Humane Raising of Meat and Dairy Animals
An urbanFamily is not quite ready to take the meatless plunge. However, she wants to be more knowledgeable about the condition and source of animal products. Any thoughts? She writes:
We are trying to eat less meat, but are not ready to go complete vegetarian or vegan. Yet as sometimes-meat-eaters, we are looking for the most humane possible sources for meat and dairy. There are the meat and dairy cases at stores like New Seasons, "organic" and "free range" labels, etc. But we're not sure how to accurately assess the conditions the animals were raised (and/or killed) under. Are there any other meat and dairy users who have advice re: which farmers/stores to support? Any thoughts on finding the most humane local sources?
Eating less meat each year is a fantastic way to reduce your environmental and ethic footprint!
I would trust New Seasons to tell you about the conditions under which their meat is raised and killed (including the implications of the terms "organic" and "free range:). I would also keep in mind that the primary owners are vegetarians now (maybe they know too much after working in that industry for so many years?).
I do not trust Trader Joe's to tell the truth or be ethical. They sell red listed seafood in spite of an organized effort my environmental groups to try to get them to stop. I don't think they care about anything but their profits.
We have friends who buy a whole cow every year (ethically raised by someone they know) but they end up eating way too much beef, contributing to their weight and health problems.
Posted by: s. | August 11, 2009 at 04:58 AM
While I understand you are looking to buy your own meat to cook, I thought I would pass along a way to get humanely raised meats along with yummy organic vegtables.
There is a company called Pacific Pie Company that is selling their products at the Beaverton, Lake O., and Milwaulkis Farmers Markets this summer. They sell traditional Austrailian meat pies using only humanely raised beef and lamb plus the best local and organic veggies. They are delicious and I have bought frozen pies from them to stick in the freezer to have a quick dinner.
Check them out at the markets or go to their website: www.pacificpieco.com.
Posted by: ted | August 11, 2009 at 06:25 AM
Last year we bought a quarter of a cow from eastern Oregon, Carman Ranch. Grass fed, pastured it's whole life. Delicious meat! We were previously vegetarians and by slaughter time this year we will have eaten the whole quarter. It doesn't feel like too much meat for our family of 4 and since it's in the freezer you could even eat it over a longer period of time. www.carmanranch.com
Posted by: Rayna | August 11, 2009 at 08:16 AM
We are buying from Seven Springs Ranch for the second time. We also buy a quarter and it feeds our family of 5 for a year as we are not big meat eaters, but like having it available for when we choose to eat it. All natural grass fed.
thesevensprings.net. Linda Young. They also deliver to our area all at once to save multiple people driving down...
Bummer to hear that about Trader Joes. I thought they were better than that.
Posted by: sk | August 11, 2009 at 08:31 AM
I too wanted to buy meat raised more responsibly but found that a whole or half a cow would be more than we would want to eat. We like meat but we don't want to feel like we need to eat more to empty a freezer.
My veggie CSA (Dancing Roots) has a partnership with Harmony Jack Farms (http://www.harmonyjackfarms.com/). We could buy a share or sample packs of 20 pounds of beef or pork both at $6/pound. I bought 20 of each and compared it to New Seasons - with the cuts they gave the cost came out to be less. My partner claims the steak to be the best she has ever eaten. They also raise chickens and turkeys. Next year we might do the share since it would also include the poultry.
I have since met them and our kids have played together during pick ups. They are really nice people that try to keep everything local. Their animals never go off to be fattened up - the beef at New Seasons has actually gone through that process. Check out their website they have a lot of great information.
Posted by: Sarah C | August 11, 2009 at 08:55 AM
We buy whole/half animals from local farms and have them butchered to our specifications. We've done a lamb several times, as well as a hog and many birds: turkey, chicken, duck, goose. We're thinking about going in with friends to get a side of beef. This is the best way I'm aware of to really know how the animal was raised, killed and processed. The things you need to do for this approach are a) be prepared to invest a good deal up front in the meat and b) invest in a large, quality freezer.
We also shop a lot at New Seasons. Talk to the head butcher at your local shop. They know a lot about the meat: what the animal was fed, how it was raised, how it was "finished", slaughtered, butchered. They strive to have choices that are local, healthful and humane. And they communicate openly regarding what they are selling.
Posted by: Erin | August 11, 2009 at 09:01 AM
So timely. We also bought half of a cow (shared some of it) from Carman Ranch last year and loved the beef. The quality is fabulous. We decided to learn more and just visited the ranch in the Wallowa Valley last week. It was amazing. 6 hours in the car with 2 small kiddos was a bit challenging but so worth it. I am working on a blog post on it but I can't recommend the people or the product more.
