Finding Animal Welfare Approved Meat
Excerpted from Market to Mouth
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Last week I said would ask this question when next grocery shopping for animal and or dairy protein:
“Can you tell me which meat and poultry items are from AWA-certified farms or farmer groups?”
I asked the question and a very nice young man at Whole Foods’ meat counter said that he didn’t know of that particular certification.
He did share that the Boulder, Colorado Whole Foods sells Country Natural Beef, Nature’s Rancher Buffalo, Homestead Pork, Bell and Evans Chicken and Diesel Turkey, and that all their animal products are farmed according to animal compassion standards.
I googled “animal compassion standards” and found my way to an article that cites Whole Foods as the founder of the Animal Compassion Foundation, but the link to the foundation doesn’t go anywhere.
Further googling came up with a link to the Whole Foods website and a podcast about the foundation and its mission.
To tell you the truth, I’m starting to feel overwhelmed with missions: the various missions of the companies, farms, and organizations I’ve linked to above and in previous weeks, WFs mission(s), and my mission to find humanely-farmed meat and poultry.
I wish I could just buy my food at the grocery store and feel confident about what I’m buying, but alas, that’s not the case.
I bought a pack of ground buffalo because the nice boy at the meat counter did his best to assure me that this buffalo was raised according to standards that sounded as though they align with AWA-standards.
The Animal Welfare Approved standards are my benchmark these days because they are the “most rigorous and progressive animal care requirements in the nation.” If all meat and poultry items available in local groceries were affixed with the AWA stamp, I know I would feel more confident about my purchases.
I try to buy meat from people I know. My uncle has bison, and there is a gal in the old train depot down town that has eggs and raises pultry,and pigs. I just don’t eat much seafood. Can’t say I feel deprived. Only problem is I am moving and I have to refind all my local ingredients again. Should be interesting.
.-= Foy Update – Cook. Garden. Write. Repeat.´s last blog ..The Moving has Commenced =-.
Hi “Cook. Garden. Write.”
I’ve found the internet to be incredibly helpful, particularly for sourcing local, traditionally-farmed animal protein. And also Edible magazine (online and hard copy), which has nationwide community publications detailing local food and farms.
Gook luck with your move and with finding your local sources for humanely-raised meat and poulty.
Louise
.-= Louise Ross´s last blog ..Eat Real, Unprocessed Foods =-.
I’ve also been on a quest to find “humanely produced” meat (though often I feel that’s an oxymoron). My husband won’t give up meat or eggs, though he’s as committed as I am to finding humane alternatives. I went into the “Animal Welfare Approved” website, and I could not find any AWA Colorado producers on their list, but I will check out Lasater.
Also, I’m trying to find egg producers that do not get their hens from hatcheries that practice “culling” of male chicks, and that’s proving even harder. Suggestions?
I’ll keep looking.
Thank you for the story.
Thanks for the comment Carla. I feel similarly about meat. I feel humans are naturally inclined to eat meat (or animal products), and so I have to balance what I feel is healthiest with what I feel is ethical. Most of my meat is hunted though, which I feel is as humane as you can get.
Hi Carla,
“Edible” magazine is a great resource for locally grown meat, poultry, eggs, produce, and artisanal products.
It sounds like you’re in Colorado so look for “Edible Front Range” (the Colorado edition of Edible magazine) either in hard copy at stores like Whole Foods Market or check it out online http://www.ediblecommunities.com/frontrange/
As far as locating local egg producers that do not get their hens from hatcheries that practice “culling” of male chicks, why not email the “Edible Front Range” editor, via the “contact us” tab, and ask if they can make any suggestions.
Best of luck,
Louise
Hello! I am helping a terribly underfunded horse rescue/shelter, Begin Again Farms, in Ellerslie, Ga, raise money. Would you help us out by sharing our link with your readers?
The horses and I thank you!
-Melissa
http://fundraisersonline.net
BTW- Contact me to put together a free online fundraiser for your favorite shelter!!
Melissa´s last [type] ..Begin Again Farms