From Gate to Plate: Direct Meat Sales and Markets

In this live farm-chat, I’m joined by Craig from Maesllyn Meatboxes, Paul from Bramblebee Farms, and engineer–inventor Alan from Farming Solutions. We dig into the realities of selling meat direct: why face‑to‑face markets often outperform online, how footfall and consistent posting can turn the tide, and smart ways to move stock without filling freezers (hello, quickfire Facebook auctions). Craig shares his leap from HGV driver to beef producer selling at four markets a week; Paul explains how disciplined daily content and customer conversations built a thriving butchery and farm shop; and we kick around practical ideas from pop‑ups at busy pubs to trying high‑footfall car‑boot sites and campsite drops in peak season. Alan gets hands‑on with animal health and TB risk reduction, outlining simple biosecurity upgrades (raised troughs, badger‑proof mineral stands, tidy yards) and the value of testing latrines over “blind” approaches. We compare notes on tenant‑farming pressures, volatile store prices, diesel and fertiliser costs, social media burnout, and why co‑ops and local processing could put pricing power back in farmers’ hands. It’s an honest, good‑humoured tour through what’s working now—and where the industry must pull together next.'Maesllyn Meatboxes (Craig) – Online Farm Shop': https://maesllynmeatboxes.co.uk/'Bramblebee Farms – Butchery, Farm Shop and Deliveries': https://www.bramblebeefarms.co.uk/'Farming Solutions Ltd (Alan) – Handling Systems & Biosecurity': https://www.farmingsolutionsltd.com/'TB Buster – Badger‑proof Mineral Bucket Stand (Farming Solutions Ltd)': https://www.farmingsolutionsltd.com/tb-busters'Clipex UK – Cattle & Sheep Handling Systems': https://clipex.co.uk/'St Dogmaels Local Producers’ Market (Cardigan)': https://www.stdogmaelsabbey.org.uk/producers_market.php'Holbeach Market (Lincolnshire)': https://www.holbeach.org.uk/en/market'Food Finders Hub – UK Local Food Directory': https://foodfindershub.org/'NFU (England & Wales) – National Farmers’ Union': https://www.nfuonline.com/'FUW – Farmers’ Union of Wales': https://fuw.org.uk/'DEFRA – Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (UK)': https://www.gov.uk/guidance/contact-defra'RSPB Nene Washes (referenced wetland grazing context)': https://www.rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves/nene-washes'Applecross Farm (Cheshire) – Events & Smoked Produce': https://www.applecrossfarm.com/events