Cory Carman is an amazing woman and mother who works on the policy and politics of food production, community building issues in her region, as well as working diligently to provide the best possible product possible (all while raising 3 lovely, small children). Without dropping names, I can say that they are working on logistics with many of Portland's best and most well-known chefs who are all enamored of their beef.
All of their processing is done in October and November (and delivered to drop points in Portland) so now is the time to order. They have great customer service (more than willing to answer many, many questions) and if you are ever in Wallowa County and are curious about the very best sustainable ranching practices, look them up. http://carmanranch.com
I realize I am gushing here but if Cory and her family lived closer I would seriously try to make her my BFF. : )
Posted by: mama without instructions | August 11, 2009 at 09:21 AM
You can also be on the lookout 'Certified Humane' labeling:
http://www.certifiedhumane.org/
Posted by: Bungalowgirl | August 11, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Hi! I'm a Customer Advocate for New Seasons Market, and a fellow Urban Mama. This is a great discussion, and it's heartening to see so many people who care about the source of their food.
Whenever you have the opportunity to talk to the people who grow your food, or to buy directly from them, take it! That goes for farmers' markets, CSAs, and sometimes even New Seasons--we bring our local ranchers and fishers into our stores from time to time to hand out samples and answer our customers' questions, which they love to do. But if that's not an option, then speak to the person behind the counter. A few of you suggested talking to the people in our Meat Department if you have questions about how the animals are raised, what kind of life they've had and how they're killed. The staff in our Meat Departments get to visit our ranchers and see how the farms are run for themselves, and they love to talk about their experiences.
If you have specific questions that you didn't have the opportunity to ask in the store, feel free to send an email to TalkToUs@newseasonsmarket.com. We'll share any details you'd like to hear.
Keep asking questions! Ask the butchers at whatever your regular grocery store is all the questions you want about their meat, and don't stop until you have your answers. We all have the right to know how our food got to our plates, but sometimes it takes a little work to find out.
Posted by: Allison M | August 11, 2009 at 02:34 PM
I've changed my eating habits recently to actually increase meat consumption (dairy, poultry, eggs, meat) based on the 'Traditional Foods' ideology (Nourishing Traditions is one book, for example). This has been very interesting for me as I consumed almost no meat for years. Sourcing and nutrition has been critical for me in this change--I will not eat meat or animal products that have not been humanely, nutritionally raised as locally as possible. I think animals treated in humane ways, in accordance with the biological ways they have evolved to eat and live, for example, provide the best nutritional bang-for-my-buck so I can consume less and receive optimal nutrition. Pastured (grass-fed) animals are a very sustainable food source.
I buy local, organic, pasture-raised (hens aren't supposed to be vegetarian) eggs and poultry whenever possibly from farmer's markets (I talk to the farmers).
I buy local, organic, pasture-raised and pasture 'finished' pork/beef/lamb from farmer's markets (we love Deck Family Farms) or New Seasons.
I buy local dairy from organic, pasture-farmed cows from Noris Dairy (delivered free locally or from People's co-op) or other vendors via Farmer's Markets.
I typically buy fish from New Seasons (green label).
In researching local sources for animal products, I've found many farmers who can offer many different kinds of processing (halal, kosher, etc.) It takes more effort to ask the questions of the farmers and do the google searches to find local alternatives, but is so worth it to me.
Posted by: Kristi | August 12, 2009 at 01:34 AM
Wow, this is all such helpful info. I'm so encouraged to see so many parents putting so much thought into this. It warms my heart, truly!
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Posted by: Betty | August 24, 2009 at 04:31 AM
So how about milk/cheese products? I have been cutting both out of my diet as I just don't see how there can be a humane way to bring these products to market. I am completely opposed to veal, and don't see how dairy cows can be treated humanely if they are forced to produce more milk than they normally would in nature, by having calfs each year who are quickly taken from them. Even if it is a "certified organic" operation, which in some cases can be worse from what I've read and heard. I'm struggling with this. I love dairy/cheese, etc. But I just don't see any humane way to have it. Any suggestions and/or input? Thanks!
Posted by: Monica | January 05, 2010 at 11:34 AM
I have wondered about this too. Do the cows suffer from this treatment if they are raised in a humane way (access to pasture, not treated roughly etc)? Do they miss their babies? I assume the babies miss their mothers. We have rabbits that we raise for meat and the does do not seem to miss their babies at all when we remove them the the mother's cage. They actually seem kind of relieved :) But the baby bunnies don't get weaned till they are older (six weeks). I know they take away calves after only a few days, I believe they only leave them long enough to get the colostrum. Maybe there are dairy farms out there that allow the calves to stay with the cows for longer?
Posted by: jd | January 05, 2010 at 12:26 PM