[.invisible ink.]

http://www.alternet.org/food/147555/...o.?page=entire

Want Grass-Fed Meat to Replace Factory Farming? There's One Important Thing You Need to Do.


A partnership between an Indian tribe and Whole Foods almost made grass-fed beef a reality for many consumers, except there's one big problem.
July 20, 2010 |




Arapaho Ranch produces the kind of beef your inner cowboy wants to eat. With 595,000 acres sprawling across Wyoming's wild and rugged Owl Mountains, the ranch is home to native grasses, wolves, mountain lions, and grizzlies. The cattle are herded by Indian cowboys, each with his own fleet of seven horses -- one for each day of the week.

It's the largest certified organic cattle operation in the U.S., which isn't saying much given what's permitted under today's organic standards, which regulate an animal's diet more than its lifestyle. While organic cattle can be confined for up to eight months a year without losing their certification, the cattle at Arapaho Ranch spend their entire lives grazing outside. They follow the melting snow up the mountain in springtime and retreat to lower ground in fall. The cattle breed naturally, without the help of artificial insemination, as do the ranch horses. The word "organic," while applicable to the beef produced on Arapaho Ranch, doesn't do it justice.

When the Arapaho Ranch, which is owned by the Northern Arapaho Tribe, made a deal to market its beef at Whole Foods, it was a dream come true: an
economically feasible way for the tribe to steward its land in an ecologically responsible way. It created a revenue stream that stands in stark contrast with gas drilling and casino gambling.
Whole Foods celebrated the agreement with great fanfare, featuring eagle feather headdresses and traditional Arapaho prairie chicken dances in the parking lot of a Denver store. "[It] was a great idea," says David Ruedlinger, Whole Foods' meat coordinator for the Rocky Mountain region. "They could supply us with beef 52 weeks a year. Their cattle grazed year-round and knew their way around the ranch, which microclimates would have grass in winter. Everything at the ranch seemed as it should be according to Mother Nature."

Everything, it turns out, except the bottom line. In March, barely a year into the deal, Arapaho Ranch pulled out.

"We couldn't have asked for a better situation," explains David Stoner, general manager of the ranch. "They're beautiful stores. They presented our product beautifully. But it's a difficult product to produce. We're keeping cattle until they're 30 months old, through two winters. It takes range-fed beef that much longer to grow, and we're still three to four hundred pounds less than the ones that come out of a feedlot."

The move to gain organic certification was a big investment for the ranch. Then the bank that helped finance the operation backed out. A sizable percentage of the meat's retail price was going to Panorama Meats, which handles the slaughter, packaging and distribution of Whole Foods' beef. The ranch was getting squeezed, Stoner says, and when the price of conventional beef shot up by 20 percent last spring, Arapaho asked Panorama for a commensurate increase in the wholesale price. Panorama declined.

Arapaho Ranch then tried to strike a deal directly with Whole Foods. But that proposition wasn't as simple as the tribe might have hoped, according to Whole Foods' Ruedlinger.

"They might view Panorama as a middleman, but they're more than that. Panorama provides services I can't do myself. They have a market for the bones, offal, livers, bench trim, etc. You don't see us selling tripe, tongue, or oxtail at our store, but all that stuff is marketable and should be used if you're trying to get the best carcass utilization possible. And carcass utilization is important not just for economics, but to honor the animal."

For a large, publicly traded company like Whole Foods, it's more efficient to deal with one supplier -- Panoroma -- that works with several different producers, than to work directly with individual ranches. "In winter, sometimes inclement weather means the roads in Wyoming are closed, and we can't get the product," Ruedlinger explains, as an example of why going around Panorama to deal directly with Arapaho Ranch was a can of worms he didn't want to open.

All parties claim no hard feelings.

"We have no ideological differences," says Stoner, "I believe in Panorama's integrity, that they try to provide what they promise, that they're a transparent company, and they treat their producers with a lot of respect. It's not their fault, it's not Whole Foods' fault, and it's not our fault. It's just unfortunate. It's pure economics."

Ruedlinger says he has "all the respect in the world" for David Stoner and what they're doing on the ranch.

And Mack Graves, chief executive officer of Panorama, told WyoFile.com. "I feel horrible about it. They were such good folks. We could have worked it out, and we didn't."

So why can't these sympathetic parties make a deal?

Stoner is correct to blame economics. And the root of this economic problem is a marketplace where consumers want their meat fresh rather than frozen. This is due in part to the inconvenience of waiting for meat to thaw, and also due to the false assumption that freezing meat lowers its quality.

If consumers warmed up to frozen meat, ranchers could slaughter their cattle during the growing season when the quality of forage -- and consequently of the meat -- is much higher. They wouldn't have to overwinter as many animals, or contend with bad winter roads. And it would make range-fed operations more competitive with feedlot operations, which can finish their animals on high-quality feed in winter and guarantee fresh, marbled meat year-round.

