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NIKU Farms is an online marketplace that connects customers directly to meat products from local farms. All our farms meet high standards for ethically grown meat that is raised on pasture and is free from antibiotics, hormones, and additives. We are a mission-driven company, with the aim of putting farms first, supporting ethically raised meat, and connecting customers directly with their local farms.
How does NIKU select farms?Each of our farms has been individually vetted, visited, and reviewed before being selected as a partner.
Our partner farms agree to follow our strict raising standards for producing the highest quality meats. Selected farms do not use antibiotics or hormones, and they ensure that their animals have continuous access to pasture, weather permitting.
Why is grass fed beef better than grain fed beef?The meat you see in the grocery stores and at restaurants, comes from animals that are probably fed grain. Grain is ideal for fattening animals up quickly and cheaply, but it is horrible for the health of animal itself.
Cows and other herding animals have a unique digestive system that helps them digest grass, but makes it almost impossible for them to digest grains such as corn and wheat. Corn and wheat fed farm animals are significantly more likely than grass fed animals to get sick and require antibiotics, and are put to slaughter sooner. Most importantly, grain fed meat has less nutritional value, contains more saturated fats, and more Omega-6s (the “bad fat”) rather than Omega-3s (the “healthy fat”).
Is everything Organic?Insightful Fact: a cow that is fed corn, and not raised on pasture can still be labeled as “organic”. Think about that.
While none of our partner farms use pesticides, herbicides, hormones or antibiotics of any kind, not all of them have applied for an “organic” certification as it can be incredibly costly for the type of small family farms we work with. Instead, we have raised the bar for quality and sustainability beyond what “organic” certifications currently require for meat.
Are the animals raised humanely?Yes! All of the animals from our partner farms are raised on pasture. This means the animals roam, graze, and spend time outdoors.
This is why so many of our farms are small family farms with small herds: so that each animal can have sufficient land to graze. These small farms sincerely care for their animals. NIKU does not accept farms that use industrial or factory farming practices. If you ever want to visit one of our partner farms, feel free to reach out to us and we can make that happen.
Why is our meat frozen?We believe that packaging is key to reducing food waste. This may come as a surprise, but one of the best ways to avoid wasting food is by freezing it. That's one of the reasons our farmers freeze their meat immediately, at the optimal time for freshness. This way, no meat is spoiled or wasted on its journey from your doorstep, or while sitting in your fridge. When meat is vacuum sealed, it is designed to deliver the ultimate in protection, locking in the freshness and nutrition and extending its shelf life.
Why does it seem expensive?The meat you buy in grocery stores is cheap, but its true costs are extremely expensive when you account for environmental destruction, animal cruelty, and long-term human health. When you buy ethically raised meat, you are paying honest prices for a product that delivers positive impacts on local economies, animal welfare, the environment, and your dinner plate!
We currently deliver to select communities within southern Ontario. We hope to expand our distribution areas as we add more farm partners to the marketplace. Since we focus on delivering meat only from local farms, we are working hard to ensure that our delivery areas are under 150 km from the farm. Please stay tuned for updates as new areas are added, and don’t hesitate to send us an email with suggested farms we should be working with.
How is my shipment packaged?The meat is all pre-frozen and individually vacuum packed. It is shipped in corrugated boxes that have an insulated liner with frozen gel packs. The meat will arrive mostly frozen or cool to the touch. Once the product is received, it must be put in the freezer or refrigerated.
If the product arrives partially thawed, it is still in perfectly good condition as long as product feels cool to the touch. The quality will not be diminished. You can refrigerate if you plan to cook within a few days or re-freeze until you are ready to use.
Do I have to be at home when the delivery arrives?No. If you are still at work when the package arrives, no need to worry. All of the packages are shipped with 3rd party couriers and a signature is not required, so the package can be left outside of your home. However, since meat is perishable, you need to ensure that you are home by 8pm on delivery day to either refrigerate or freeze the meat. If you will not be home by 8pm, please let us know and we will help make alternate arrangements.
How much does delivery cost?We offer free shipping for all orders above $250. Otherwise we charge a flat delivery fee of $14. We encourage you to place larger orders; not only does this allow you to order on a less frequent basis, but it is all around much better for the environment (less shipping and packaging).
As we are still in the early stages, we deliver once a week. Our delivery day is on Thursday so that you can fill your freezer in time for those weekend barbecues! The deadline for placing orders is Sunday by midnight. This gives the farmers plenty of time to put the packages together so that they can be picked up on Wednesday by a courier, and delivered to your doorstep by Thursday. If you think that you won’t be home by 8pm on delivery day, please let us know beforehand.
Is there a minimum order?We have a minimum order of $50. Overall, we encourage you to place bigger orders because, let’s be honest, shipping directly from the farm to your house is expensive! So try to stock up when you can, and share with friends and family.
Since all the meat is tightly vacuum packed and individually packaged, you can store much more in your freezer than you probably think.
How long can I keep the meat in my freezer?The meat should be consumed within 1 year of the processing date on the package if kept frozen in the freezer. Once it is defrosted in your fridge, it should be consumed within 3-5 days. Although we can’t imagine leaving delicious meat in the freezer for that long.
