Organic Prairie Frequently Asked Questions

Organic Prairie® 85% Lean Grass-Fed Ground Beef

What makes Organic Prairie's 85% Lean Grass-Fed Organic Ground Beef organic?

Wholesome, delicious, and nutritious Organic Prairie 85% Lean Grass-Fed Organic Ground Beef is produced by organic family farmers working in harmony with nature.

• The USDA National Organic Program standards are the strictest food production standards in the world. Certified organic farms are required to follow the NOP standards www.ams.usda.gov/nop, and are annually inspected by an independent third party. International suppliers are subject to certification of compliance with the same NOP standards.
• Organic farmers never use antibiotics, synthetic hormones, or synthetic pesticides in production. For beef cattle, this is from the last third of gestation.
• During their entire lives organic grass-fed cattle receive only 100% certified organic pasture and stored forage when pasture is seasonally unavailable. Grain or rendered animal by-products are never fed.
• Certified pasture is grown on land not treated with synthetic fertilizers or pesticides for a minimum of three years.
• Pasturing of organic cattle provides better quality of life for the animal, superior animal health, and greater nutritive value in food derived from the animal.
• Organic animals must not be genetically modified and cannot be fed food from genetically modified sources.

Is organic meat safe?

Organic meat is the safest choice because it comes from healthy animals raised on healthy land.

• The USDA organic standards set forth regularly audited practices leading to superior health and living conditions of organic animals, a primary component in food safety.
• All Organic Prairie meats are processed at federally inspected plants which are certified for organic production by a third party organic certifier accredited by the National Organic Program of the USDA.
• We visit and audit all plants regularly to ensure they meet our strict quality standards, and in addition, each plant undergoes a third party audit for Good Manufacturing Processes to ensure a safe processing environment.
• Each lot of our product undergoes rigorous microbial testing far beyond that required by the USDA before shipping to ensure it meets our own quality standards.
• Each unit of organic meat is traceable back to a lot. Each lot is traceable back to the farm of origin, and the Farm Plan required by the National Organic Program allows the specific animals included in the lot to be identified and traced back to birth.

What are the health benefits of Grass-Fed Organic Ground Beef?

• Pasturing is an environmentally-friendly practice, avoiding the waste run-off common in feedlots, which is estimated by the EPA to have polluted 35,000 miles of rivers in 22 states and contaminated groundwater in 17 states. Pasturing protects the environment for all living creatures.
• The greater the percentage of cattle's diet that comes from grass, the more optimal the ratio of Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids in the beef. Grass-fed beef generally has a ratio of 2:1, in contrast to primarily grain-fed beef, which can be as high as 20:1.
• Omega fatty acids are "essential," meaning they are essential to human health but cannot be manufactured by the body. These fatty acids must be obtained from diet. An inappropriate balance of Omega 6 and 3 contributes to the development of disease, while an appropriate balance helps maintain and even improve health.
• Grass-fed beef has also been shown to contain as much as ten times the amount of betacarotene, triple the amount of Vitamin E, and triple the level of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) as non-grass-fed beef.
• Beef is an excellent source of protein produced without added potentially harmful chemicals. It is a good source of iron, zinc, selenium, and B vitamins.
• People who eat beef regularly are more likely to meet 100% of the RDA for protein, iron, zinc, and B-vitamins. (USDA CSFII 1994-96 ).
• Stearic acid, a unique saturated fatty acid, is the primary fat in beef. Research in humans and animals suggests it has either a neutral or cholesterol-lowering effect, in contrast to other saturated fatty acids found in meat.

For more information on the benefits of eating organic beef, see the Health & Nutrition Links in the Resource section at www.organicvalley.coop.

What are good uses for Organic Prairie 85% Lean Grass-Fed Organic Ground Beef?
Lean, organic, grass-fed ground beef is a popular and versatile food. Organic Prairie's 85% Lean Grass-Fed Organic Ground Beef is wonderful in the traditional favorite the hamburger sandwich, and can be used in a wide variety of prepared dishes ranging from chili, to casseroles, to Mexican-style foods such as tacos and nachos. When you choose organic, lean, grass-fed ground beef, you can enjoy the flavor you know and love with the added health benefits of eating beef produced from cattle fed an ideal grass-based diet.

What does the "freeze by" date mean?
The "freeze by" date is the date by which it is safe to freeze a fresh meat product for later use. Thawed meat should be cooked and eaten immediately.

What does it mean to say our beef "blooms" after the package is opened?

Our beef (except for the chubs) is vacuum packaged, meaning the air is removed from the package during the sealing process. The beef looks purple because oxygen has been excluded. When the package is opened, oxygen in the air comes into contact with the meat, reacts with the myoglobin in the meat as a natural process, and turns the meat red. Organic Prairie does not use any sort of modified atmosphere such as carbon monoxide in packaging our meats.

What is the difference between "organic," "natural," and "grass-fed" meat?

It is a common misconception that "natural" or "grass-fed" meat is the same thing as "organic" meat. This is not the case. Significant differences exist between the three.

Certified organic farms are required to follow strict standards from the USDA's National Organic Program, and are inspected by an independent third party each year for compliance. These standards prohibit the use of antibiotics, synthetic hormones, and pesticides. The organic certification process is the guarantee to consumers these rules are being followed. There are no such standards or inspections for natural, non-organic-grass-fed, and conventional meats.

Isn't "organic beef" already "grass-fed beef?"

The USDA is currently developing a new rule to define "Grass-Fed" claims on packages. In the proposed rule animals certified as grass-fed would be fed a diet that is mother's milk or 99% grass, legumes or forage (anything taken by browsing or grazing). Unfortunately, this rule may not preclude feeding of hay in a confinement-style operation, and does not mean the cattle would have access to open range if the farm is not also an organic farm. Organic Prairie's organic grass-fed beef program meets and exceeds even the most stringent form of the proposed USDA rule, and is based in our commitment to humane animal treatment in agricultural production.

Organic Prairie's grass-fed beef is first and foremost organic grass-fed beef. All of Organic Prairie's beef is pasture-based, if not strictly grass-fed, and part of a healthy organic farm rotation that includes some grains. Organic Prairie's organic grass-fed beef is fed only on mother's milk and certified organic pasture.

Is our 85% Lean Grass-Fed Organic Ground Beef produced in the United States?

Organic Prairie Family of Farms sources all of our organic beef from family farmers and cooperatives producing in compliance with the USDA Organic Standards, both domestically and internationally. Our primary goal is to grow our domestic organic beef program to meet increasing demand, but in the interim we are working with like-minded partners in Australia to meet consumer demand for organic grass-fed beef.

What kinds of 85% Lean Grass-Fed Organic Ground Beef are available?

Organic Prairie's 85% Lean Grass-Fed Organic Ground Beef is available fresh and frozen in 1 lb. packages.

Is your 85% Lean Grass-Fed Organic Ground Beef available nationwide?

Organic Prairie's 85% Lean Grass-Fed Organic Ground Beef is being tested as a pilot program in the Western United States due to strong consumer demand for organic grass-fed beef in that region. If the market dictates, we will expand this program to include other regions.

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