Connecting Cairncrest Farm to Brooklyn
My name is Garth, and I started Cairncrest Farm with my wife Alanna, my brother Ed, and my sister-in-law Normandy. From the beginning I had the goal of connecting Brooklyn and the rest of the city directly with a reliable, transparent source of grass fed beef, pastured organic chicken, and more. What do I mean by transparency? You can read all the details about it here, but the basic idea is simple. I want you to have a straightforward answer to any question you might have, and there's a lot of info on the website. But you can also call me directly at (267) 625-0542, and you can visit the farm.
There are plenty of problems with the American food system, but the fundamental issue is opacity. From the exploitative labor conditions of the big processing plants to fraud in farms that purport to do the same thing as mine to confusing labelling at Whole Foods, the companies that put food onto plates rely on secrecy. The solution, I think, is to shorten the supply chain rather than lengthen it, to directly connect people who care about welfare, the environment, and community with farms that share their values.
To this end, Cairncrest Farm delivers to all of Brooklyn every week.
I'm committed to the growth of alternative agriculture broadly, and as a farmer I'm often frustrated by the way big brands push out actual farms online. Even if you don't decide to buy from me, I hope you'll take a look of this directory of farms I've made, all of which sell grass fed beef.
The Old Delivery System
Prior to COVID I would deliver to in-person meet ups around Brooklyn every month. I would start in Flatbush, head through Park Slope and DUMBO, then end up In Bed-Stuy. It was always fun to take a tour of the neighborhoods and to meet customers face to face, but it was also a logistical challenge, and driving a delivery van through city traffic was hard.Further, even though I had meet ups throughout Brooklyn and New York City as a whole, it was nevertheless impossible to figure out times and locations that were convenient for many customers.
The New Approach
I'd already been trying to figure out the best alternative, but with the onset of the pandemic in person meet ups didn't make sense. I now ship directly to your door, using insulated, recyclable liners. Orders placed by Sunday are delivered to all of Brooklyn on Wednesday. This has proved to be much more efficient and easier for everyone, but as I said a moment ago, I miss meeting customers. So I'll repeat my invitation here - it if you're ever upstate, please come visit!