Happy Meat Out Day, Marylanders! I hope you’re enjoying your Impossible Whopper, chickpea salad sandwich or tempeh reuben.
Heck, while you’re at it, why don’t you wash it down with some of that delicious soy milk you have sitting in the fridge? Dunk a few soft and chewy veggie cookies in that glass, too.
OK, I’m being a little facetious. But to be honest, I think this is what’s needed today, along with a bit of perspective.
Yes, Gov. Wes Moore did, in fact, declare today Meat Out Day in Maryland. It upsets me, and it should upset you, too. But remember aggies, we’ve been down this road before.
Remember when the Impossible Whopper rolled out? I know some farmers were worried sick that people would switch to the plant-based option over the tried-and-true real Whopper. I even remember a colleague of mine who tried an Impossible Whopper and wrote that beef producers should be worried.
Well, here are some truth bombs that should provide you some comfort.
Even with skyrocketing prices, meat sales last year hit a record high of $112 billion, with overall volume sales up 2%. Millennials and Gen Z were the driving force behind the growth, according to the 21st annual Power of Meat report released at the Annual Meat Conference by the Meat Institute and The Food Industry Association. This was reported online recently by our sister publication, National Hog Farmer.
The report stated that more than 98% of American households purchased meat, and 45% of shoppers are actively trying to prepare more meals containing meat or poultry. Of the five dinners shoppers prepare at home per week on average, 90% already contain a portion of meat or poultry.
Plant-based meat and seafood sales fell 7% in 2024, according to the Good Food Institute, and while 2025 data isn’t yet available, the trend suggests continued decline.
Remember Beyond Meat? Well, it recently rebranded to just Beyond as the company is attempting to move past plant-based burgers, sausages and tenders, and expand into new categories such as protein drinks.
According to an article in Forbes, the company’s net revenue dropped 14% in the first nine months of 2025, and its shares have been trading below $1 since the start of this year. Company CEO Ethan Brown admitted, “It’s just not the moment for plant-based meat right now.”
Yes, it’s ridiculous that in a state where agriculture continues to be the largest commercial industry — supporting 350,000 jobs and generating more than $8 billion a year for the state’s economy — that the governor would sign such a declaration. After all, Meat Out Day was formed in 1985 by the Farm Animal Rights Movement, which makes no bones about the fact that it wants to end the use of animals for food.
And while the intention behind Meat Out Day, at least according to the governor’s office, is to promote environmental sustainability and animal welfare, it overlooks the vital role livestock farming plays in Maryland’s economy and food security.
It’s a slap in the face to the many hardworking livestock farmers on the Eastern Shore, western Maryland and places in between who work every day to produce some of the best food you’ll find in grocery stores.
But let’s keep things in perspective. Even with skyrocketing prices, people still crave meat on the dinner table.
Meat Out Day might score political points, but the data show people still value the hard work of farmers.
And that’s a long-term recipe for success.
