While driving north this weekend, My mother-in-law and I were chatting about the weather, the royal wedding, and the children, when her attention was drawn to the movies I had gotten at the library to watch that weekend. “Food Inc?” she said in a never-heard-of-it voice, so I explained that it was a documentary on how our food is raised and treated in big conglomerate feed yards. That is when she said, “I don’t think I want to watch this.” And I agreed, saying “I know you don’t.” She added, “Sometimes naiveté is bliss.” And I agree with her to a degree: learning about your how meat and poultry are treated is completely disgusting and disturbing, and a blind eye is something you may want once you know.
And that is exactly why we need to exercise our buying power with our wallets. But there are things that a lot of people don’t know about buying organic and locally raised meats. Like they can be as cheap as conventional prices, you just need to know where to shop. And this was a point my mother-in-law made. She understands that free range, organic meat is leaner, has more omega 3s, and is more humanely raised, which is something we should all be respectful of. But she also has been buying food for her family on a budget for 30 years and to her that is the halting point.
So while she knows the benefits, the price of the meat is what brings the whole show to a standstill. $9 for a lb of chicken or hamburger is expensive when you have been buying it for 30 years for $3.50/lb. And I am positive she isn’t the only one who knows the benefits of buying organic but is too fixed on the sticker price when the grocery bill totals up. But what if I told you that you could get grass-fed organic steaks, hamburger, and soup bones for cheaper than the grocery store. Interested?
So, in an effort to inform and educate buyers and help our small, local meat farmers sell more, here’s the secret: You have to buy the whole cow! Or at least a good portion of it.
My family and I have been buying quarters and eighths of cows and pigs and whole chickens for years from local, organic farms. It is the cheapest way to get the best. So get a friend, your whole family, or invest in a second freezer. It’s well worth it.
Local Farms & Prices Anderson Farm Arkansaw, WI • (888) 700-FARM (3276) • andersonfarm@nelson-tel.net • www.andersonfarm.usPork Whole/Half – $4.29/lb Quaters – $4.49/lb Price covers: butchering, cutting, natural smoking, sausage seasoning, vacuum wrapping and freezing Beef Whole, half or quarter – $3.99/lb Eighth – $4.29/lb Price covers: butchering, cutting, natural smoking, sausage seasoning, vacuum wrapping and freezing Coon Creek Family Farm Mondovi, WI • (715) 834-4547Chicken Whole Bone-In – $3.99/lb Cut Up – $4.19/lb Genesis Acres Whitehall, WI Pork Whole/Half – $3.50/lb Quarter – $3.57/lb Includes processing Beef Whole/Half – $3.50/lb Quarter – $3.57/lb Includes processing Don’t Want the Whole Cow? Some farms, like Genesis Acres sell bundles of meat, which are a great deal for what you are getting. $25 pork bundle: 1 pkg pork chops (4 chops), 2 bacon, 1 Italian sausage; $25 Beef bundle: 1 pkg steaks (2 steaks), 1 beef roast and 2-1# pkgs of burger