Episode 29 | In the first episode of 2026, Katie Olthoff, co-founder of Chop Local and Chop Local University, and Sierra Long, the marketing specialist at Chop Local, discuss marketing strategies and trends for the year. They emphasize the importance of authenticity on social media, especially behind-the-scenes content and showcasing real people.

The discussion also touches on the cautious use of AI in marketing, highlighting its utility for text but noting the current flaws in AI-generated images and graphics. Katie and Sierra also talk about the ongoing significance of customer service, from personalized messages to well-packaged shipments. They strongly advocate for email marketing over social media for better conversion rates and emphasize the effectiveness of targeted meta and Google ads for scaling meat businesses. The conversation wraps up with a reminder about the USDA's Value-Added Producer Grant.

Grab our mEat-Commerce Essentials to start making money in your direct-to-consumer business today with $100 off the course with code: POD100

Snag Access Here: https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/meat-commerce-essentials-1

• 00:30 Holiday Recap and Marketing Plans
• 02:04 Authenticity in Social Media
• 04:49 AI in Marketing: Pros and Cons
• 13:59 The Importance of Protein and Meat Benefits
• 24:40 Customer Service Excellence
• 30:39 The Power of Email Marketing
• 37:14 Scaling with Meta and Google Ads
• 43:49 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes

And learn more about ChopLocal and ChopLocal University Below!

• https://choplocal.com/
• https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/

Grab our mEat-Commerce Essentials to start making money in your direct-to-consumer business today with $100 off the course with code: POD100

Snag Access Here: https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/meat-commerce-essentials-1

In this episode of the Meat Success podcast, Katie Olthoff, co-founder of Chop Local and Chop Local University, shares her expertise on executing effective sales and promotions for meat businesses. Katie discusses the importance of promotions in attracting budget-conscious consumers, managing inventory, and increasing sales. She offers insights into different types of promotions, strategic discounting, and the psychology of numbers. Katie emphasizes the need for clear communication of sales and promotions and the importance of creating a sense of urgency to drive customer action. Drawing from her experience, she also highlights how to leverage email marketing, social media, and meta ads to maximize the impact of these promotions.

• 00:00 Welcome to Meet Success Podcast
• 01:21 Introduction to Sales and Promotions
• 01:59 Why Sales and Promotions Matter
• 04:23 Strategies for Effective Sales and Promotions
• 14:52 Communicating Your Sales and Promotions
• 18:00 Creating Urgency with End Dates
• 20:29 Conclusion and Consulting Services

And learn more about ChopLocal and ChopLocal University Below!

• https://choplocal.com/
• https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/

Episode 27 | This is a webinar replay brought to you by ChopLocal University.

Email marketing is arguably the most effective marketing strategy that you can be using for your meat business - and it doesn't have to be scary!

In this free webinar, we'll uncover the secrets to successful email marketing.

You'll learn:

- effective email design

- how to get people to WANT to sign up for your list

- best practices to maximize your email marketing efforts

Whether you're just getting started with email marketing, or you've been at it a while and it's not performing as well as you'd like, this webinar will provide tips and tricks that are useful for email marketers at any level.

This free webinar is taught by ChopLocal's Katie Olthoff, a farmer and former teacher with over 10 years of experience using email marketing in food and agriculture.

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For more FREE resources to help you sell more meat:

- Visit https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/

- Subscribe to our email newsletter at https://mailchi.mp/choplocal/choplocal-university

- Follow us @ ChopLocal University on Facebook and/or Instagram

-Catch the course mentioned in this episode here: http://choplocaluniversity.com/email-marketing

Episode 25 | In this episode of the Meet Success podcast, host Katie Olthoff, co-founder of Chop Local and Chop Local University, shares four essential winter projects that will significantly improve your meat business and marketing. Katie emphasizes the importance of effective, low-cost, one-and-done tasks such as SEO optimization, gathering customer reviews, taking mouthwatering product photos, and creating an automated welcome sequence for email subscribers. These strategies aim to enhance your brand’s online presence, customer trust, and overall sales performance. Tune in for practical tips and start making lasting improvements to your meat business today.

