We still get many buyers who purchase chicken and pork but avoid red meat. Whether it’s for health or ethical reasons, what if I told you red meat should take the forefront on both accounts. Working with multiple farmers I can tell you for certain that cows raised on pastures and 100% grass-fed are the most naturally domesticated animal in any farming operation. They graze and roam freely and only eat what nature provides them. Poultry & pork & other non-ruminants that are pasture raised outdoors feeding on grubs, grass, and insects, also require supplemental grain feed to be economically feasible to the farmers operation. How the supplemental feed is grown and harvested is very important when determining the health...
It has taken us years of working with farmers, as well as researching / studying sustainable agriculture, to conclude that the organic label is a common misconception... Many people think ALL Organic practices are better without knowing why. A common misconception is that all organic farms do not use pesticides. When in fact, most large organic farmers do use pesticides. Organic farmers use pesticides regulated from naturally occurring substances, whereas conventional farmers use synthetic. With this comes another misconception that organic pesticides are safer than synthetic. Studies have shown organic is no more benign than conventional. On the other hand, it is proven that organic pesticides are not as effective; therefore, organic farms spray up to 7 times more than conventional. In addition, organic food...
What’s the difference between fresh & frozen provisions? This depends on many factors. What provisions are we discussing? Are they coming from local farmers? Are we talking about maintaining its nutritional integrity or flavor? Has the product been frozen 1, 2, 3, or 4 times? Let’s dive in! Freezing food has been a natural preservation method way before industrialized freezers and refrigerators were even a concept. Obviously only in the coldest of climates, long voyages by primitive hunters would seek out the best areas to hunt or fish. They would stay for weeks /months building up supply, and then bring this food back to their community. Similarly, to the natural fermentation practices of primitive cultures living in warmer climates,...
Labels continue to cause confusion to us consumers who just want to eat the best foods and support the most sustainable practices. The myriad of egg and poultry labels are not any easier to sift through. This blog will share with you the most important of everything we have learned about poultry farming & sustainable agriculture, as well as how to find what is best for you, your family, and the environment. First off- Stay away from Cage Free. This is just another way of saying, “raised in a barn.” No animal is supposed to be raised in a barn. Sunlight (UVA and UVB rays) is so essential to the well-being of most animals, including us humans. It is...
There is this understanding being passed around about livestock farming and the negative impacts it is having on our environment. This understanding is true when animals are taken away from their natural habitat and confined or forced into a limited space for mass production. There is a definition for this, and it is called factory farming or CAFO’s (confined animal farming operations.) These places are where 95% of Americans (including many of our favorite overly priced restaurants, schools, and even hospitals) get their meat from. The misunderstanding is the idea that ridding our land and bodies of meat consumption entirely is our only answer. This is 100% wrong, unhealthy for us and our lands, and is NOT sustainable with an...
