Learn about our business, our passion and the remarkable producers behind our delicious local meats.
Ourfood hubbegan with a little bit of luck, a lot of determination, and a generous dose of community support. We met in 2008 when Jennifer was the Director of NC Choices, a Center for Environmental Farming Systems project devoted to helping North Carolina’s pasture-based livestock producers and Tina was pursuing her MBA at UNC-Chapel Hill. We discovered a shared interest in the well-being of family farmers and in preserving our state’s natural beauty and agricultural heritage. We saw in each other kindred spirits who are energized by solving problems and believe that business can and should be a tool for creating social and environmental good.
In a world of commerce dominated by global supply chain arrangements, small-scale farmers are often denied access to market opportunities. We set out to change that by building a robust market for local, pasture-raised meats that consumers can trust were raised humanely in a spirit of fairness and stewardship. From our humble beginnings as Durham’s first mobile Sausage Wagon, Firsthand Foods has grown into a food hub that feeds the growing demand for locally sourced and downright delicious beef, pork and lamb.
“Firsthand’s transparency and unwavering commitment to the longterm struggle that underscores the reality of sourcing things locally is no small thing. There is a great deal of courage required to be at the forefront of the movement.”
Kevin Callaghan, Chef/Owner Acme(Carrboro, NC)
The bedrock of our business is a network of remarkable small-scale pasture-based livestock producers who share our values and meet our standards. They sell us their animals and we aggregate and schedule across our networks to ensure a consistent supply of fresh meats. In turn, we provide our farmers with meat quality and pasture management information, enabling them to make adjustments as needed to meet our customers’ exacting standards. Firsthand Foods’ mission is to help build a sustainable food system that allows small and mid-sized livestock producers to thrive. We aim to connect North Carolina’s pasture-based pork and beef producers to our state’s burgeoning local food economy on equitable and transparent terms.
“The folks at Firsthand Foods freakin’ listen to us. It’s a unique relationship. We share the same values when it comes to quality, pasture-raised production and transparency. We tell our customers that we get our beef from a company that gives a shit about people, the planet and our restaurant.”
Donnie Glass, Chef/Owner Grisette(Richmond, VA)
Every week, our team takes on the “whole animal utilization” challenge. Whether it’s the shoulder, the rib or the tail, we’re making sure to find a good home for each part. Working with our local processing partners, we customize our products to meet the evolving needs of our customers.
Bringing the Honest Goodness To You
At the end of the day, we’re in the relationship business and treating folks with respect and transparency is central to our model. We’re excited to build a new way to bring meat to your table and inspired to be a part of a dynamic and equitable food community that allows every person, animal and place to thrive.
Look for Firsthand Foods atrestaurantsandretailersthroughout the region and be sure to check out our “shop direct” options, where we bring our honest goodness directly to consumers.
© 2026 Firsthand Foods.
