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Young Farmer works to meet consumer needs

One West Michigan family farm has been direct marketing beef since the 1980’s and as interest in local food has grown, so has their business.

“In the mid-90s we decided there was enough demand for our product that we could open an actual retail store where we could sell not just halves, quarters and wholes, but individual retail cuts.  That took off and we’ve opened three more since then.”

Bryon Heffron now operates Heffron Farms Market with his brother and father, servicing the Grand Rapids region.  He says having more interaction with consumers has changed how they farm and led them to raise natural beef without antibiotics.

“Ultimately the consumer is the one that decides how we do what we do.”

Heffron was recognized as Michigan’s Young Farmer Achievement Award Winner and will compete at American Farm Bureau Federation’s upcoming Annual Meeting with other young farmers across the nation.

AUDIO: Brownfield interview with Bryan Heffron during Michigan Farm Bureau’s Annual Meeting