Organic Beef - Deals, prices and info?

[queenofthehivemomof5]

I am thinking about buying organic beef but what is holding me back is the price. At $4 to $8 a pound I am not sure if that is realistically in my budget.

Does anyone have any tips on getting organic beef cheaper than that?

We are not big beef eaters and mostly eat ground beef and the occasional roast or london broil and we eat beef like once or twice a week. I am sort of squeemish touching meat so it is DH that cooks it mostly. LOL

What should I expect to pay, how can I get a deal, what should I be looking for to make sure the beef I am buying is organic and the animals have been treated humanely?

Does anyone have any online sources?

I was looking at Dakota Beef online last night and they grain feed thier animals which I have heard is not very good for the animals as corn and whatnot upsets thier tummies and causes them stress.

Discuss......

[derketchup]

There is a local healthfood store in Bothell that basically orders a couple of cows every so often and has customers preorder it.

Hmm, let's see. I would try the following:

• see if there are any local ranchers who will sell you a cow or half a cow. You can then freeze it and use it year round.
• find out what local stores sell organic beef AND when they usually mark down their beef. I've had some success stalking the meat cases at Fred Meyer for organic meat. You just have to either use it that day or freeze it that day, which is usually not a big deal for most of us.
• search for a local food co-op and see if they have any connections for organic meat. You don't have to be a member to buy at most co-ops -- they will just tack on a small fee (usually % based).

I agree, avoid grain-fed cattle if you can. In fact, if I had to choose between organic-grain-fed and non-organic but certified free range, I'd go with the free range every time. Even if the cow got a lot of antibiotics, IMO walking around in a field all day would help it get it out of its system sooner. Just like kids who play outside all day and eat HFCS -- they're sadly healthier on average than kids who sit inside all day and only eat organic food.

[queenofthehivemomof5]

As far as local ranchers...we do have them here but most in my research are conventional ranchers ie pasture fed till weened then shipped off to a finishing plant where they are corn fed then processed. We do have a grass fed buffalo ranch localy but I am not too keen on the flavor of buffalo meat myself. Ill keep my eyes peeled for other local options.

I want to make a special trip to my local stores (maybe this weekend) just to research the organic beef options and take some notes on where it is comming from etc. I will look into free range as well.

There are no local food co-ops here where I live.

[jenjacobs]

The only way I'm able to buy organic meat is to use WTs and do the beer/wine rebates. I know most of the beer rebates probably don't inlcude your states but the wine WT usually have no state restrictions. So keep an eye out in the Gimmie My Money Back section!

[austinmomto2]

We rarely can use WT's here in TX.

QOTH,
Do you have farmer's markets close to you? We have numerous markets here and most sells free range or natural or organic beef and other meat products.

GL!

[queenofthehivemomof5]

No farmers markets in Gillette, now that we have a reliable car again I might be willing to drive the 2 hours or so to Sheridan or Spearfish durring farmers market season. We shall see it is still dead of winter right now so no markets going on.

This area of Wyoming does not grow anything farm-wise. We are energy producers not farmers, there are ranchers here (I like to go look at the cowboys on Saturday at Walmart LOL)

Ill have to do a bit more research. Still open to online options though if I can get a halfway decent price.

[Merczilla]

Hehe...yeah, you have Durham, don't ya? lol That's the brand Fred Meyer carries here for buffalo. I'll buy buffalo before I'll buy regular hamburger. We eat moose here, too. I know it's a ways away, but Three Bears has opened a store in Butte. They carry natural meats and they're cheaper than the regular grocery stores. I think I pay $3.29lb for ground. They have a website: Three Bears
. Not much there, but they have phone numbers and such. Maybe they'ed ship as it's not a huge distance.

They do take coupons. There's a local meat market I use and a couple other locals I get stuff from. My cousin's that used to ranch in that area have moved I think. Call my Aunt Delores in Worland and ask her. lmao Maybe my cousin Dale is still in Gillette. lol Not much help am I?

[jenjacobs]

Originally Posted by austinmomto2

We rarely can use WT's here in TX.

Marci - even if you can't use WT in your state, you can send in for WT rebates. Check out this one, it has no state restrictions:

x05/31/08 MIR meat or seafood NWPN Mondavi $5 on $5.05 min valid 2/1 - 5/31/8 pm by 6/15/8 (NWPN Mondavi) - Hot Coupon World

you can trade for them on HCW.

Jennifer

[queenofthehivemomof5]

We actually know the owners of the Durham Buffalo ranch but I really am not keen on the flavor.

I was in Albertsons last night with a little time to kill (that can be dangerous!) and looked high and low for organic beef....nothing, nadda, zip not even in the frozen section. I could have sworn that they carried some a few months back. Ill have to re-check in a month or so after they are done re-setting the store.

I had to pick up a friend last night who ran out of gas in front of the butcher...which reminded me that I wanted to check them out. They were closed but I am planning on checking that out today to see what they offer.

[jujubee]

Queen, what about requesting organic beef from the store manager or meat manager? Or sending a letter to corp expressing your desire to purchase organic beef, and if the store could help you accomodate the request...? Never hurts to ask!

[queenofthehivemomof5]

I can do that too. I first want to explore the options in town. The local stand alone butcher, smiths, dons (a local store) then if no go I will speak with the butcher at Albies. Right now the store is a mess so it could be that they were out.

I did notice one lone package of Laura's lean beef....are they organic?

[lvg4him]

I am able to get it for half that price buy looking for the manager's special. I usually shop at King Soopers. But even the local HFS has manager specials.

Also, there is a reason to not just get organic, but to get free range as well. There is a site (I can send it in once I get permission, I think I need to PM the owner of the list first (at least that is how it is for HCW) that has links to grass fed beef. Most of these are not certified organic, however they are organic.

Also, there is a local store where I live that sells organic meats. If you sign up for their email list, they send out coupons.

You can also try to find someone who has a ranch and barter with them. I was able to get raw goat milk cheaper by buying one of her glass bottle containers and just reusing it over and over again. I know with farms, you can work them for a discount on the produce. I don't see why you cannot try to arrange something similar for beef.

Maybe you have something that the farmer is in need of. Can you create a web page to advertise for them? Maybe you are good with advertising and can create and print and mail off an advertisements for them. Maybe you sew and can make some nice work aprons for the family. The key is finding a family owned and operated farm.

[queenofthehivemomof5]

Im the owner...go ahead and post the link. As long as your not profiting from the link go ahead and post!

[queenofthehivemomof5]

where do you go to find out more about local ranches?