Where Does Costco Meat Come From?​

Where Does Costco Meat Come From?

Kirkland Meat Sign

Costco beef comes from various farms and suppliers, primarily from the United States and, in some cases, Australia. Additionally, all pork, chicken, and veal products sold at Costco are produced by American farmers, while overseas producers typically supply lamb and fish. 

Where Does Costco Beef Come From? 

Costco’s beef is sourced from dozens of suppliers because of the high demand for stocks, but their beef primarily comes from Californian farmers in the San Joaquin Valley.

Additionally, all Costco beef suppliers are 100% certified, following the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest regulations regarding the raising and processing beef for commercial sale.

Before slaughter, Costco beef is routinely tested for harmful bacteria and pathogens, including E.coli 0157:H7. Costco also requires animal welfare audits at slaughter, per the American Meat Institute Recommended Animal Handling Guidelines. 

Where Does Costco’s Organic Beef Come From? 

Costco’s organic beef is also sourced from Californian beef ranches, though some of the organic stock is from foreign suppliers.

Following U.S. meat regulations under the National Organic Program, Costco does not stock organic beef that has been fed hormones or antibiotics.

Additionally, foreign organic beef suppliers are primarily located in Canada and Australia. Costco ensures that these suppliers follow all national regulations for producing organic meats to provide the best quality possible.

Costco’s Canadian beef stocks come from Alberta’s cattle lands. Along with the Australian cattle, they are all 100% organic grass-fed. 

Where Does Costco’s Veal Come From? 

Costco’s veal comes from its leading suppliers, Atlantic Veal and Lamb of New York, who source their supplies from around 120 American farms, including Buckeye Veal Farm in Ohio.

All Costco veal is entirely traceable to the farm level, and all farms are inspected regularly by Costco animal welfare auditors to ensure 100% compliance with welfare and quality requirements.

Costco also maintains a particularly stringent veal policy for farm sources that covers inspections, diets, housing, barn requirements, veterinary visit cycles, and more.  

Where Does Costco Chicken Come From?

Costco’s chicken products are sourced from the company’s own chicken farm and processing facility outside Fremont, Nebraska.

This Costco-owned chicken facility is a vertically integrated plant that supplies all of Costco’s chicken product needs.

It has been functioning as the sole provider of Costco chicken since 2019, and all buildings, warehouses, equipment, and chicken handling programs are designed to keep animal welfare at the forefront. 

See our complete guide on where Costco gets its chickens from!

Where Does Costco Pork Come From? 

Costco sources its pork products, including Kirkland Signature-branded primal cuts, bacon, and ham, primarily from JBS Swift USA, the nation’s second-largest name in pig farming and pork processing, based in Indiana.

Other meat processing plants, including Tyson and Perdue, also contribute to Costco’s pork product stock.

As for Costco’s quality assurance, Costco implements a strict Pork Quality Assurance Program. This producer-driven program ensures that farmed pork products are high quality and that the animals are cared for.

Costco Meat Section

Where Does Costco’s Lamb Come From? 

Costco imports its lamb from Australian farms, which are well-known for producing grass-fed, pasture-raised lambs bred for tenderness and quality. Costco lamb is also free of artificial additives, hormone growth promoters, and antibiotic treatments. 

Where Does Costco’s Fish Come From? 

The fish products stocked in Costco come from a few different sources, mainly international.

To keep their fish as fresh and high-quality as possible, Costco uses suppliers in various areas with natural populations of different types of fish.

Fishery locations outside of U.S. fisheries include South America, Latin America, Costa Rica, Norway, and Southeast Asia.

Costco also maintains an ongoing list of wild species identified as being at great risk and will not sell fish or stock from fisheries that impact those species with their fishing equipment. 

Where Does Costco’s Seafood Come From? 

Costco sources its seafood from various commercial farms and fisheries. The suppliers primarily get their catches from the coastal waters around Maine or the Canadian Atlantic region.

Any other non-U.S. shrimp and lobster suppliers are located in Latin America and Southeast Asia. Costco employs a strict regulatory body to ensure seafood products imported from foreign countries are of good quality and fresh. 

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