Meat:
Wolf Pack Meats in Reno is all grass fed beef, slaughtered and packed on site. http://www.cabnr.unr.edu/wpm/ Cheapest grass fed around; we keep telling Mike he needs to put his prices up because they’re struggling. Many organs are often available because most people don’t want them, but you do have to beat the Basque restaurants to them. You can walk in and see what’s in the freezer, or you can order a quarter, half, or whole beef. You may have to wait for that, but you know all your meat is from one animal, and if you ask for the bones, the fat, the liver, the tongue, etc you can probably get them, unless the person buying the other half also wants them. They also have pork and lamb raised by local farms, not necessarily all grass fed but local and mostly range fed, no CAFOs. This is the only USDA certified slaughter and packing together in northern Nevada. We need to support them. (But don’t get the sausage and other more processed products, as the spice mixes they use are pretty suspect.) A farm here in the valley offering grass fed beef is Trimmer Outpost in Genoa, http://www.trimmeroutpost.com/products/ranchonebeef.html Home Grown Nevada in Smith Valley has moved to Oregon, the word is temporarily; in the meantime their Oregon-raised grass-fed is available at the co-op in Reno. There is a billboard around Johnson Lane advertising “Belgian Beef” that says grass fed. 775-230-0826. Not much other info; if anyone calls them let me know the details!
There are some other farms in Reno that offer subscription CSA type meat options; turkeys, chickens, and pork primarily. Girlfarm http://www.girlfarm.org/ is the main one. There’s a waiting list, but it’s probably worth getting on it, let our farmers know the desire is out there.
There’s also Montero Goat Farm in Fallon http://nevadagrown.com/montero-goat-farm/ which is primarily meat as well. I don’t know how she feeds but the animals are kept humanely.
Game is certainly an option here as well – Jackrabbits are considered vermin; no license or season. And with a license, deer are plentiful.
Hungry Mother Organics is getting into the egg business, and they may have a market for old layers in a year or two; they’ll want to know that we know what to do with an old hen instead of a roaster, so let’s keep telling them how we can’t wait.
The Mexican markets often have organs, pig’s feet, etc, but the quality is uncertain. You will have to weigh the benefit of the organs against the probably low quality animals.
Anyone selling eggs may be willing to sell you an old layer or a young cockerel, especially if you’re willing to butcher yourself. They may even *give* them to you.
There is an Azure Standard drop point in Carson, and they have a number of meat options that are not available shipped.
Dairy:
Milk. Well, illegal here in NV. Unless you keep your own goats or cow, or know someone who does who is willing to risk it for you, there’s really nothing in the fresh milk arena. If you’re willing to drive to Truckee the HFS there sometimes has OP. Likewise Placerville. Grass Roots in SLT has declined to carry it, but maybe with some added pressure…. though Mark has as many outlets as he can supply already, so maybe not.
Butter. Raley’s has Kerrygold butter, which is at least pastured. I have seen it occasionally at Costco as well.
Cheese. DuBois HFS in Carson sometimes has raw goat cheddar; you just have to keep checking the cooler. Costco occasionally has raw cheeses as well. Azure Standard has raw swiss and mozzarella available. Eggs are a lot easier. Sierra Feed at the corner of Waterloo and Centerville has eggs, and Hungry Mother is ramping up. A fair number of little ranchettes have signs hanging on the fence. DuBois in Carson usually has eggs as well. Most will be feeding standard soy based layer feed though. Plant It Nursery on Centerville sells the eggs produced by Golden Gourmet, which is pasturing the chickens in a 10 acre field off Waterloo. http://nevadagrown.com/golden-gourmet-eggs/ Organic feed, soy free, $4/doz last time I asked. If you decide to keep your own chickens, Azure Standard has soy free layer mash.
Produce:
There’s a farmer’s market at Lampe Park on Weds mornings, and one downtown on Esmerelda St on Tues eves, through the summer. They are mostly not fresh food though, but soap, crafts, starts, prepared food, etc. Nevada’s Own is usually there selling starts, and some fruit vendors from CA tend to turn out. Tomatoes and onions at the height of the season. But it’s worth the drive to Carson or SLT to get to a decent farmer’s market. Hungry Mother is offering more produce as opposed to plants and starts, and if you donate time they’ll pay you in eggs and produce. HM is also organizing a “Backyard Farmer’s” group. Make friends with people with gardens and you’ll at least get zucchini… The Great Basin Basket CSA http://www.greatbasinbasketcsa.com/ will deliver to Minden now, so that’s another option. It will mostly be what’s producing in your own garden, so bear that in mind if you have a garden. Come pumpkin season, try Alpine Farm right here in the CV. Pick your own berries at Bella Vista up by Johnson Lane. http://nevadagrown.com/338/
Bread: Truckee Sourdough has a number of sourdough options, so it’s at least been soaked. (They have some non-sour choices as well, so make sure when you grab the loaf.) They use non-brominated flour. Most of the local groceries carry them. Alvarado St Bakery has a sprouted grain loaf. Raley’s is the only one that carries them, AFAIK.
Ferments:
Raley’s has some nice kimchi in the cooler. The Asian markets in Reno have a number of options there as well. The Korean one on Rock Blvd esp has home made kimchi that’s quite good. The Asian Store on 5th St has natto. All are good sources for seaweeds and dried fish and mushrooms. Sometimes quality is an issue with the imported stuff, read labels carefully. Read the bulletin boards too – I have seen goat meat offered there, for instance.
Carson City has a little asian store on Fairview, across from Lowe’s. Kabayan Market. I checked it out recently – some kimchi in the cooler, a different brand than Raley’s carries. Naturally fermented soy sauce (Shoyu.) Fish sauce, tamarind paste, other interesting sauces and canned fruits. Mung beans. Some miso. Lots of whole frozen fish. Some small selection of produce. (Bok choy, yard long beans, eggplant, etc.) Didn’t see natto. Pretty good selection for as small as it is.
Restaurant notes:
The Basque restaurants almost always have organ meats on the menu. Tongue is common, sweetbreads, tripe, etc. This is a good way to sample these things if you’re unused to them. Not many places have as many choices in Basque food as we do. Make the most of it. JT’s, the Overland, and the Country Club are our local Basque eateries. Not cheap, but go hungry and fill up; Basque restaurants are all you can eat for all but the entree.
A lot of Mexican restaurants have good ceviche too. I especially recommend Jalisco in SLT.
I understand all you can eat sushi is unusual in most places, too, though common enough here. If you get the lunch price instead of dinner it’s not too bad; like the Basque places, go hungry and fill up. Lots of raw fish, and roe, and other seafood that doesn’t show up too often; eel, for example, and octopus. Again, this is a good way to sample these things, and perhaps get inspired to try them at home. We have Kim Lee’s next to Scolari’s, and Amerikan Ni over in the Lucerne center. Amerikan Ni uses artificial crab and flavors and colors the topiko, though, so choose carefully.
Other notes:
Mushrooms from Nevada’s Own in Smith Valley. http://www.nevadasown.com/oystermushroom.htm
Local honey is plentiful, but most local beekeepers are using antibiotics in the hive etc. Al’s Bees in Hidden Valley claims to be clean.
Come to the Locavore dinner put on every year at Trimmer’s Outpost by the Sustainable Living & Renewable Energy group here in the valley. This is a good way to meet your local growers.