May
19
2008
I want to purchase farm-raised organic meats, poultry, fish - how do I know which brands are legit?
midnightrose asked:
We eat all organic an natural foods, and we feed our son the same. I buy organic produce from a local farm, but I am wondering how to ensure that the meat we buy is not only organic, but farm raised animals that have lived normal non-hormone induced lives, without antibiotics and such….how can I find out which brands are which??
Jessica
We eat all organic an natural foods, and we feed our son the same. I buy organic produce from a local farm, but I am wondering how to ensure that the meat we buy is not only organic, but farm raised animals that have lived normal non-hormone induced lives, without antibiotics and such….how can I find out which brands are which??
Jessica
By HeldmyW, May 19, 2008 @ 4:11 pm
You ask an excellent question…
It is more difficult to do what you describe than to simply hit the megafood stores and load up a basket, but seeking out suppliers, like your local farm is the way to go.
Farm markets can be an excellent source for free-range organic, but talk to other purchasers. If the seller has just hit the local fruit and veg distributor and set up a table with sprayed rubbish, people will know. It’s hard to keep a secret!
Talk to friends, check the internet, look for associations of growers and farmers (they’re very ‘clubby’).
I find that the search is an excellent hobby and a great excuse for rides in the country, meeting new people, stopping at great places to sample produce, cheese, fruits, etc.
It’s not just the cooking and eating! It’s fun!
Best wishes.
By justme, May 21, 2008 @ 10:13 pm
Read the labels. If it says certified organic (and/or hormone free), legally it has to be.
By spica, May 24, 2008 @ 2:04 pm
You don’t know, you just gotta TRUST the brand.
That’s why brands matter. They have to build up consumer trust.
Lets say a non organic canned tuna.. how do u know it doesnt contain dolphin? You just trust that it doesn’t. And that the tuna is fresh from the ocean like what they say in those ads.
Usually there are brands that specialise in organic meats, and those are in a different section. You can trust them because they ONLY carry organic meats.
Otherwise you will know from the taste and quality.
edit: yes legally.. or else the company is liable to get sued by commercial laws!
By legal aide, May 24, 2008 @ 7:15 pm
Check this out by your zip code and area, and you may be able to buy directly from a local farmer in your area. You put a certain amount of money into the pot and they grow - vegetable, fruit, poultry, beef, etc. - and you take part in enjoying the harvest.
By zakiit, May 26, 2008 @ 3:45 pm
They usually are home raised and slaughtered and prepared. They have to carry labels with provenance. No way would they get away with buying it in from somewhere else.
Own farm label is what it says it is.
By Mike L, May 28, 2008 @ 11:12 pm
Find you local 4H. and find what butchers have won the auction..
I think you have missed the point of ANTIBIOTICS.
And today hormones are too expensive…
By Carlita, May 31, 2008 @ 7:37 am
If you are near Pennsylvania or Iowa, check out the Amish. Everything they raise is organic, and their prices are very reasonable.
By ohiorganic, June 1, 2008 @ 7:07 pm
To the poster that says the Amish are organic-no they are not. I farm for a living and I know several Amish growers and only one is organic and the rest use GMO’s and chemicals and confine their livestock a la factory farming. All the Amish Chicken in the grocery stores is factory farmed and antibiotics are used in these confined animals.
is the best way to find local meats. Almost all the farms on Local harvest use organic practices even if they are not certified organic
Now you need to visit the farms and ask questions such as what kind of feed is feed and is it organic (if the person is not certified organic and gets the feed from TSC or the local mill they are not feeding organic feed and most likely the feed will have GMO’s and synthetic vitamins) Are the animals outside all day? Are they on green healthy pasture or dirt (you want the former, though in drought years lush pasture is not always possible). Do they permanently remove animals that have been administered antibiotics for health reasons (injuries mostly) from the herd (this is a rule for certified organic farms and should be followed by anyone claiming to raise organic animals)
If they are selling as organic ask to see the organic certification papers. All certified organic farms and farms advertising/marketing their food as organic have to have certification by federal law.
Than there are thousands of folks like myself that were certified organic until the USDA took over and than voluntarily dropped certification but have not changed how we farm (I still buy all organic inputs and keep excellent records of what goes onto/into my farm). I can no longer use the term organic legally so you will not see the term associated with my food or farm but those are the methods I use. I use terms like sustainable, Eco-Farm, pastured, day range etc., but never organic.
So ask lots and lots of questions. We sustainable and organic farmers generally love to talk about our farms how we manage them and will do so until your eyes glaze over.
Oh and you won’t see much branding as local family farms tend to be small farms and not savvy marketers (or have the money to hire a marketing agency-farming does not make many farmers much money.)
By loliswayoverused, June 3, 2008 @ 8:52 am
You never really can until you see the fact that they are for yourself. Otherwise, you can’t really tell… try raising your own cattle or poultry if you can.