How to Go Green: Buy Organic Meat

Organic meat is becoming much easier to find, and much more affordable. These days, if you don't have a local organic farmer or market (which you probably do!) you can easily order organic food to be delivered to your doorstep. Organic brands are also being sold more in traditional grocery stores, although you will pay more than if you go to an organic-only store, farmer's market or farm.

Why eat organic meat?
There are many benefits to eating organic meat. To begin with, the record-keeping on organic farms is very good; you'll always be able to find out exactly where it came from. The animals are also treated humanely, with access to the outdoors, sunlight, and natural food. No animals are fed "the ground up remains of their same species (Bond)." Furthermore, you can be sure that if organic meat is labelled "USDA Organic" it is not genetically modified, given antibiotics to artificially stave off illness, or given growth hormones to make them gain weight quicker, also shortening their life span. Another plus to eating organic meat is that artificial pesticides and fertilizers are not used near the animals, so they do not come in contact with the harmful chemicals.

Where can I buy organic meat?
Organic Valley is a brand that offers organic meat as well as other food and is usually available at your local grocery store. Their website offers coupons for their products, as well as information about their organic meat and dairy items. Wholesome Harvest is a brand that offers organic meat to purchase online, such as organic ground beef or New York steak. One of the best resources to use when you are searching for organic meat is the website Local Harvest. This website can be used to find farmers or markets in your area, allowing you to buy the freshest food available while supporting your community. You can also buy organic meat and other products online through Local Harvest, such as ground lamb starting at $5.95 or elk ribeye starting at $21.00.

What sort of organic meat is available?
You can buy virtually any meat organically, such as rabbit, veal, and elk, as well as chicken, cattle, fish, and turkey. Some organic meat is easiest bought online, while others are always available at your local organic farmer or grocer.

Eating organic meat is a great option for anyone, guaranteeing the health and well-being of the animals as well as assuring yourself that you're buying the freshest food for your family. If you're looking for more information about organic food, try reading "How to Go Green: Buy Organic Chicken."

Resources

Bond, Annie."Top 10 Eco-Friendly Reasons to Buy Organic Meat & Dairy." Care2.com. 28 February 2000. 02 April 2009. http://www.care2.com/greenliving/why-buy-organic-dairy-meat.html#