Shopping Small, Steaks and other Thoughts...

I've recently received a lot of requests for steaks, and unfortunately, have not been able to meet the demand. I thought it might be worth sharing some information about production of beef on a small scale. 

It takes me just about four years to raise the beef that you may have just enjoyed for dinner, or that's in your freezer. Those four years include the cows pregnancy, the time rearing the calf, and the natural, slow growth of the animal that I prioritize here on the farm.

Our most popular cut is the Ribeye steak. I get 16 Ribeyes from one entire 1400 lbs steer.  That's it!  Really think about it. Four years of investment for 16 ribeyes. It's quite shocking really to think about all that goes into that beautiful steak on your plate.

This brings up an interesting point about our food system. “Big Ag” affords us the ability to go to the store and essentially choose any cut we want, at whatever quantity we desire…and generally at a reasonable price.

BUT, we make a sacrifice for that convenience. The sacrifice comes from raising cattle on a huge scale. A scale huge enough that you can walk into Costco and get a platter of “Wagyu Ribeyes” for $20/lb. But, what went into that beef were processes and inputs designed to produce it as quickly and efficiently as possible. Consider the lifestyle that animal must have had and what it was fed, to achieve that.

I'm not saying that you shouldn't take advantage of the convenience a cost savings at the store, and I recognize shopping small is more expensive. But I do believe this perspective is important for us to consider when we think about sustainability, our own health and that of our families, and last but not least, animal welfare.

You may notice that the online store has boxes of beef that include a variety of cuts. The reason I do that is because if I sold just by the cut, it would be too difficult to sell what remains after the popular cuts are gone. And if I cannot sell all of the beef, then there is no business in selling it. The same goes for all small scale producers. 

If you have thoughts or questions on this, I'd love to continue the dialog.