# Butchers Selling Family Packs, Variety Packs, Bundles, etc.: Is This A Thing Where You Live? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [May 22, 2021, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butchers-selling-family-packs-variety-packs-bundles-etc-is-this-a-thing-where-you-live/942711 "2021-05-22T22:02:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butchers-selling-family-packs-variety-packs-bundles-etc-is-this-a-thing-where-you-live/942711/1 "2021-05-22T22:02:54Z")
Here in Missouri, I recently bought a family pack from a local, independent butcher (viz, not an employee of a chain grocer). For $82 I got 10 pounds of ground beef, five5 pounds of ground pork sausage, five pounds of pork steaks, and three pounds of bacon. Not sure what I saved vs. paying for those items off the shelf, but nevertheless, it’s a good deal. AND, I get to support a [local business](https://www.facebook.com/rublesmeatmarket/) AND purchase meat that was humanely and organically raised and not factory-farmed. A couple of local butchers did this back in Springfield, Illinois where I used to live, as well. Having never been in a position to patronize a butcher outside of these two locations, I don’t know if this is a Midwest thing or typical for butchers nationwide and/or worldwide. So Dopers: do butchers in your neck of the woods sell meat in all-for-one-price bundles? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butchers-selling-family-packs-variety-packs-bundles-etc-is-this-a-thing-where-you-live/942711/2 "2021-05-22T22:07:13Z")
Yes they do. However, since I choose not to eat pork at home I don’t have much use for them. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butchers-selling-family-packs-variety-packs-bundles-etc-is-this-a-thing-where-you-live/942711/3 "2021-05-22T22:15:41Z")
Our local butcher does this as well as selling 1/2 sides of pork and beef cut and wrapped. They also do wild game processing as well. The bundles work out pretty well. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butchers-selling-family-packs-variety-packs-bundles-etc-is-this-a-thing-where-you-live/942711/4 "2021-05-22T22:23:52Z")
Yes, But I’ve found that they tend to include a crappy overvalued cut and they always resemble a pretty bleak 1960’s menu plan. Two roasts for Sundays. A couple pork chop nights but the really thinly sliced bone-in style. Cheap chicken hindquarters. Burger, sausage and hot dogs for low cost filler. I can do better from a cost and quality standpoint, but it’s also something I enjoy like a minor hobby. For a single parent or a low income family it might be just what they need. It also can be a budget friendly for low income families that might not always make it to the next paycheck. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butchers-selling-family-packs-variety-packs-bundles-etc-is-this-a-thing-where-you-live/942711/5 "2021-05-22T22:28:12Z")
> [@swampspruce](#): > > They also do wild game processing as well. Any butcher ‘round here that didn’t do wild game processing would go out of business. Huntin’ is yuge around here. ---
**Author:** ![Bonum\_Legatum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bonum_legatum/32/6183_2.png) [@Bonum\_Legatum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonum_Legatum)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butchers-selling-family-packs-variety-packs-bundles-etc-is-this-a-thing-where-you-live/942711/6 "2021-05-22T22:31:32Z")
I first saw this at an butcher shop that catered to one of the local, well-established “ethnic” populations. Now it appears to be going more mainstream: > **[Shop | cattlemansmeats](https://www.cattlemansmeats.com/shop)** > > Order our meat bundles online today and pickup ready order next day. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butchers-selling-family-packs-variety-packs-bundles-etc-is-this-a-thing-where-you-live/942711/7 "2021-05-22T23:02:42Z")
My butcher does it monthly or seasonally. The quality is always high but we have a tiny freezer right now so their 20 lbs of meat pack is more than we can buy. > **[EdwardsMeatsMay2021.pdf](https://edwards-meats.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/EdwardsMeatsMay2021.pdf)** > > 964.34 KB ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2021, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butchers-selling-family-packs-variety-packs-bundles-etc-is-this-a-thing-where-you-live/942711/8 "2021-05-23T03:01:44Z")
There are at least two in my rather urban area. I’ll probably be looking into their offerings when freezer space permits. ---
**Author:** ![steepone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@steepone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steepone)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2021, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butchers-selling-family-packs-variety-packs-bundles-etc-is-this-a-thing-where-you-live/942711/9 "2021-05-23T03:45:02Z")
Most butchers I’ve seen here in Western Australia will have various variety packs for sale, barbecue packs (usually a mix of steak, lamb chops and sausages) are very common ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2021, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butchers-selling-family-packs-variety-packs-bundles-etc-is-this-a-thing-where-you-live/942711/10 "2021-05-23T10:01:57Z")
> [@sitchensis](#): > > Yes, But I’ve found that they tend to include a crappy overvalued cut and they always resemble a pretty bleak 1960’s menu plan. Based both on my observation of neighbors and on my very informal surveys of what my grocery customers are buying, there are a LOT of people eating like it’s 1960 out there, down the boiled-to-death vegetables and molded jello salads. So it probably works fine for them. > [@sitchensis](#): > > Two roasts for Sundays. A couple pork chop nights but the really thinly sliced bone-in style. Cheap chicken hindquarters. Burger, sausage and hot dogs for low cost filler. > > I can do better from a cost and quality standpoint, but it’s also something I enjoy like a minor hobby. For a single parent or a low income family it might be just what they need. It also can be a budget friendly for low income families that might not always make it to the next paycheck. It would also be quite a step up from a health/nutrition standpoint compared to what some people are currently eating, but I suspect the folks currently subsisting on frozen pizza, hotpockets, tostitoes, and frozen burritos are probably not inclined to cook much if at all, so it probably wouldn’t be helpful for them. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2021, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butchers-selling-family-packs-variety-packs-bundles-etc-is-this-a-thing-where-you-live/942711/11 "2021-05-23T23:41:32Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > It would also be quite a step up from a health/nutrition standpoint compared to what some people are currently eating, but I suspect the folks currently subsisting on frozen pizza, hotpockets, tostitoes, and frozen burritos are probably not inclined to cook much if at all, so it probably wouldn’t be helpful for them. I pay attention to what’s in the cart of the person in front of me at the register. It gives me something to do while they slowly unload their cart while trying to talk on the phone held to their head with their good hand. I have been amazed how often I see somebody buying what’s clearly a lot more than just dinner for 1 tonight, and 100% of what they are buying is frozen in a box or is soda or is snax. Then I look at my cart. It’s all food, there’s no boxes at all, and about the only stuff in a factory sealed container is peanut butter or tomato paste. There’s snax in mine too, but they’re nuts and fruits. To each their own. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2021, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butchers-selling-family-packs-variety-packs-bundles-etc-is-this-a-thing-where-you-live/942711/12 "2021-05-23T23:46:17Z")
I play that game as well (judging what the other supermarket customers are buying), although they’re usually buying more interesting stuff than I am). ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2021, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butchers-selling-family-packs-variety-packs-bundles-etc-is-this-a-thing-where-you-live/942711/13 "2021-05-23T23:57:07Z")
Yes. But as there’s only two of us and the mix of products usually doesn’t suit, I don’t use any of them.