I think they used to be better.

Find a better deal than that and they taste great.

but I've noticed over the past few years that choice sirloins, which once were tender and juicy--a real nice steak, have become more gristly and tough. And they're harder to find around here (SE PA).

Am I just imagining this--you know, "the good old days when steak was ten cents a pound"--or is this a real thing?

I used to be a meat cutter years ago and it’s very obvious to me.

Even the filet mignons are tough! The only way I can get a decent piece of meat at the grocery store is at the small butcher's counter, where every cut costs three times as much--but it's worth it if you can afford it.

For a while my store carried what they labeled "prime" meats in the regular meat cases, but they were still not very good. The ones at the butcher counter are not labeled prime, but I'm going to ask the butcher next time I'm in the store.

BTW, if you can afford it, it's good to buy these meats from the butcher counter, even if it's only hamburger, because not only can you get better meat, but you develop a relationship with somebody who knows what he's talking about and is happy to help you. When I show up, he says, "second mortgage, huh?" which cracks me up.

Make sure it’s labeled USDA choice or prime. Then you know it was graded to some standard. Marbling is part of the rating but there are some other factors.

USDA choice or "costco choice"

For USDA an inspector come out and graded them and stamps them. I’d assume you’d get a better cut of meat that way. They have a little rolling stamp that they run down the loins and ribs especially.

all of the stores are raising prices and lowering standards on all of their meat products.

We wanted to buy a chicken to roast. It was over $14 for a 3+ pound chicken. We bought one of their rotisserie chickens for less than $10 instead.

Greed!

if it's steak you want to cook quickly on a grill. That's just the way grading works.

You're never get a melt in your mouth choice steak unless you cook it differently, preferably with moist heat.

But....when I want the best meats......I go to Whole Foods..... Excellent Beef Tenderloin.