Our Story

I grew up in Shepherd, Michigan, a small agricultural community where farming wasn’t just a job, it was a way of life. Both of my grandparents were farmers, and my parents grew up on farms. My grandparents kept a massive garden, and I spent countless hours at their side, learning what it meant to work the land and respect the food it produced.

Growing up, we always had a deep freezer in our garage, stocked with a quarter of a beef from a local farmer. That freezer meant we ate meat we trusted, raised by people we knew, and it gave me an appreciation for how much better food tastes when you know where it comes from.

Years later, when I read Michael Pollan’s In Defense of Food, one line stayed with me: “If you’re going to eat meat, eat local.” It made me realize that what my family did instinctively, buying beef directly from a farmer, wasn’t possible for most people in the city. Not everyone has freezer space, time to source, or connections to local farms.

Most of us want to eat better, but we just don’t always know how. And food labels today? They’re confusing. Even working in this industry, I still get overwhelmed at the store. That’s where the idea for Local Pastures started. I wanted to make it easier to get local, high-quality meat from farmers who deeply care, delivered straight to your door.

I created this because I believe consumers deserve better. Better food. Better transparency. Better health. Every box you receive supports independent farms and keeps your dollars in our local agricultural economy. It’s not just about eating local. It’s about knowing where your food comes from, what’s in it (and what’s not), and being confident you can trust the food on your table.

For me, this isn’t just a business. It’s a way to reconnect eaters with the farmers and land that sustains them. I’m proud to bring you meat you can feel good about: local, pasture-raised, and rooted in the same agricultural values I was raised with.

Rachel Travis
Founder, Local Pastures