A tomato is not a tri-tip.
Obvious? Of course — manifestly obvious. But when it comes to local food, the distinction is worth making. That’s because it’s far easier for family farmers to sell their tomatoes (and other produce) than it is for family ranchers to get their meat in front of buyers.
Why? Raising animals is costly. Labyrinthine regulations govern the meat industry. And commercial buyers like stores and restaurants want a consistent supply of product (a challenge also faced by smaller farmers with their crops).
Put simply: “Bringing animals to market is a tough thing to do,” said Chris Flocchini, whose family both distributes meat, through its Sierra Meat & Seafood of Reno, and raises meat, through its Durham Bison Ranch in Wyoming.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: Reno Gazette-Journal