The Upper South - Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia - has a meat culture that is distinct from both the Deep South and the Midwest. Country ham, slow-smoked pork, Appalachian butchering traditions, and a strong hunting culture have shaped the butcher shops and processors of this region for centuries. Here is what to know.
Tennessee
Tennessee's meat culture is anchored by barbecue - Memphis whole hog and dry-rub ribs are nationally recognized, and the state's smoked meat tradition extends far beyond restaurant BBQ. Many Tennessee butcher shops and processors maintain smokehouses for custom smoking, offer country-style sausages unique to the region, and serve a deer hunting culture that is among the most active in the South.
Nashville has a growing artisan food scene with excellent independent butcher shops. Knoxville serves as the gateway to hunting country in East Tennessee's mountains. Rural Middle and West Tennessee have small-town processors serving farming communities.
Search Tennessee butcher shop listings on Butcher Bud.
Kentucky: Country Ham Country
Kentucky country ham is one of the great American charcuterie traditions. Dry-cured, smoked, and aged for months to years, true Kentucky country ham bears no resemblance to water-added supermarket ham. The tradition is centered in Western Kentucky (particularly around Cadiz, Trigg County, and Marion) where several smokehouse operations have operated continuously for generations.
Beyond country ham, Kentucky has an excellent artisan butcher shop scene in Louisville and Lexington, and a strong custom processor network throughout the state's agricultural regions.
Search Kentucky butcher shop listings on Butcher Bud.
Virginia: Smithfield and Beyond
Virginia is home to Smithfield ham - another great American cured pork tradition. The Shenandoah Valley has a thriving farming community selling grass-fed beef and pastured pork direct to consumers. Northern Virginia's proximity to Washington DC has fueled a sophisticated butcher shop scene. Southwest Virginia and the Appalachian region have deep hunting and custom butchering traditions.