New Beef Imports Raise Questions for Area Halal Market
Source: cbs19news.com, Jadyn Howard, September 1, 2026
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) — A new federal policy allowing additional tariff-free beef imports is raising questions for local meat sellers who rely on Virginia farmers to supply their stores.
The policy, which took effect Sept. 1, allows additional beef imports into the United States for 90 days. According to a proclamation posted by the White House, the administration says the move could help address beef prices by increasing the domestic supply.
At Medina Market, owner Reza Akhtar said the change could create challenges for small farmers and businesses that specialize in halal meat.
“I’m worried about what this new import is going to do. It’s obviously going to hurt the small farmers, which I rely on, because obviously with us, we’re a very niche market. We have to be halal, so obviously this new meat coming in is not going to be geared toward us,” Akhtar said.
Medina Market relies on local suppliers to stock its butcher shop with halal beef. Akhtar said the store gets beef from an Islamic slaughterhouse in the Culpeper area that sources from local Virginia farmers.
The White House proclamation says the policy is intended to increase beef supplies and help address high prices. The administration has said imported beef is encouraged to be discounted 25% below current market costs. For more information on that go here.
Akhtar said lower prices could benefit consumers, but he is concerned about what increased imports could mean for farmers who supply his business.
“If it helps the price of beef short term, that’s great. But what does it do to our local farmers that I rely on?” he said.
For Akhtar, the issue is about more than price. He said his customers also want to know where their meat comes from and if it’s safe to eat.
“With this new concern, if the meat is coming in a container and it’s frozen, you can’t keep it a certain number of hours or it goes bad. So yeah, there’s obviously concern for both me as the owner and our customers — where is this meat coming from? Is it properly handled?” Akhtar said.
Beef prices have risen sharply in recent years, according to Akhtar, who said he hopes any federal effort to increase supply will ultimately provide some relief for consumers, for now.
“Beef has gone up 100%, so obviously this is an initiative that will maybe lower beef prices long term, but this is kind of putting a Band-Aid on it,” he said.
But Akhtar says a business owner you have to think ahead.
“So, it’s like, what am I going to see us doing in the next two, three years? And right now, I don’t have an answer,” he said.
He encourages people in the meantime continue to support local businesses and farmers.
Medina Market has locations in Charlottesville and Waynesboro.
Source: cbs19news.com, Jadyn Howard, September 1, 2026
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