sharky I can go to Whole Foods and buy grass-fed beef but it is very expensive. Try to shop there at least once a month and buy what is on sale as far as beef but for the most part have sorta given up eating beef as well as feeding it to my dog. After Aug. should be able to shop there twice a month and then I'll be better able to catch more on sale.
I am posting on this because I think all of these "Natural and Organic" Chains need further scrutiny. I say this because I visited one. I was actually considering asking them to test try some of the products from cattle we raise. I researched and found the following out... I also found inconsistencies in labeling of Watermelons and the Produce Manager was actually very responsive in taking these signs down. I think too many people rely on labels that follow USDA guidelines that are not in line with what they envision the term to really mean.
If you go to the Whole Foods website, click onto the meat standards
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/products/meat-quality-standards.phpIt requires the Animal to be Range Fed for 2/3 of their life. What about the other 1/3? How is that any different than traditional Beef Production. The Hormones and Antibiotic thing is perhaps different. But they are also processed the same way as cattle who are slaughtered for other Stores that arent in this class of "Natural/Organic"
I also asked the Butcher some questions. They do cut a lot of their own meat from Primals. I saw the Fat percent signs and asked if they had a tester. I have been interested in getting one myself. He said, "No, they simply put what it should be on the sign"....
Another employee relayed the following to me as I asked about where the Beef comes from... 'It comes from a Ranch in SE Oregon... Ok, that is good...
The Rest keep in mind this is an employees interpretation. It is not a Meat Counter guy either. However, I want to point out the way people want to hear a story and the resulting spin effect...
"Yeah, there's no fence on the whole place"...I really think somewhere there is a fence. AS do most other ranchers who smile as I relay this story..
"So, the Cattle stay in the Creek Bottoms where all the good feed is and it makes the best Beef..."
Really?? I think not. I have been around cattle forever and know some things. They also like some dry grass as the sugar concentration cn be higher. I was in High School when Riparian areas first began to be fenced out. It is good to fence them out of streams when the banks are muddy so they don't tear it up. Let them have access to the grass when it is drier and they won't damage. They recycle nutrients in the same way as fire. The Point is Manage the thing.
The employees story may have or not have been really what is going on. ut if I accept the Story, then he is promoting the destruction of FRiparian Areas and Fish Habitat for what he thinks is better food. When, ctually these calves spend the last 1/3 of their life on Feed in a feedlot somewhere.
There are tons of options to know some Ranchers and get what you are looking for. I find getting to know your Farmers Market people has given me the best produce anywhere. I feel our meat is the same. And ask there also. Grass Fed USDA Requirement does not mean they are never fed grain.
I am simply saying ask questions. I am not knocking different or any production method. I am knocking the way terms have been redefined in a way that confuse people
