The cows here never eat grain. Not once, not even at the very end, when most cattle get fattened up on corn.
Instead, they move to fresh pasture every single day. In winter, they munch on silage grown right in the farm’s own fields.
Okay, that’s dedication.
What gets me is the next part. This New Jersey farm runs its own USDA-inspected processing facility on site.
So the beef goes from pasture to package without a long truck ride to somewhere else.
Then it lands in a little farm store at the end of a long driveway. You can buy steaks, eggs, bacon, and local ice cream while chickens roam nearby.
I’d absolutely make a detour for that.
Grass From Start To Finish, And They Mean It
Plenty of beef gets called grass-fed these days. At Lima Family Farms, the label goes all the way to the finish line.
The farm raises 100% grass-fed and grass-finished Black Angus cattle. That means no grain at any stage, including those final months before processing.
Here’s how it works. The herd rotates across pastures and moves to fresh grass every day.
That daily shuffle keeps the cows eating new growth. It also gives the land a break to recover, which is a big part of regenerative farming.
Winter brings a different menu. The cows eat silage harvested from the farm’s own fields, so their food still comes from home.
The farm also skips a long list of extras. Its cattle receive no growth hormones, its pastures are managed without synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides, and its poultry is raised without antibiotics.
Why should you care? Grass-finished beef tends to be leaner than grain-finished beef, so it cooks a bit differently.
A smart tip is to cook it slightly lower and keep an eye on it. Lean steaks can go from perfect to overdone faster than you expect.
Either way, you know exactly what these cattle ate. That’s a pretty rare thing to say about a package of ground beef.
The On-Farm Processing Plant Is A Big Deal Around Here
In 2023, the farm did something very few New Jersey farms can claim. It opened a USDA-inspected red meat processing facility right on the property.
That changes everything about the journey from field to freezer. The animals are processed, cut, prepped, and packaged in one place.
Most farms have to load their animals onto trucks. Then they drive them to a distant processor, sometimes for hours.
Lima Family Farms skips that whole trip. The animals avoid the stress of long transport, which matters for their welfare.
It also gives the farm tight control over quality and food safety. Nobody else handles the meat along the way.
The facility processes up to four cows and four pigs each week. That’s a small, careful pace, not a factory line.
For shoppers, it means real transparency. You can see the pasture, the barns, and the store all on the same land.
I have to admit, that’s the detail I keep coming back to. Knowing your steak never left the farm until you carried it out is pretty satisfying.
It also helps explain why popular cuts can sell out. Small batches mean the freezer stock moves fast.
A Long Driveway Leads To The Good Stuff
Finding the store is half the fun. The farm sits at 826 Amwell Road in Hillsborough Township, New Jersey.
From Amwell Road, you head up a long driveway. Pastures and animals line the way before the farm store appears on your left.
The setting is lovely, too. Lima Family Farms rests in the rolling hills of the Sourland Mountains, with wide pasture views in nearly every direction.
It’s a nice change from a grocery store parking lot. Instead of shopping carts, you might spot cows grazing or chickens wandering.
Timing matters, so plan ahead. The farm store opens Fridays from 11 AM to 5 PM.
On Saturdays and Sundays, it runs from 10 AM to 4 PM. It stays closed Monday through Thursday.
For some special events, the farm uses a different entrance for parking. That one is at 86 Rainbow Hill Road.
Check the farm’s announcements before heading out for an event. It saves you from circling the hills looking for a lot.
One more tip: pack a cooler if you live far away. A stock-up trip is easier when your steaks stay cold all the way home.
Your Freezer Is About To Get Very Full
Beef may be the headliner, but the freezers hold much more. The farm store stocks Lima’s own beef, pork, chicken, and eggs.
So you can plan a whole week of meals in one stop. Steak night, pork chops, and a roast chicken can all come from the same farm.
The pork comes from pasture-raised pigs. They forage outdoors and get a Non-GMO mix of locally grown grains.
Shoppers will find cuts like bacon, sausage, and even pork roll. Yes, a farm-raised take on a true Jersey classic.
Turkeys join the lineup too, mainly around Thanksgiving. If you want one, it pays to think ahead before November sneaks up.
Beef options can stretch beyond the usual steaks and ground beef. Organ meats like heart have shown up in the case as well.
