While I mosty eat as a vegetarian, there are some meat dishes that I occasionally crave. So, to satisfy my omnivorous desires, while keeping my eco-consciousness intact, I look to sustainably and locally raised animals for those special meals. Unfortunately, given the current state of our food system, finding local meat can be a bit of a challenge and as a new report from Food & Water Watch points out, improving access will require nothing short of rebuilding small-scale meat processing infrastructure. Sounds like a mouthful (couldn’t resist), but the group’s thorough report lays out the changes that need to be made to transition from centralized industrial meat operations, which mistreat animals, pollute the environment, and pose major health risks, to smaller, healthier, and more sustainable local farms and ranches. Here are some of the key findings of the report:
• Small slaughter and processing operations have been closing across the country because of industry consolidation, low profit margins, the complexities of federal regulation and difficulty disposing of slaughter byproduct.
• Small slaughter operators are expected to adhere to a regulatory framework that is biased toward large, corporate facilities that can afford the expensive techniques and equipment now incorporated into government inspection requirements.
• Despite the odds stacked against them, some small slaughterhouses and processors are finding ways to survive.
• A variety of public policies, including regulations on food safety, economic development and rules governing livestock markets must change in order to level the playing field for small meat plants.
You can read the full report here and find factory farms in your state using this map. A key component to creating a more sustainable food system will also require that we eat less meat, so be sure to check out the Meatless Monday campaign. And find locally raised meat, and other foods, in your area by using the action link below.
CATEGORIES: Environment
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Craigslist.com is a good source to find local farmers selling meat. I do not believe sustainable requires eating less meat, just buy from smaller local type producers. Much better quality and possibly even better prices.
Rebuilding small scale processing infrastructure seems to be the sticking point. Although we have people raising chickens, sheep, pigs locally, in order to have them slaughtered and approved for sale to local restaurants, the animals have to be trucked hundreds of miles away to be processed in a USDA approved facility which is an unworkable situation.
I too am a daily vegetarian, but found myself looking for non-industrialized meat to entertain family. I purchased humanely produced beef from the High Plains Coop (see http://www.highplainsfood.org/). HPFC is a grassroots network of High Plains and Rocky Mountain Front Range producers and consumers uniting interests in locally grown food and other locally made products.
I found myself enjoying the steaks - when you don’t eat meat often, it is really a treat. I also bought some plants, catnip, and homemade Chai Tea kits (YUMMY!).
Sadly, my Meatless Monday campaign at my workplace cafeteria is falling on deaf ears.
Thanks for the resources Brenda! If other people have suggestions on where to find sustainably raised meat, please leave the info in the comments.
Good luck with the Meatless Monday campaign!
The real problem is the USDA,and their insane regulatory policies. The consumer must put pressure on their represenatives to pass new legislation to suit the small. local processor.Until this happens, we are kind of stalled in the water.
Do you not understand the cruelty of slaughterhouses? I grew up on a cattle ranch in Latin America and I can assure you even when the rancher is “humanitarian,” killing is still brutal (How could it not be?). Any system that treats animals as human property for our consumption or convenience will inevitably result in butchery and cruelty.
Animals are living creatures that do not need to be killed or brutalized by us for nutrition (Yes, that includes dairy products). In fact, animal based products are generally bad for us.
I saw the movie yesterday and always thought that Harris Ranch beef was pretty good but they are not on the lists, any feedback on them?