GMO Project Verified+2 more
$10–$55/lb
✓ 100% Grass-Fed
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Force of Nature

Retail

Multi-state USA + select AU/NZ farms

½
4.6

Force of Nature sources 100% grass-fed beef and ancestral meats (bison, elk, venison) from a network of regeneratively managed ranches across the US. Their signature product is blended ground meat incorporating organ meats, making nutrient-dense eating easy. Available at Whole Foods and online.

Land Steward Index (proprietary regenerative pledge)Land to Market / Savory Institute (select ranches)No Antibiotics Ever+2 more
$14–$45/lb
✓ 100% Grass-Fed
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Pederson's Natural Farms

Retail

United States (Hamilton, Texas HQ)

4.4

Pederson's Natural Farms is a Texas-based meat company founded in 1992, best known for pioneering no-sugar-added bacon nationwide. They offer USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified grass-fed beef alongside their clean-label pork products — all free from nitrates, hormones, antibiotics, MSG, and gluten. Widely available at Whole Foods, Sprouts, HEB, and online.

USDA Certified Organic (select lines)Non-GMO Project VerifiedWhole30 Approved+2 more
$10–$20/lb equiv.
✓ 100% Grass-Fed✓ Organic

Buying Tips for Illinois Shoppers

  • 1Green City Market in Lincoln Park (Wednesday and Saturday, year-round) is Chicago's premier farmers market and regularly features Midwest ranchers selling grass-fed beef direct — worth visiting before ordering online.
  • 2Whole Foods in Chicago's Lincoln Park, River North, and Gold Coast neighborhoods have the most comprehensive grass-fed selections in the state, including Force of Nature, Thousand Hills, and Verde Farms.
  • 3Seven Sons (Indiana) offers next-day or 2-day delivery to most Illinois addresses — competitive pricing and broad product variety make them a strong online option for Illinois households.
  • 4Northstar Bison (Wisconsin) ships to Illinois with reliable Midwest transit times and is an excellent option if you want grass-fed bison alongside beef.
  • 5For downstate Illinois, Dierbergs Markets and Shop 'n Save (St. Louis metro area) carry Verde Farms and occasional grass-fed options in their natural beef sections.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find grass-fed beef in Chicago?
Green City Market (Lincoln Park, year-round) is the best source for farm-direct grass-fed beef in Chicago. For retail, Whole Foods (multiple locations), Mariano's, Trader Joe's, and Sprouts all carry certified grass-fed brands. Publican Quality Meats in the West Loop is an excellent butcher shop with premium grass-fed options.
What's the best delivery service for grass-fed beef in Illinois?
Seven Sons (Indiana, neighboring state) offers the fastest delivery to Illinois — most Chicago and downstate addresses receive orders in 1–2 days. ButcherBox and Crowd Cow are also popular with Illinois customers. Free delivery thresholds and transit times vary by service.
Does Mariano's carry grass-fed beef in Illinois?
Yes — Mariano's (a Kroger brand) stocks Verde Farms (AGA certified) at most Chicago-area locations in the natural beef section. It's one of the most accessible certified grass-fed options given Mariano's wide Chicago footprint.
Are there downstate Illinois grass-fed beef farms?
Yes — EatWild.com lists Illinois farms by county with concentrations in the Shawnee Hills region of southern Illinois, the Galena area in the northwest, and the Springfield/Sangamon Valley. The Illinois Stewardship Alliance at ilstewards.org also lists local food producers.
Is Thousand Hills Lifetime Grazed available in Illinois?
Yes — Thousand Hills (Minnesota-based, Midwest network) is available at Chicago Whole Foods locations and select natural food stores in the state. Their AGA certification and Audubon Bird-Friendly certification make them among the most rigorously verified grass-fed options on Chicago shelves.

Other States