Fossil Farms vs ButcherBox (2023) Key Features & Differences

Last Updated On: April 19, 2023

Being on a carnivore diet for over a decade, I'm no stranger to meat delivery companies.

I've used almost every meat delivery out there, and in this review, I'll compare ButcherBox and Fossil Farms - two of my recent favorites.

After testing them for over six months, I'll explain their main features and key differences so that you can choose the best option.

Butcherbox vs Fossil Farms: Key Differences

The main difference between Fossil Farms and ButcherBox is how they sell their meats. ButcherBox is a meat subscription service.

You sign-up, choose a box of traditional meats you like, and it’ll be delivered to your doorstep every month.

On the other hand, Fossil Farms specializes in a la carte ordering and exotic meats.

It means you can order one piece of meat or as many types and as many pieces as you want.

Fossil Farms also sells some meat packages, such as burgers, cured meats, game birds, and more.

ButcherBox has one Custom box where you can choose which cuts of meat will be shipped to you. Other box options include four curated boxes that mix beef, pork, and chicken.

Fossil Farms packages don’t let you choose what’s in the package. However, Fossil Farms has a much more extensive meat selection, and meat cuts can be ordered individually.

Regarding flexibility, both companies tick some boxes but neither entirely.

Comparing Their Features Head to Head

After using both of these meat delivery services, here’s a breakdown of all of their features.

1. Meat Selection

I mentioned that one of the differences between Fossil Farms and ButcherBox is the kind of meat they sell. ButcherBox focuses on traditional meat, while Fossil Farms has a huge selection of exotic meats.

Fossil Farms

Fossil Farms meat company has a vast selection of meats. They offer everything from traditional meat, such as beef, chicken, and pork, to exotic meats. In fact, they have the most extensive offering of exotic meats you’ll find online.

Apart from these, Fossil Farms offers a special selection of meats for people who suffer from an alpha-gal or meat allergy.

Their meat selection is divided into 23 categories, many of which have subcategories.

Here are some examples to help you get a clearer picture:

Alligator
Antelope
Beef
Berkshire pork
Bison
Chicken
Duck
Elk
Emu
Goose
Guinea hen
Kangaroo
Lamb
Ostrich
Partridge
Pheasant
Quail
Rabbit
Squab
Turkey
Venison
Wild boar
Yak

A lot of these have further subcategories. For example, when you choose beef, you can choose between:

Angus beef
Piedmontese beef
Japanese Wagyu beef
Domestic Wagyu “Kobe” beef

When you go into any of these subcategories, you’ll see a selection of products to choose from. I liked how flexible they are. For example, you can choose a whole chicken or a chicken breast, filet mignon or a ribeye, and more.

Also, the choice of how many pieces of meat you want is entirely up to you. This isn’t the case when you get a box subscription.

Overall, their selection of meat, especially exotic meats, is huge. And, you can even get emu eggs for a large omelet. You’ll never be bored with Fossil Farms specialty meats.

Choose alligator one week, buffalo meat the next, and so on. Whether you want some stew meat, Wagyu beef, or grass-fed quality meat, Fossil Farms has you covered.

ButcherBox

ButcherBox has a smaller meat selection, and they don’t offer exotic meats.

Instead, you can choose between 5 subscription boxes:

Mixed box — Contains beef, free-range organic chicken, and pork raised crate-free.
Beef and chicken box — Contains a 50/50 split between beef and chicken tenders or chicken breasts.
Beef and pork box — Contains a 50/50 split between grass-fed beef and pork.
All beef box — Contains a selection of beef cuts.
Custom box — You can handpick 25 cuts of meat, including bacon, ground beef, and pork.

The first four boxes are pre-selected, so you can’t choose what meat you’ll receive. The last option, the Custom box, is the only option where you can get a meat selection chosen by you.

You can also choose between two box sizes:

8 to 11 lbs — Best for a couple or a small family
16 to 22 lbs — Best for a bigger family, 4 to 5 members, or if you have a lot of freezer storage space.

Overall, I was satisfied with the ButcherBox meat delivery service. While they don’t have exotic game meats, I received high-quality meat, such as beef, pork, chicken, and seafood.

2. Meat Sourcing

Both of these meat sellers source their meat sustainably.

Fossil Farms

Fossil Farms has steroid and hormone-free traditional and exotic meats. All meat has been raised on independently owned farms. Moreover, they only source their meat from farms where cattle are humanely raised [1].

This meat delivery service says they work with about 200 family farmers throughout the US. The animals graze or forage for their diet, although the diet can be supplemented if needed.

“Fossil Farms specializes in providing the highest quality farm-raised game and all-natural meats in the country. Our craft takes hard work and a single focus to be the best at what we do. We think outside of the box to build a sustainable supply chain because we know that impacting our industry’s status quo will require us to innovate and stay committed to doing things differently.”
- Fossil Farms Mission Statement

Fossil Farms says they are aware cruelty is a standard occurrence of animal farming, so they only work with farmers who grow animals cage-free. Their animals aren’t given any antibiotics, steroids, or growth hormones.

This is why Fossil Farms’ traditional and exotic game meats have a high amount of Omega-3 and antioxidants compared to meat sourced from meat factories.

ButcherBox

ButcherBox is one of the most transparent meat delivery services I’ve used. They detail exactly how they source their meat.

