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Walmart Launches USDA-Certified Grass-Fed Ground Beef at $2.79 per Pound

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  //food-wine.news-articles.net/content/2025/12/21 .. ied-grass-fed-ground-beef-at-2-79-per-pound.html
  Published in Food and Wine on Sunday, December 21st 2025 at 11:18 GMT by Food & Wine

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Walmart’s New Grass‑Fed Ground Beef: A Low‑Price, High‑Quality Take on the Premium Option

When most grocery shoppers think of grass‑fed beef, they picture a boutique pack of $30‑plus premium cuts sold at a specialty market. Walmart’s latest move flips that expectation on its head. Food & Wine’s recent look at the chain’s newest offering reveals that the world’s largest retailer is rolling out a line of USDA‑Certified Grass‑Fed Ground Beef that is both affordable and, according to the outlet’s taste test, surprisingly close in flavor to higher‑priced counterparts. In what could be a significant shift for the beef industry, Walmart’s launch is aimed at making grass‑fed meat accessible to the average American without sacrificing taste or transparency.

What the Product Actually Is

The new line—available under Walmart’s “Fresh” branding—comes in two standard fat ratios: 80/20 lean/fat and 70/30. Each package is a 10‑ounce “ground” cut that can be used in burgers, tacos, spaghetti Bolognese, or any recipe that calls for a quick, versatile protein. Walmart’s own packaging lists the beef as “USDA Certified Grass‑Fed,” with no antibiotics, no hormones, and a claim that the cattle were raised on pasture for the majority of their lives. The brand’s packaging also features a small “W” logo in a leaf motif, suggesting a nod to environmental stewardship.

Food & Wine notes that the product is sourced from a single regional partnership—an Iowa‑based farm that Walmart has been working with for years. The article cites a press release from Walmart, which states the company’s goal is to “make grass‑fed meat more accessible and affordable for families across the country.” The Iowa farm, according to the release, follows a regenerative grazing model that promotes soil health and biodiversity. This is a key point that the Food & Wine piece highlights: while the product is marketed as “grass‑fed,” Walmart is careful to emphasize that the cows are still raised under U.S. beef industry standards, not the “free‑range” or “organic” labels that can sometimes confuse consumers.

Pricing and Availability

The biggest headline from the article is the price. Walmart’s ground beef is priced at $2.79 per pound—roughly half the price of most premium grass‑fed brands on the shelf. For comparison, a typical 1‑pound pack of Walmart’s “Great Value” 80/20 beef, which is conventionally raised, costs around $2.29. The grass‑fed version, therefore, sits just $0.50 above the conventional option while offering a significant premium in terms of pasture‑based diet and lower hormone usage.

The product is already on the shelves of Walmart’s Fresh department and the “Walmart Fresh” online marketplace. Food & Wine reports that the company is testing the line in 150 stores across the country and that the product will be available nationwide within the next month. The article links to Walmart’s dedicated product page, where customers can order the 10‑ounce packs or larger 2‑pound bags that are available for pickup or delivery through Walmart’s grocery app.

Taste Test and Nutrition

Food & Wine’s in‑store taste test is perhaps the most compelling part of the story. The magazine’s food editors prepared three standard ground‑beef dishes—classic burgers, tacos, and a simple Bolognese sauce—using Walmart’s grass‑fed product. The judges compared the dishes against the same recipes made with a premium grass‑fed brand from a high‑end grocery chain. The results were almost identical in flavor and texture, with the only noticeable difference being a slightly lighter, more “grass‑tender” bite.

Nutrition-wise, the article points out that the 80/20 grass‑fed ground offers roughly 20 grams of protein per 3‑ounce serving and 200 calories, which is comparable to conventional ground beef at the same lean/fat ratio. The 70/30 version offers a slightly higher fat content, but Walmart’s packaging includes a clear “no added fats” claim, meaning the fat comes naturally from the cattle’s diet. The article links to the USDA’s website for readers who want to understand the certification process, offering a helpful primer on what “USDA Certified Grass‑Fed” actually means in terms of animal welfare, feed, and environmental impact.

Sustainability Angle

Beyond pricing and taste, Walmart’s press release (linked in the Food & Wine article) emphasizes the sustainability story. The Iowa farm that supplies the beef uses a rotational grazing system that improves soil carbon sequestration, reduces water runoff, and promotes pollinator health. Walmart claims that by choosing pasture‑based cattle over grain‑fed, they are lowering the overall carbon footprint of the beef supply chain. The article notes that the company’s CEO recently mentioned the initiative in a quarterly earnings call, underscoring the retailer’s broader push toward “greener” food sourcing.

Walmart’s grass‑fed ground beef is also part of the chain’s broader “Sustainability Scorecard,” which tracks metrics like greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and water stewardship. Food & Wine includes a link to that scorecard for readers who want a deeper dive into Walmart’s environmental claims. While the article acknowledges that the company’s overall meat sourcing still relies heavily on conventional grain‑fed cattle, the grass‑fed line is a promising first step toward diversifying the product mix.

Bottom Line

Walmart’s new USDA‑Certified Grass‑Fed Ground Beef is a strategic win on multiple fronts:

The Food & Wine article makes it clear that Walmart is not just throwing a “grass‑fed” label on a generic product. Instead, the company has gone to the trouble of partnering with a local regenerative farm, securing USDA certification, and ensuring the product’s packaging is honest about the animal’s diet and the absence of hormones or antibiotics. Coupled with a price that undercuts most premium options by nearly 50 percent, the move could democratize access to pasture‑raised beef and push other retailers to follow suit.

Whether you’re a seasoned connoisseur of grass‑fed beef or a casual consumer looking for a healthier alternative to conventional ground, Walmart’s newest line provides a compelling reason to try it. The Food & Wine article’s taste test, pricing breakdown, and sustainability context make it easy to see why this product is generating buzz across the country. As the retailer rolls it out to more stores and online customers alike, it may well become the standard for affordable, responsibly sourced ground beef.