Arapaho Ranch is currently exploring other markets for its range-fed beef, but it's running out of time. "We could be making a lot more money selling calves to feedlots," Stoner says. "Do we believe in that model? No. Are we going to be forced into it? Possibly, yes. By fall we're going to have to make a decision."

The willingness of consumers to step up to the plate could make Stoner's decision a lot easier.

"If we could get shoppers to buy beef at the peak of the season and freeze it themselves, or buy frozen product off-peak that was harvested at peak season, all these problems would be solved," Ruedlinger says.

But that's a big if. "We tried putting together frozen value packs, which offered an assortment of burgers, sausages and steaks for a discounted price," he says. "The program met limited success."
This is a shame. Stoner and his cowboys would like nothing better than to keep working their tails off to keep America's freezers full of good meat. But as they say on the range, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.

[.invisible ink.]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/...n6752116.shtml

And people wonder why I only eat local, grass-fed, organic meat. ha.

1M Lbs. of Ground Beef Recalled for E. Coli

Seven People Sickened; Potentially Contaminated Meat Was Sold in Calif., Texas, Ore. and Ariz.

• (CBS/AP) (AP) A meat processor recalled about 1 million pounds of ground beef products Friday after seven people were sickened by E. coli contamination.

Valley Meat Co., of Modesto, sold the potentially contaminated beef patties and ground beef in California, Texas, Oregon, Arizona and internationally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said.

The beef was processed from Oct. 2, 2009, to Jan. 12, 2010. Most of the products were sold frozen. The company was working with the USDA to identify stores where the products were sold and remove the items from shelves.

The USDA would likely have a list of retailers available in three to 10 working days, department spokesman Neil Gaffney said.

USDA Release on Recalled Valley Meat Products

"This is the first recall in our history and we will investigate the matter thoroughly and take any measures deemed necessary to further elevate our safety standards, protect consumers, and ensure confidence in our products," Valley Meat said in a statement.

All of the recalled products have the establishment number "EST. 8268" inside the label's USDA mark of inspection. Valley Meat said consumers should discard possibly affected meat or return it to stores for a refund.

The California Department of Health notified the USDA in mid-July of a cluster of E. coli-related illnesses, leading to the recall. The department said at least seven California residents were sickened between February and June. A meat sample collected from a patient's freezer confirmed the source of the outbreak.

Most of the infected patients were in Northern California, with exposures in Marin, Mendocino, Placer, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Siskiyou and Kern counties. None of the patients required hospitalization, and all have recovered, Health Department spokesman Ralph Montano said.

Tests identified the bacteria as E. coli O157:H7, the strain most commonly responsible for food poisoning.

Symptoms of infection often include often include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting and a low fever. More serious infections can lead to kidney failure, brain damage and sometimes death.


Products Subject to Recall bear the establishment number "EST. 8268" inside the USDA mark of inspection as well as a production code of 27509 through 01210.

