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You've been duped!

6/21/2017

8 Comments

 
It doesn’t happen often, but the other day I had someone cancel their Monthly Discount Box Subscription with us. When they did so, they left me a note that said this…

“The concept of your company is really great and we enjoyed having the meats delivered to our door. But, with more and more Whole Foods, Roots, Clarks, and Sprouts being built organic meats are becoming more accessible and are competing with the price of your product”

I've got bad news - that beef is not truly 100% Grass fed & finished. Because all beef eats grass at some point in it's life, the USDA now allows any beef to be labeled "Grass fed" even if it has been grown in a feedlot.
Picture
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Then, just today, we saw this article in Farm Ireland.​

The USDA is allowing import beef from Ireland to be labeled “Grass fed" if they are fed grass 80% of the time.
 
In stark contrast, SonRise Ranch Beef are 100% Grass fed, all the time. This is called "Grass fed & finished" - scary stuff for consumers who rely on their imagination of what Ireland is like.

In fact, the article admits that most consumers associate Ireland with green grass - thus they can be fooled easily.
And so, the bigger picture begins to emerge. Terms like “Grass fed” and “Organic” are being confused with what we do, here at SonRise Ranch. ​

Here is a quick video that explains what to look for in true Grass fed Beef...
To add insult to injury, the USDA, who introduced Mad Cow Disease, and spoiled import meat to the U.S. now permits import and domestic Big Ag to label their product “Grass fed” when their beef eat grass only 80% of the time.

​So what does all this mean?

​Let’s take a look at some definitions… from top to bottom (and I really mean bottom). 

​
“Pastured, 100% Grass Fed & Finished"
This is what we raise at SonRise Ranch and it only applies to beef (not Pigs or Chickens). Born and raised on Grass and only Grass. Weaned from mother after birth, diet changed from milk to grass slowly. Grows much slower than grain fed beef (feedlot or conventional beef). Mature at 28 to 29 months for harvest.

“Grass fed”
USDA definition – must be fed grass at sometime in its life.  This means the stuff from the supermarket, which by definition must be mass produced, and may be fed grass as little as one day of its life yet can be labeled “grass fed” 

“Grass fed, grain finished”
This is what is called “feed lot beef”, “conventional beef” or “commodity beef”
It is the most common, regular, supermarket beef.

​“Pastured Beef” or “Free-Range Beef”
May be any of the above – ask the producer. How do the beef live? Do you feed grain?
​Why don’t you just say “Grass fed & finished” like the other guys? – Hint… there is a reason they don’t.

“Local Beef”
​
Beef is not Local – sorry. It can’t be… think of it like this; imagine if you grew cabbage locally, but there was a government agency that enforced a law that you can only wash your cabbage (and you must wash it before sale) in a special sink located 600 miles away from your farm. That is what the USDA does – we grow our beef locally, but it must be inspected for safety 600 miles away from our customers. BTW, why the inspection? We have been at this for 13 years and never had a single beef found to be unsafe - in that same time period, there have been hundreds of "outbreaks" from industrial meat plants across the U.S.

“All Natural Beef”
​
This means nothing…. Literally. The USDA allows just about anything to be called “all natural” because Big Ag Producers were able to argue that just about anything is natural.

“Organic Beef”
​May be fed organic corn…. Still not grass fed, still not healthy. Don’t be fooled  - Wal Mart sells “Organic Beef”.  It just means that whatever they are giving the beef at the feedlot is labeled “Organic”

“Antibiotic & Hormone Free”
​
Means what it says. Not give Antibiotics or Growth Hormones. Most producers add this to their label if they have nothing else to say. Hormone and Antibiotic use is minor compared to feed use - feed is daily, medicine is occasional, so the former has much greater impact on the animal than the latter.

Number two above is what really gets me – “must be fed grass at sometime”

All Beef eats grass, sometime in its life! In other news, water is wet…Come on, this is a ploy for the big time producers to recapture what they’ve lost to small time Grass fed & finished guys and the government is in collusion with them.

The sad part is that people can be fooled by what they read on a label and it is affecting real Ranchers in real ways. “Grass fed” should really mean just that, but such is not the case.
​
Key takeaway - you've got to know your producer!
8 Comments
Leah Bookhamer link
8/15/2017 05:07:02 pm

I received my first order last week and love love love the beef, and pork. My husband combines 1lb of GF Beef with 1 lb of pastured pork and grills up the most delicious burgers. I've currently been testing all the local Grass-fed/pasture raised meat distributors to recommend to my clients (I'm a NTP) so far Son-Rise is my hands down winner for my recommendations.

Reply
Kacey
9/9/2017 07:48:04 pm

I bought some of the "organic" ground beef at Costco a few weeks ago. When I got it home, I was reading the package (I should have done it at the store, I know) and it only said the no antibiotics, organic feed thing. I said to myself, not grass fed, grass finished, and I paid twice the price of the other stuff?!?! So, I ordered some from you. :-)

The Costco stuff did smell better cooking than the non-organic version. But I think feedlot beef is a huge problem for human health and human species survival (others call this "the environment"). I just don't want to participate.

Love your blog, would love to see more frequent posts, even if they are just videos of your animals doing their thing. Actually, I would love that. Absolves the [absurd?] guilt of the meat eater to see them happy in life.

Reply
Stephanie
9/15/2017 08:35:15 pm

After eating the meat that your farm provides, I can tell a difference! Your meat is so much better than the organic stuff sold at big chain supermarkets.

Reply
Sheryl Bel
9/22/2017 11:20:29 am

Thank you for your commitment to quality and for updating your buyers on what "true" organic is. There is a HUGE difference in the look and taste of your poultry and meats. My family has tried a variety of what you have and have been thoroughly pleased! This nation needs to eat healthier and it begins with each individual.

Reply
Linda S
11/17/2017 11:28:27 am

The ground beef is amazing - best I've ever had! I'm addicted to the beef liver. This doesn't taste like the beef liver you get at the markets. It's mild and yet flavorful and soooo tender.

Reply
Karen S
12/10/2017 10:15:20 pm

Every month I look forward to receiving my meat delivery! It's a surprise every time! I love opening my box to see what great products you have sent to me! There is no better tasting chicken, beef or pork! I love preparing food that not only tastes good but is good for you! Thank you for all you do in making this home delivery possible!! I will continue to refer my family and friends to your website!!!

Reply
Rebecca
12/21/2017 06:36:36 am

I received my first shipment and am excited to taste it! The packaging and color of the meat are amazing! I will post as soon as I cook it :)
BTW - I called the company with questions and they were extremely helpful and informative. I look forward to ordering more from Son Rise Ranch :) thank you!!!

Reply
Linda
2/5/2018 06:29:38 pm

The pastured chicken is sooooo delicious! We can't recommend it enough. Try it and you'll get hooked like my family has.

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