A friendly heads-up: popular items can run low. With only a few animals processed each week, certain cuts disappear quickly.
Bacon in particular has a reputation for vanishing fast. Grab it when you see it.
Bring a list, but stay flexible. Sometimes the best plan is whatever looks great in the freezer that day.
Chickens That Move House Twice A Day
Some chickens get a coop. The birds at Lima Family Farms get a moving van.
Broiler chickens live on pasture in mobile hoop houses. The farm moves those houses twice a day, giving the birds fresh ground often.
Laying hens have their own setup. They roam free-range and use mobile hen houses for roosting and nesting.
Those hen houses move daily too. That keeps the hens on clean grass and spreads their natural fertilizer across the fields.
All the poultry eat a mix of local Non-GMO grains and organic minerals. They also get no antibiotics or steroids.
What does that mean for your kitchen? You get eggs from hens that actually spend their days outside, pecking and scratching.
Eggs are one of the easiest ways to taste the difference. Crack a pasture-raised egg next to a basic store egg and compare the yolks.
Whole chickens are another smart buy. Roast one on Sunday, then turn the bones into broth for the week.
Honestly, a chicken with a daily change of scenery lives better than most of us. It’s a lot of hauling for the farmers, and the effort shows.
Asparagus, Garlic, And Apples Grown On The Same Land
Meat might draw you in, but the produce bins deserve a look. Lima Family Farms grows some of its own fruits and vegetables.
The farm’s produce selection includes asparagus, garlic, radishes, beets, apples, and seasonal berries. Some items are sourced from neighboring farms, so availability and origins may vary.
Not everything grows on site, and the farm is open about that. It also brings in seasonal produce from partner farms nearby.
Martenette Farms and Rolling Hills Farm are two of those partners. They help fill the shelves with things like lettuce mix, spinach, arugula, and tomatoes.
Raspberries and blackberries can show up in season too. Summer visits tend to bring the most color to the table.
Here’s a practical move. Pair a grass-fed steak with a bag of arugula and some local tomatoes for an easy dinner.
Roasted beets and garlic make a great side for pork, too. Everything comes from the same short drive.
Because it’s seasonal, the selection changes through the year. Spring might mean asparagus, while fall leans toward apples.
That shifting lineup is part of the charm. Every trip feels a little different from the last.
Half The Store Shelves Belong To Their Neighbors
Ice cream next to the steaks? That’s the kind of shopping trip I can support.
The farm store doubles as a hub for other New Jersey producers. Lima Family Farms wants a stronger local food system, so it shares shelf space generously.
Dairy comes from Hun-Val Dairy Farm. Look for milk, cream, butter, cheese, and ice cream.
Bread arrives from Sourland Bread. Pasta comes from LoRe Pasta Shop, which makes spaghetti night pretty simple.
The list keeps going. Lamb comes from Mt.
Salem Farm, honey from S&J Apiary, and oats from Morganics Farm.
Bone broth from Nourish To Heal is on hand too. You’ll even find coffee, tallow skincare, and homemade dog treats.
So yes, your dog gets a souvenir. Fair is fair.
This mix turns a meat run into a full grocery trip. You can grab dinner, breakfast, and dessert without stopping anywhere else.
It also spreads your dollars across several small businesses at once. That feels good, especially when the products are this local.
Tip: check the freezer for surprises. Smaller vendor items rotate, so new finds pop up now and then.
From 206 Acres To A Whole Lot More Pasture
Back in 2007, John and Kathy Lima started with 206 acres. That was already plenty of land for one family to tend.
The farm kept growing from there. Today it covers well over 360 acres of pasture and fields.
Kate Kadri is also listed among the owners alongside John and Kathy. It’s still very much a family operation at heart.
Over the years, the focus stayed steady. Regenerative farming, land care, and community connection guide nearly every decision.
The farm has hosted special events too. Past gatherings include Agriculture in Action days with tours and farmer talks.
Spring Pop-up Markets with local vendors have appeared on the calendar as well. Fundraiser picnics have brought neighbors together on the grounds.
Events change from year to year, so watch the farm’s announcements. A pop-up market is a fun excuse to linger longer.
For a New Jersey farm, this story stands out. Few places grow, raise, process, and sell their food all on the same hills.
That full circle is what makes a visit memorable. You leave with dinner and a better sense of how it got to your plate.
