Making the switch to pasture-raised food? Here's where we recommend you start.

If you’re making the switch to pasture-raised and grass-fed meat, it can be hard to know where to start. 

What protein will give you the best value, or make the biggest impact on your health? Which one will have the biggest nutritional difference? And, if you’re on a budget, which one should you prioritize? 

I know that grass-fed beef is the darling of the Internet - and for good reason! But we usually offer a different starting place for our customers: chicken and pork. 

Why? There are a lot of great reasons - but there are a few main ones that we usually focus on. 

Why Chicken and Pork? 

First, the way that we raise our chickens and pork is 100% different from what you’ll receive at the store. This is true even for “organic” chicken - which is just conventional chicken that’s been fed organic feed. 

In conventional poultry and swine operations, animals never leave their enclosures until slaughter - a barn for chickens, and a concrete pad for pigs. 

That means they don’t get exercise. They don’t have access to forage or bugs. They don’t see sunlight. They don’t have space, movement, fresh air, and a low-stress environment. 

And this is reflected in the quality of the meat that you consume. Meat has better flavor and texture when the animals are healthy and active. Likewise, there are higher concentrations of vitamins and minerals, quality fats, and a better omega-3 to omega-6 ratio in pasture-raised meat, where animals are feasting on forage and fresh grass. 

The way we raise our food has direct implications on your health, too - beyond what's on your plate. 

If you live in North Carolina, you know that this state is one of the top producers of pork and chicken. It’s estimated that there are half a billion poultry, and around 9 million hogs, being raised in CAFO operations. 

And that means there’s a lot of waste. On CAFO farms, this is concentrated in large areas - sometimes in piles, sometimes in lagoons. But these concentrations often create problems, seeping into waterways and elevating nitrate levels, polluting the air, and even entering nearby homes as particles. 

And if you breathe the air and drink the water, that should concern you. Elevated nitrate levels in water have been linked to health problems, including cancer. Long-term exposure to the air particles from animal waste can lead to cardiovascular problems. And there are some reports that proximity to CAFO operations can lead to an increase in gastrointestinal illnesses. 

In our opinion, this makes it even more important to support agriculture that’s raising animals in a different way. Our poultry and pigs live outdoors and move constantly. This means that their waste doesn’t accumulate in harmful concentrations. Nor is it pollution. It’s what it’s intended to be - helpful nourishment for our pastures. 

And of course, if you're on a budget, chicken and pork is often a more budget-friendly option - especially with the state of beef in this country right now. 

So if you’re thinking about where to start, consider food that’s not only going to make a difference at the dinner table and your wallet - but also in your everyday life, as you walk, breathe, drink water, and raise your family. 

And once our customers try our chicken and pork? They don’t have to be convinced. They know that it tastes better, and makes them feel better, too. 

If you’re ready to make the switch to food that’s different for you and your community, click here start shopping our chicken and pork today.