• 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview
• 01:30 SEO Tips for Your Meat Business
• 06:19 Gathering and Utilizing Customer Reviews
• 09:26 Creating Mouthwatering Product Photos
• 12:42 Automated Welcome Sequence for Email Subscribers
• 19:44 Recap and Marketing Funnel Insights
• 21:38 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Episode 24 | Grab our mEat-Commerce Essentials to start making money in your direct to consumer business today with $100 off the course with code: POD100

Snag Access Here: https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/meat-commerce-essentials-1

In this episode, Katie Olthoff, co-founder of Chop Local and Chop Local University, sits down with Stephen Ussery from Stewart's Unlimited to discuss various grant opportunities for farmers and meat processors. They cover the value of agricultural grants, particularly the Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) and the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion (MPE) grant. Stephen offers insights into the grant application process, the importance of business planning, and how to effectively utilize grant funds for expanding and improving agricultural businesses. They also touch on the role of artificial intelligence in grant writing, illustrating its potential benefits for efficiency and accuracy.

Learn more about Stewards Unlimited here: https://stewardsunlimited.com/about/

• 01:06 Overview of Stewards Unlimited
• 03:51 Grant Opportunities and Challenges
• 05:13 Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPE)
• 17:10 Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG)
• 33:21 Excitement for Paid Ads and VAPG Program
• 35:26 The Importance of Identifying Ideal Customers
• 37:24 Challenges and Strategies in Customer Retention
• 39:41 Exploring Funding Options for Farmers
• 41:30 Effective Use of Grants for Business Expansion
• 47:05 Grant Writing Tips and AI Assistance
• 55:01 Final Thoughts and Resources

And learn more about ChopLocal and ChopLocal University Below!

• https://choplocal.com/
• https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/

Episode 24 | Grab our mEat-Commerce Essentials to start making money in your direct to consumer business today with $100 off the course with code: POD100

Snag Access Here: https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/meat-commerce-essentials-1

We’re bringing back one of the most-loved episodes of the Meat Success podcast — and for good reason. In this fan-favorite conversation, Katie Olthoff, co-founder of ChopLocal and ChopLocal University, sits down with Matt LeRoux, one of the most trusted voices in direct-to-consumer meat marketing and pricing.

Matt shares his unexpected journey from vegetarian to industry expert, along with years of hands-on work supporting farmers across the northeast. Katie and Matt dig into his time at Cornell and the Dyson School of Applied Economics, the creation of Meat Suite (a go-to directory for bulk meat sales), and practical tools like the Meat Price Calculator and Bundle Builder that help producers price with confidence.

You’ll also hear smart, actionable takeaways from Matt’s farmer’s market research — from booth layout and customer flow to the real impact of accepting credit cards and using simple marketing techniques to boost demand.

Whether you’re new to direct-to-consumer sales or looking to level up your strategy, this rerun is packed with the kind of insight that keeps listeners coming back.

And learn more about ChopLocal and ChopLocal University Below!

• https://choplocal.com/
• https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/

Episode 23 | This webinar replay focuses on strategies for increasing holiday sales, particularly through the use of online marketplaces like Chop Local. The panel features two Chop Local vendors, Theresa Davis of West 40 Market and Rebecca Dalton of Dalton Farms, who share their experiences and tips. Topics discussed include the importance of early and consistent marketing, flexible and appealing packaging, collaborating with local businesses for gift bundles, and handling pre-orders and last-minute requests. Both vendors emphasize the utility of social media for promotion and the necessity of clear communication with customers. They also touch on practical aspects like taking deposits for big orders, balancing inventory, and creative ways to make gift bundles attractive. The session concludes with a Q&A segment addressing specific logistical and marketing questions from attendees.

Grab our mEat-Commerce Essentials to start making money in your direct to consumer business today with $100 off the course with code: POD100

Snag Access Here: https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/meat-commerce-essentials-1

And learn more about ChopLocal and ChopLocal University Below!

• https://choplocal.com/
• https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/

Episode 22 | Grab our mEat-Commerce Essentials to start making money in your direct to consumer business today with $100 off the course with code: POD100

Snag Access Here: https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/meat-commerce-essentials-1

In this episode of the Meat Success Podcast, Katie Olthoff interviews Margaret Schwartz of Schwartz Meat Company, a family-run lamb farm in Eastern Kentucky. Margaret discusses the farm's six-generation sheep-raising legacy, which she and her husband expanded into a meat business just before the COVID-19 pandemic. The episode covers unique aspects of lamb marketing, crafting recipes, and customer education on cooking lamb. Margaret shares insights into organizing successful farm-to-fork dinners in partnership with Hatmaker Homestead, where they offer seasonal meals featuring their meats and local produce. They also delve into raising children on the farm and leveraging photography to enhance marketing efforts. The conversation encapsulates the Schwartz’s dedication to sustainable farming, community engagement, and innovative culinary experiences.

And learn more about ChopLocal and ChopLocal University Below!

• https://choplocal.com/
• https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/