A Look into Heinen’s Local Beef

Heinen’s and local go hand-in-hand. For nearly 90 years, Heinen’s has provided customers with fresh, quality products, many of which come directly from local farmers and artisans. From fresh fruits and vegetables found at local produce auctions, to meat from small, family-owned cattle farms, Heinen’s local footprint spans throughout our entire store and region.

About 66 miles south of Cleveland is Ashland, Ohio, home to Glenn Farms, a source of Heinen’s local beef. Six years ago, Heinen’s began partnering with local cattle farmers, like Gordon Glenn, to bring customers a fresh, wholesome meat option for their dinner table. As we grew to understand the local beef industry, we also learned to appreciate grass-fed farming practices for the value they lend to the nutrition and taste of local beef.

Beef that is classified as 100% grass-fed means that the product was raised on a clean diet of grass and forage, likely without the use of antibiotics or added chemicals. This results in beef that is higher in Omega-3 and Vitamin E and full of hearty flavor. These points of difference led us to develop a grass-fed selection in our Meat Department that celebrates our local farmer’s commitment to producing delicious, 100% grass-fed beef.

Since beginning his cattle farming career in 1999, Gordon Glenn has been committed to running a 100% grass-fed farm. From Black Angus to Red Angus, Glenn has helped Heinen’s maintain a robust, year-round selection of fresh, grass-fed beef.

How has Glenn developed and maintained this grass-fed regiment? With an adequate amount of forage, it’s actually quite simple. These cattle have a four-chambered stomach, which is uniquely designed for digesting grass. This means that a grass diet not only tastes natural for the cattle, but promotes optimal health, so Glenn does not have to use any hormones, antibiotics or chemicals on the cattle or the grass that they eat.

It is through partnerships with farmers like Gordon Glenn, who have a commitment to upholding clean, ethical and sustainable farming practices that has allowed Heinen’s to truly redefine what it means to be a farm-to-table grocer. We are proud to work with these talented local farmers to bring you and your family the freshest, healthiest and most delicious beef from trusted local sources.