ButcherBox meat delivery service partners with family-owned farms that follow specific rules, and their facilities are inspected by the USDA.

Their meat is also raised antibiotic-free without any hormones and steroids. This makes it healthier compared to the meat you buy at the grocery stores, and there aren’t any artificial flavors.

Here’s how they source their meat.

Beef — 100% humanely raised, with non-GMO feed. The cattle are pasture-raised [2].
Pork — Pigs are raised crate-free and are only given 100% vegetarian feed. The majority of the pork is raised from heritage pork lines such as Duroc, Berkshire, and Chester White. These genetics mean the meat will have a slower maturation process and more marbling.
Chicken — Pasture-raised chicken. All birds are raised free-range and given USDA-certified organic feed. The chicken is also Global Animal Partnership certified.
Seafood — Only wild-caught seafood that’s sustainably sourced. For example, salmon comes from Alaska and is caught with handling practices that guarantee sustainability.

“We partner with people who are dedicated to doing the right thing—never cutting corners and always looking for ways to improve. Discover why we’re the trusted source of high-quality protein for families across the country.”
- ButcherBox Official Website

The only part I didn’t like is ButcherBox doesn’t disclose exactly which farms or ranches they get their meat from.

3. Shipping and Packaging

Shipping is a crucial part of a meat delivery service. The company must ensure the meat reaches you while still frozen and of good quality.

Fossil Farms

Fossil Farms delivers meat to the continental US. When you place your exotic meat order, you can choose to have your meat shipped via UPS or a local delivery service.

Whether you order exotic meat or some other kind, the orders are delivered between two and five workdays from the day the order was placed.

They ship out Monday-Thursday and process the orders during the workweek. I received my order in 2 days via a UPS delivery.

If you live in Morris or a neighboring country, you can opt for an in-store or curbside pickup.

As for the price of the meat, it depends on what kind of meat you go for. In general, prices vary, but exotic meat, wild game, game birds, or Wagry beef will be more expensive than chicken, pork, or beef.

I was satisfied with how Fossil Farms packages its meat. They use Styrofoam boxes and biodegradable packing peanuts.

The meat will arrive in an inner cooler box, which helps keep the temperature constant during transportation. Also, there are plenty of ice packs to keep the meat cold.

I like that they are focused on sustainable farming and are currently trying to find an eco-friendly alternative to styrofoam.

Finally, the meat is packed in vacuum-wrapped and flash-frozen, which helps preserve freshness.

ButcherBox

As I mentioned, ButcherBox is a subscription meat delivery service. It means you don't get to choose delivery dates or times.

Instead, you sign up for a subscription, and the meat box will automatically be delivered to you. They also ship to the whole of the continental US.

Once you sign up, you'll get an email with the tracking information to prepare for the box's arrival. My box arrived three days after ordering.

You can choose the frequency of the ButcherBox delivery — there’s a delivery option every month, every six or eight weeks.

One of the best parts about ButcherBox is that they offer free delivery on all packages, no matter your location. Also, if you subscribe, you’ll get free ground beef for the whole duration of your subscription.

ButcherBox packs its high-quality meats in an insulated box with dry ice packages. This helps keep the meat frozen or cool during transportation and delivery.

You aren’t required to stay home and wait for the meat box, as their meat and high-quality steaks remain frozen for 6 to 8 hours. This is very convenient if you’re busy and can’t wait at home.

The meat is also packed in vacuum-sealed packages and sent in a 100% recyclable cardboard insulated box in a freezer bag, so its temperature doesn’t exceed 140 degrees.

I didn’t have any issues with ButcherBox shipping, and I liked that they make an effort to use eco-friendly packaging, so recycling is convenient.

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Stand Out Features

Apart from various exotic game types of meat, Fossil Farms has more stand-out features.

Fossil Farms works with a huge network of restaurants and collaborates with distributors across the US so that you can find their meat in brick-and-mortar stores.

Moreover, if you live in New Jersey, you can shop at their butcher retail store in Boonton.

Finally, they offer catering services. You can hire Fossil Farms staff and grills or opt for a complete catering service.

Fossil Farms also offers:

Event catering — You can hire Fossil Farms’ full-service catering team for up to 1000 people [3].
Summer farm kitchen — Book Fossil Farms farm venue for an event of 150 guests.
Private dining — Have a one-of-a-kind private dining at Fossil Farms Chef’s Tasting Counter for up to 8 people.
Hire a food truck — Their Game Changer Mobile Kitchen will come to your event and provide full service with a custom menu.

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Butcherbox vs Fossil Farms: What’s the Best Meat Delivery Service for You?

I hope you found this ButcherBox and Fossil Farms review useful. While both of these meat services sell high-quality cuts of meat, my vote goes to ButcherBox.

ButcherBox website is easy to navigate, and its subscription boxes are described in detail.

Also, ButcherBox has a good meat selection. They offer everything from seafood, chicken, and pork to beef.

Most importantly, they only source meat that’s sustainably raised, mostly from family farms and ranches.

By eating ButcherBox meat, you can be sure you’re eating grass-fed meat, full of nutrition, sustainably raised, and without any hormones.

Finally, ButcherBox offers a wide range of subscription boxes — go for a custom box and pick up to 25 individual cuts of meat or one of the other four boxes. You can choose cuts of meat according to your preferences.

Click here, and order their grass-fed, quality meat today.

#1 Meat Delivery Service

ButcherBox