Blazing a New Trail...All Natural & Organic Beef

As mentioned in a previous blog, I really love going to farmer's markets. It is a convenient way to purchase fresh produce directly from the farmers. You will now find produce sellers at farmer's markets sharing space with ranchers. Niche cattle ranchers who specialize in all natural and organic beef have found a new venue to sell their meat.

Most of these local ranchers are too small to compete with large rancher's who get the lion's share of business at super market chains. Some specialty stores do direct business with the small rancher and now farmer's markets have become a meeting place for the natural and organic conscious consumer. What's the difference between "organic" and "natural"? I'm glad you asked!

Lucky Dog Ranch at the Sunday Farmer's Market in Sacramento. 

Certified Organic Beef:

Organic certification is not an easy thing to come by. First the rancher must maintain a fully verifiable production system that collects information on the history of every animal in the program, including its breed history, veterinary care and feed.   

The animal must be born and raised on pastureland that has been certified to be free of synthetic pesticides, fertilizers and other amendments. All the feed that the animal receives must also be certified as organically grown grasses and grains. The feed also cannot contain any animal by-products.

For the rancher and the consumer, the payoff for organic practices means livestock are kept strong, healthy and productive through good nutrition, less stress and humane living conditions, rather than through antibiotics or injections of artificial growth hormones.  

All Natural Beef:

Here's where it gets tricky. According to the USDA, "all natural" beef can be fed growth hormones, antibiotics, animal by-products, treated with chemical pesticides and implanted with steroids. As long as the final product does not have anything added to it and is "minimally processed" it can be call "all natural".

So it's important to know if the "all natural" beef you are purchasing eschews these practices. Why? Here's an example: A recent study by Danish scientists suggested that hormone residues in U.S. beef may be linked to high rates of breast and prostate cancer, as well as to early-onset puberty in girls.  

Grass-fed Beef:

"Grass-fed beef" is often mistaken to be synonymous with "organic beef".  As a general rule, cattle are grain fed before butchering to fatten them up. Thus you will find cuts of beef at market that are lean in the center with marbling towards the outer portion of the beef. 

My Preferance:

I have had many people tell me they prefer the flavor of grass fed beef. Here comes that word again..."flavor". There's no way a 100% grass fed piece of beef taste better than  a well marbled cut. So what's the answer for those of use looking for a healthy steak that has flavor? My choice is Lucky Dog Ranch from Dixon.

Ron & Terri Gillaland owners of Lucky Dog
 Ranch with "Lucky", their McNab herding dog

The Lucky Dog Ranch herd runs on an open pasture from birth to harvest, always maintaining the natural group dynamic. The cattle is handled in the most humane way possible. They are never given antibiotics or hormone laden feed. When it comes to finishing the cattle, the only change in their routine is the introduction of a free choice bunk of grain and hay; custom mixed. This mix is brewers’ grain (from Sudwerk brewery in Davis), almond hulls, oat hay, alfalfa and molasses. 

Below is a list of some Northern California Organic and Natural Cattle Ranchers. If you can find it at your farmer's market that probably means its local and local adds up to sustainable.


Organic:

Eel River Organic Beef:  www.certified-organic-beef.com. You can find their beef at Golden Gate Meats which is inside the Ferry building in San Francisco. The Ferry building is home to a farmer's market every Tuesday and Saturday and is the creme-de-la-creme of farmer's markets in Northern California. 

Prather Ranch:  www.pratherranch.com. Prather Ranch raises Organic and Natural herds on their ranch near Mt. Shasta. They have a retail outlet at the Ferry building, store #32 in San Francisco. For a complete list of places to find their product check out their website. Purchase online.

Prather Ranch sells dry-aged beef, my favorite!

All Natural Beef:

Lucky Dog Ranch:  www.luckydogranchbeef.com. Their beef is dry-aged 21 days. Check their website for retail locations or ordering online.

Five Dot Ranch:  www.fivedotranch.com. The Swickard family  has been in the business of producing grain and livestock in California. 

Five Dot Ranch retail store inside the Oxbow Public Market in Napa.

Lazy 69 Ranch: www.lazy69ranch.com.   100% grass fed beef. Order online.

***

Visit NorCal Lifestyle on Thursday, March 28th, as we explore the city of Napa. Most people who come to the Napa Valley  drive straight through on their way to destinations further up the valley. All that has changed as Napa has now become the new destination in Napa Valley. Ciao for now!