Surely that beef wouldn't end up here at practically the opposite end of the country.

It might, if you eat out quite a bit. Resturaunts and fast food chains might ship their meet all across the country, getting what deals they can in markets farther away to justify the shipping costs.

I just got a George Forman grill for Christmas, so I'll be buying a more meet at the store. And there, I can see the labels showing where the meet came from.