Frequently Asked Questions
Good questions. Straight answers.
No question is too basic here. If yours isn't below, send it and we'll add it.
Can I customize a quarter beef?
Quarters use our standard cut sheet, because the processor cuts by the side. Want more say? Pick a half or whole, or choose a Set-Price Box built around how you cook. Our free Beef Cut Guide explains every choice.
Why is beef priced by hanging weight?
It's one fair measurement, taken by the processor before anyone's cut choices change the yield. Take-home is usually 55 to 65% of hanging weight. Set-Price Boxes are the exception: one set price, guaranteed minimum.
Do I have to buy a whole or half animal?
Not at all. Start with a 10 lb ground beef box or a chicken bundle. See Meat & Boxes.
Set-Price Box or By-the-Pound Share?
Set-Price Box: we pick the cuts, you pay one set price and get a guaranteed amount of meat. By-the-Pound Share: the traditional way to buy bulk and the best value. You pay per pound of hanging weight, and halves and wholes are cut your way. See them side by side.
How do I reserve, and how can I pay?
Reserve on the beef, lamb and goat, or pork page. Pay at checkout with a card or Venmo, and you're done. Or pick Cash App, cash, wire transfer or cashier's check. Those must reach us within 48 hours or the spot is released. We email you how to send it after you order.
Is the deposit on top of the price?
No. It comes off your total.
My order says Paid. Is it paid off?
It shows Paid once the deposit is in. By-the-Pound Shares, and Set-Price Boxes paid half now, still have a balance, invoiced once processing starts.
When do I get my meat?
After processing it hangs, gets cut and packed. We schedule pickup or your route stop with you. A Shipped Quarter ships after processing, and we email you before it goes out. Deposits, delivery and shipping are non-refundable.
When do you process?
Monthly. The form shows the next open date for what you picked.
When does the Ranch Route come near me?
See the Ranch Route map. Our North Carolina stops run the first week of every month: Statesville, Asheville, Hendersonville, Brevard, Huntersville, Charlotte, Durham, Cary/Morrisville, Raleigh and Wilmington. The Southern Route (Columbia, SC to Atlanta, plus Miami in January and April) runs in January, April, July and October. The Northern Route (Richmond up to Westchester, NY, and home through Pittsburgh) runs in February, May, August and November. Chicago and California run in March and September. Every stop day and time is on our Delivery page, and we email you the exact pickup spot the week before. Meeting us at a stop is free. Door-to-door delivery, or delivery off the route, may have a delivery fee, and we tell you before you pay.
Is hanging weight what I take home?
No. It's the carcass before cutting and trimming. Set-Price Box minimums are packaged weight. More on weights.
Do you have halal?
Yes, for beef, lamb, goat and chicken, depending on the product. Details.
Can I order meat, skincare and pet treats together?
Yes. Skincare and treats ship together within 3 business days. Meat is pickup or Ranch Route, except the Shipped Quarter Beef and pork, which ship in their own box. Pickup can combine everything.
What sizes do the whipped balms come in?
50 g and 100 g.
Can I change or cancel a reservation?
Email us with your order number as soon as you can. What we can change depends on where your order is in processing. Read the refund policy.
Something arrived damaged.
Email hello@rivasranch.com with your order number and photos. If something might be unsafe, don't taste it to check. We'll make it right.
Buying beef for the first time? Get the free guide.
Our 9-page Beef Cut Guide walks you through share size, freezer space and exactly what to circle on your cut sheet. Written by a chef, free to download.
