Buffalo Back At Market

Diners looking for something different might be interested in the meat being reintroduced to the Berryville farmers market this summer. Butch Hanby, president of Hanby Lumber Co., said he and store manager Hal Hudgens plan to re-introduce buffalo meat to the area from their 80-head buffalo operation in Berryville.

In past years, the 100-acre farm sold processed buffalo but it got to where it couldn’t keep up with demands.

Stores such as Dime’s Meat Market in Springdale, Hart’s Grocery in Eureka Springs, Bob’s Market in Green Forest and another store in Shell Knob, Mo., all carried the product.

Buffalo produce about 600 to 800 pounds of hamburger per animal, and the ground meat starts at about $2.89 per pound.

Hanby and Hudgens eventually will offer buffalo summer sausage, polish sausage and bratwurst, plus a host of higher-end cuts.

The meat will become available in May, and the duo said they’ll also sell it out of the hardware store.

“The meat’s leaner and higher in protein,” Hanby said. “It’s got less fat than fish, turkey or chicken.”