We are at a point in time when sustainability means everything. It is vital that our choices, energy production, our food, and its production methods be sustainable and viable. The amount of beef consumed in the world in a single day is beyond the meaning of the word enormous. Think of it as being in the metric tons per day region. However, the process of generating this beef is now causing harm to the environment. It is just no longer tenable. Among the ways that you, the beef lover, can ensure that sustainability comes back to beef production is by starting to look at grass-fed beef and organic beef. Grass-fed beef is produced on farms where the animals are well taken of hence equally aiding environmental conservation. Health-wise, grass-fed beef is a better alternative. Being that it is more ethically produced, grass-fed beef is gaining momentum in the market. What should you assess when buying grass-fed meat?
First things first, learn how to decipher the label on the meat packages. Start by making sure that the beef you are selecting in that grocery store has a label specifying it is grass fed. Grass-fed cattle get to consume less human-made foodstuffs hence a more natural feel to their diet. However, not all labels will be authentic. The best kind of labels will be those from national grass fed associations. Presence of these labels indicates that the meat came from cattle that were humanely brought up.
At this stage, it may also make sense to engage a grass-fed beef farmer. You can skip the labels as they can only tell you so much about the animals bringing up and feeding and just talk to a farmer directly. Most grass-fed beef is produced on small-scale ranches and is directly sold to consumers. In the event that there are no farmers nearby, you can use online directories from national grass-fed beef bodies to guide your search. When having a sit down with the farmers, make sure to inquire of their grazing techniques tenability.
The next thing is to select the right cut of grass-fed beef. You need to assess the physical state of the beef to assure quality. The edges of quality grass-fed beef should be brown in color, and the fat should have a yellow color. Keep in mind that color is not an indicator of freshness and hence the beef should smell like normal meat does and not give off rancid odors. It is best to go for meat that is 90% lean.