If you’ve been trying to feed a family on a budget, you already know beef at the grocery store can get expensive fast. President Donald Trump’s plan to temporarily lift tariffs on some foreign beef imports — with a commitment to sell it at 25% below current market prices — is promising some relief at the checkout line. But local cattle producers say the savings may come at a cost.
As of July, the national average price for ground beef, according to the Beef Price Tracker, is $6.88 per pound. At a Houston-area H-E-B, the lowest price KPRC 2 found was $5.99 — though that can vary depending on the store, brand and lean percentage.
Critics of the tariff pause worry that lower prices shouldn’t come at the expense of American ranchers, warning that flooding the market with foreign beef could hurt the U.S. livestock industry.
Anthony Thomas, who runs Thomas Cattle and Catering — a family ranching operation in the Houston area — says he understands the pushback but sees an opportunity in the conversation.
“The tariffs, the recalls, the mystery beef — people wanting to know where their beef comes from has been extremely good for our family business here in Houston, Texas,” Thomas said. “They want the rancher.”
Thomas sells his ground beef for $10 a pound at the Old Katy Farmers Market. He says buying in bulk can bring that price down — and he argues what customers are getting is worth the difference.
“One pound of ground beef can come from 400 different animals when you buy it through a grocery store chain,” Thomas said. “There’s no actual traceability of where that beef is coming from. I think people want to know where their beef is coming from — and people that do well for themselves like to support Americans.”
Ray Law, owner of Law Ranch and Cattle Company, says he’s seen the same shift in consumer mindset.
“It’s all about knowing where your beef is coming from, knowing your farmer,” Law said. “You can see my pasture here — we’re in East Harris County.”
The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association says it was disappointed by Trump’s order, warning that while the move may bring down consumer prices in the near term, American ranchers will ultimately pay the price.
For now, the debate comes down to a familiar tension — lower prices at the grocery store versus the long-term health of the American cattle industry. And for Houston-area ranchers, the answer seems clear.
For more information on Thomas’ product, you can visit: Thomas Cattle & Catering | Premium Farm to Table Beef in Houston TX
Copyright 2026 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.