Pickup is at Open House this Thursday!

OPEN HOUSE SPECIALS ARE INCLUDED WITH THIS WEEK’S VENDORS LISTINGS

Welcome Back CASABLANCA RANCH! Casablanca’s Open house special is sirloin steak at $7 per lb.

AUGHTMON – “Select soaps will be $3 each and I have over 8 different scented lotions in my 2 ounce bottles and I will have them for $1.50 each and lip balm for $1 and the all natural insect repellent for $4. There will be a limited supply so they will want to get there early.” 

Exquisite Greens from DAVIS FARMS

HORTON’S FARM – “Rich Rosemary Lip Balm available at Open House for $1 per tube! We hope to have a few strawberries on site. If you’re not familiar with our all natural bath and body products come and check them out!” Don’t forget to order greens, honey, etc.

JUST GOT LAID EGGS – The name says it all – Rehobeth fresh eggs from fresh chickens. Online Orders Only

KATHY’S CHURPERS fresh eggs from the happiest chickens in Henry County! Online Orders Only

MARY’S PEEPS – Farm Fresh herbs, eggs, jams, jellies and home made goodness. Be sure to check Mary’s listings. Online Orders Only

RICHTER FARMS – Local, Fresh, Sustainable Pork – check them out at http://richterfarmspork.com/

SMITH FARMS – Online orders only this week. Ground Lamb and Dexter Beef

SPRING HILL FARM is open for orders and will be at Open House with their wonderful breads, nut butters, soup mixes and more.

SANDSPUR FARMS – “Beef is RESTOCKED! Some pork cuts still available too. 
This beef was able to enjoy the sweetness of winter grazing
so the taste may be a little different, but in a good way. I hope 
everyone enjoys their purchases from us and if there is ever 
a problem, please be sure and let me know. 
Our goal is 100% customer satisfaction! Thanks, Jen”

Your SUSTAINABLE Market

As Americans become more knowledgeable about the the health benefits of eating healthy, non processed food, there is still a lot of misunderstanding about beef. More and more people are understanding that conventional beef is not as healthy as organic, pastured or grass fed. With various healthy diet plans recommending different types of healthy beef it can become confusing!

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GRASS-FED AND ORGANIC BEEF?
There is a lot of overlap between organic and Grass Fed beef, because both practices represent a dedication to raising healthier, less chemically-contaminated cows. However, not every cow raised on the pasture is USDA Certified Organic, and not every organic cow is fed a 100% grass diet or allowed unlimited access to the range. If you have to choose between one or the other, it’s important to understand what each label means, and how they each impact the health of your family.

WHAT GRASS FED BEEF MEANS:
Grass fed beef simply means that the cattle were allowed to forage and graze for their own fresh food. They may be given close substitutes like alfalfa during the winter, but unlike grain-fed animals, the emphasis is still on providing the closest thing to a natural diet as possible. Grains are higher in calories, and encourage the cows to grow much faster and cheaper, but grass is much higher in key nutrients like Omega-3s and B vitamins, and result in steaks that are leaner, healthier, and much more flavorful. This is why grass-fed meats are strongly recommended by the Paleo Diet.

WHAT ORGANIC BEEF MEANS
The organic label doesn’t so much describe how the cattle was raised as list all the ways that they can’t be raised. The cows cannot be confined in a feed lot for any extended period of time, cannot be over-crowded or kept in unsanitary conditions, and cannot be directly or indirectly exposed to artificial pesticides, fertilizers, antibiotics, hormones, GMOs, or other synthetic contaminants.

THE OVERLAP-SOME OF THE BENEFITS WITHOUT THE LABEL
Certified organic beef can be raised on a diet of corn or grain, but they must have at least some access to a pasture, so at least some of their nutrition will probably come from grass. However, unless you talk to the farmer directly or do your own laboratory analysis, it’s impossible to say how much. USDA Certified Organic guarantees that the beef will be free from artificial contaminants, and suggests that it might be higher in nutrition as well.
Grass fed beef  does have many of the benefits of organic beef, simply as side effects to raising their cattle on a pasture.  Because the cows are in their natural habitat, with access to all of the open space you need to support a herd of cattle, their lives are more humane, less stressful, and much more sanitary, which means their immune systems are under less pressure, don’t require artificial assistance, and their meat is much less likely to be contaminated with diseases like E. Coli. If antibiotics are used on grass-fed cattle, it’s only in rare cases when the animals are actually sick, not constantly like feed-lots have to use them. Why pay for gallons of antibiotics if your animals are healthy and clean all on their own? Cows eat all kinds of plants on the pasture, including weeds, so it doesn’t make sense to spray their pastures full of herbicides. Pastures are essentially wild, with their own balanced ecosystem and plenty of help from cow manure, so pesticides and artificial fertilizers are really unnecessary. While grass-fed, non-organic beef may be exposed to more chemicals than organic, it’s certainly cleaner than conventional beef.

Footnotes

Market At Dothan is a small group of niche growers and producers promoting sustainable agriculture and supporting our local economy. Each grower/producer is dedicated to providing the freshest, highest quality products to their customers. Our growers use natural growing principles without synthetic chemicals. Local products available include: fruits, vegetables, herbs, eggs, beef, chicken, lamb, honey, baked goods, jams, jellies, goat cheese, frozen casseroles, pottery, nuts.
All growers /producers believe in providing locally grown foods and goods seasonally to promote a strong, local community and economy. Our goal is 100% Customer Satisfaction…comments, questions or concerns are welcome!