Shopping the meat counter can be intimidating if you donât know what to look for. Whatâs the best cut to use for a given recipe? How do you know youâre getting the freshest product? Whatâs a reasonable price to pay? First things first. Shop locally whenever possible. âGenerally speaking, the shorter the distance between the butcher and the farm, the better,â says Corrie Cook, narration director for Indianapolis-based Goose the Market and Smoking Goose. âShopping local shouldnât be the only consideration when buying meat, but itâs often a good sign of a personal relationship between butcher and farmer, which can mean a better-quality product, not to mention the ripple benefits of supporting your local economy, local jobs and the local environment.â