Now that your pantry is stocked with Idaho bread and your fridge is full of Idaho dairy products, it’s time to add in local proteins. The selection of local meats available year around ranges from beef to turkeyto rabbit. With this much variety, it’s easy to choose Idaho meats and you will never have to worry about getting bored!

Are you craving a juicy steak or the comfort of slow-cooked pot roast with Idaho potatoes? Then look for quality beef produced in Idaho.  Homestead Natural and 24 West  Ranch offer all natural grass-fed beef, Sisler Ranch offers a variety of cuts of their natural beef, Vogel Farms has grass and grain fed beef, and be sure to try Weiser River Signature beef from the Weiser River Valley available at the Boise Co-Op. For a special occasion treat try world-famous Snake River Farms American Kobe Beef and one of our newest members, M &N Cattle sells American Kobe Beef at Capital City Market and Bown Crossing Market in the summer.  What’s more traditional in Idaho than local lamb?  Lamb is delicious when prepared properly and is available from Blue Sage Farms in Shoshone or you can buy  grass-fed lamb on line from Lava Lake Lamb in Ketchum.

In addition to high quality red meats, Idaho produces several poultry options including organic and free-range chickens and turkeys.  Or for something a little different, try pheasant available from CA Bull Elk Ranch. And we can’t forget the trout! Idaho is the largest producer of food size trout in the U.S. accounting for 72% of all trout raised in the US. We all need to add more fish to our diets – so make it Idaho trout!

Although we can’t all agree if pork is red or “The Other White” meat, it is another protein option for Idaho Locavores. Love bacon?  Then look for Falls Brand varieties at several local retailers.  Hardball Farms in Nampa produces high quality pork as does Homestead Natural who offers pasture raised Idaho pork.  Vogel Farms in Kuna produces both grass and grain fed pork. Find great Basque chorizo and sausage made by Gem Pack at Paul’s markets or contact Big Lost River Meats or Hog Heaven Sausage for a variety of hand-made sausage products.  For some great pork recipes like Roasted Pork and Apples or Grilled Pork Sirloin with spicy onion puree visit http://idahopreferred.com/consumers/recipes/.

Looking to try something new? What about chevon (goat meat) provided by Simon Boers of Hagerman?Around the world goat is a favorite dish. If you are interested in learning more about all things goat, read this great article at  by Idaho food writer Guy Hand. Not ready yet to try goat - but still looking for something new? How about rabbit! Rabbit is lean and high in protein. It is very versatile - great cooked in a stew or roasted and served with winter vegetables. And if you don’t want to prepare it yourself, visit Cucina Gemelli in Twin Falls where Chef Lynn Sheehan prepares dishes with both Idaho goat and rabbit meats.

Finally, if you didn’t have any luck hunting this year  - don’t worry! Idaho producers raise both elk and venison that is available on line and in specialty markets. Elk is available through CA Bull Elk Ranch in Hazelton and Black Pine Deer Farm near McCall offers venison in a variety of different cuts from stew meat to steaks.

With all of these great Idaho meat choices, it’s really not hard to keep your resolution of eating one locally produced item each week. For a list of Idaho Preferred meat producers visit http://idahopreferred.com/consumers/meat.htm.