(#2155) *IQF* 80/20% BEEF PATTIES 8/1R
(#2503) SMASHBURGER 40/7 OZ. - VAC PACK
(#2510) IQF 80/20% BEEF PATTIES 2/1 OVAL
(#2515) *IQF* 80/20% BEEF PATTIES 2/1 R
(#2535) IQF 80/20% BEEF PATTIES 3/1 OVAL
(#2545) IQF 80/20% BEEF PATTIES 3/1R
(#2575) *IQF* 80/20% BEEF PATTIES 4/1R
(#2595) IQF - 80/20% PATTIES 4/1R THIN
(#2605) *IQF* 80/20% BEEF PATTIES 5/1R
(#2635) *IQF* 80/20% BEEF PATTIES 6/1R
(#2668) BEEF CHUCK PATTIES 7 OZ- 21#
(#3075) *IQF* 85/15% PATTIES 4/1R USFI
(#3090) 'RPQ' 85/15 PATTIES 160/4 OZ.
(#3325) "RPQ" 90/10 BEEF PATTIES 40/4 OZ
(#3350) 90/10% BEEF PATTIES 160/4 OZ.
(#3450)SUPREMAS BEEF PATTIES 12/3#
(#3519) *IQF* 4/1 SOY PATTIES 80/20%
(#3520) *IQF* 5/1 SOY PATTIES 80/20%
(#3522) *IQF* 6/1 SOY PATTIES 80/20%
(#3675) BEEF SOY PATTIES RETAIL 6/5#
(#3700) 73/27% RETAIL PATTIES - 12/3#
(#3705) 73/27% RETAIL PATTIES - 6/5#
(#3710) 73/27% RETAIL PATTIES - 8/3#
(#3715) BIGGER VALLEY BURGER - 6/5#
(#3725) 80/20 BIGGER BURGER 12/3#
(#3751) 80/20% RETAIL PATTIES 12/3#
(#3800) 85/15% RETAIL PATTIES - 12/3#
(#3850) BLACK ANGUS BURGER 12/2# BOX
(#3875) 93/7% BEEF PATTIES 12/3# RETAIL
(#3880) BUTCHER'S CUT 73/27 RETAIL BOXES 8#
(#3882) BUTCHER'S CUT 73/27 PATTIES 12/2.5#
(#3883) BUTCHER'S CUT 80/20 PATTIES 12/2.5#
(#4000) 73/27% GROUND BEEF 10/1#
(#4001) 73/27% GROUND BEEF 20/2#
(#4005) 73/27% GROUND BEEF - 40/1#
(#4015) 73/27% GROUND BEEF 4/5#
(#4020) 73/27% GROUND BEEF - 8/5#
(#4030) 73/27% GROUND BEEF 4/10#
(#4035) 73/27% GROUND BEEF 15/3#
(#4300) 80/20% GROUND BEEF 10/1#
(#4305) 80/20% GROUND BEEF - 40/1#
(#4310) 80/20% GROUND BEEF 4/5#
(#4315) 80/20% GROUND BEEF 8/5#
(#4325) 80/20% GROUND BEEF - 4/10#
(#4326)*FRESH** 80/20% GROUND BEEF 4/10#
(#4328)80/20 GROUND BEEF 4/10# WHITE BOX
(#4329) 'RPQ' 80/20% GROUND BEEF 4/10#
(#4335)80/20% GROUND BEEF 2/5# - PRINTED
(#4610) 85/15% GROUND BEEF 4/5#
(#4615) 85/15% GROUND BEEF 8/5#
(#4625) "RPQ" 85/15% GROUND BEEF 4/10#
(#4630) 85/15% G B 4/10# CLEAR-generic (#4915) 90/10% GROUND BEEF - 8/5#
(#4925) 90/10% GROUND BEEF 4/10# / WHITE
(#4930) 90/10% G B 4/10# / CLEAR-generic
(#4980) 93/7% GROUND BEEF 4/10#
(2714) HEARST 80/20 PATTIES 5/1R -10#
(2715) HEARST GROUND BEEF 12/1# RETAIL

These products were produced between the dates of Oct. 2, 2009 through Jan. 12, 2010 and were distributed to retail outlets and institutional foodservice providers in California, Texas, Oregon, Arizona and internationally.

[.invisible ink.]

A New York company called Zemco Industries has recalled 380,000 pounds of deli meat that it distributed to Walmart under the Marketside label, because it might be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Although nobody has reported any illness and healthy people aren't usually in danger, listeriosis can kill old people, infants, and others with weak immune systems.
From the USDA announcement:

The products subject to recall are:
-- 25.5-pound cases of "Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches BLACK FOREST HAM With Natural Juices Coated with Caramel Color" with the number 17800 1300.
-- 28.49-pound cases of "Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches HOT HAM, HARD SALAMI, PEPPERONI, SANDWICH PEPPERS" with the number 17803 1300.
-- 32.67-pound cases of "Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches VIRGINIA BRAND HAM With Natural Juices, MADE IN NEW YORK, FULLY COOKED BACON, SANDWICH PICKLES, SANDWICH PEPPERS" with the number 17804 1300.
-- 25.5-pound cases of "Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches ANGUS ROAST BEEF Coated with Caramel Color" with the number 17805 1300.
The meats were produced on dates ranging from June 18 to July 2, 2010. The "Use By" dates range from August 20 to September 10, 2010.

The CDC says that Listeria monocytogenes is found in soil and water, and although pasteurization and cooking kills it, "in certain ready-to-eat foods such as hot dogs and deli meats, contamination may occur after cooking but before packaging."
"New York Firm Recalls Deli Meat Products for Possible Listeria Contamination" [USDA via CNN]

View article...

[kdefrisc]

Going to see Joel Salatin speak in Berkeley on my birthday! Yippeee!

http://sf.funcheap.com/evening-symbi...atin-berkeley/

[.invisible ink.]

Farmageddon, fantastic documentary about food and civil liberties:

[KingFelix34]

No one is going to tell me how many ounces of Diet Mountain Dew I can drink!

[suicidesaints]

I haven't read through this whole thread, but I'm interested in linking the "food conspiracies" to the "cancer cure conspiracies"

My general thoughts are that big business is genetically modifying foods, factory farming, using additives, preservatives etc. for 2 main reasons...

1) to make things cheaper, thus increasing profits.
2) to make the consumer sicker (disease, cancer, diabetes etc.) leading to my next point...

I also think that (in the U.S. at least) they want us to get sick (and stay sick) because that mean profits for big pharma. The U.S. will not allow doctors to treat diseases such as cancer with "unconventional" methods, such as the "Gerson therapy", and we keep real cures like medicinal marijuana illegal, for this very reason.

Thoughts, comments?