New diets high in protein are giving lift to Tennessee meat producers.
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) reported Thursday that demand for Tennessee meat is on the rise thanks to “protein-packed diets” and that the “trend is expected to continue.”
The sale of animal and animal products already accounted for nearly 40 percent of Tennessee agricultural sales in 2017, TDA said. Those sales generated $1.4 billion in revenue.
“We have seen a change in what people want on their table,” said Elaine Dustin of Belfair Farm in Wayne County. “Several consumers are following the keto diet, which includes meats that are trimmed with a small amount of fat and meat that is well marbled. [That]’s making grain-finished meats a consumer favorite.”
[pullquote-1] Farmers told TDA that they are seeing an increase in demand for beef, especially.
“A three-ounce serving of beef — about the size of an iPhone — provides more than ten essential nutrients, including protein, iron, zinc, and vitamins B12 and B6,” said Valerie Bass, executive director of the Tennessee Beef Industry Council. “One serving of beef contains about half of your daily value for protein in an average of 170 calories.”
To find a local producer near you, visit www.picktnproducts.org.
