Buying a beef share means becoming a fractional owner of a live animal. This process is the most transparent way to fill your freezer with local, high-quality beef.

1. Understanding Live Animal Shares 

To comply with local regulations, we sell our beef based on the Hanging Weight.

• The Process: Hanging weight is the weight of the animal after harvest, but before it is cut into steaks and roasts.
• The Math: We do the "Freezer Math" for you on every product page. This shows you exactly what your price per pound is for the actual packaged beef you put in your freezer, so there is no guesswork.
• The Payment: You’ll pay a deposit to reserve your spot, and the final balance is due once the butcher provides the official weight.

2. The Harvest & Processing

We prioritize the well-being of our cattle and the quality of your food by choosing a specific path:

• On-Farm Harvest: We utilize a mobile harvest unit so the animal never has to be loaded onto a trailer or sent to a loud, crowded facility. This "no-stress" approach is better for the animal and ensures the highest quality meat.
• Small-Scale Quality: We use local, family-owned processing facilities. By avoiding the massive scale of USDA facilities, our partners can offer more attention to detail, cleaner handling, and better service.
• Regulatory Standard: Our butcher is a Custom Exempt facility regulated by Virginia state authorities, meeting strict food safety and cleanliness standards.

3. Freezer Space Guide

Beef shares are more compact than you might expect. Here is a rough guide:

• 1/16 Beef (~25 lbs): 1 cu. ft. (Fits in a standard fridge-freezer)
• 1/8 Beef (~55 lbs): 1.5–2 cu. ft.
• 1/4 Beef (~110 lbs): 3–4 cu. ft.
• 1/2 Beef (~220 lbs): 7–9 cu. ft.

4. Customizing Your Cuts

• 1/16, 1/8, and 1/4 Shares: These use our Standard Cut Plan. We’ve curated this list to ensure every share receives a fair variety of steaks, roasts, and ground beef.
• 1/2 Shares: You may choose our Standard Cut or a Custom Cut Plan (for an additional fee). This allows you to select specific steak thickness and bone-in or boneless preferences.

5. Packaging & Freshness

All beef is vacuum-sealed, individually labeled, and flash-frozen. This packaging protects the meat and keeps it fresh in your freezer until you are ready to eat it.

6. Pickup Locations

We offer pickup at two locations:

• Louisa, VA: At the Farm.
• Marshall, VA: Serving our Northern Virginia customers.

7. Our Promise

When you buy from Solstice Beef Company, you are supporting a family farm that cares for the land and the cattle. We take pride in raising healthy animals and providing food you can feel good about serving your family.