Larger animals (sheep, pigs, cattle) he had one or two of, here and there throughout the years. He couldn't butcher them and couldn't sell them. I never got the precise story, but he wasn't USDA certified, or the lower classification, USDA inspected (? approved? There's levels of it).
He could do the birds and rabbits because he did under some number a year (1000 ? 10k ? I forget). But any big animal, no way. He could kill the animal himself and GIVE it away to people, but not sell it.
And some of the farmers markets in the snootier areas (namely, where I live :( ) don't allow NON-USDA stamped food.
So he's in a rock/hard place. He already says the hobby farm loses money. "Leaks cash like a sieve" I think was one way he put it. But he enjoys it, and takes the losses. But to be compliant, he'd have to ratchet up his production and pay an obscene amount of money to get the USDA stamps.
Add into that my state and other local states (VA, MD) are starting to ban selling "shares" of a cow. That's how Larry would have gotten around the laws -- a family buys a "share" of the raising of the cow, and thus get the meat. They didn't buy the meat, they bought the food for the cow or whatever. Sneaky, but was used to get around the laws.
So, sure, your polemic is nice and all, but if you want local, you're still getting massively large argibusiness beef, grass fed or not. Not Joe Small Farmer raised beef.
I'm not advocating small farmers. (Your friend can find a processor for his meat, by the way, but he'd have to pay by the pound to process it). I'm advocating responsibly produced food, large ranch or not. Locally (central and east Texas) a few of the ranches got together to form a co-op that now supplies meat year-round to a few local stores.
Your friend might find just such an alliance, but I doubt it. This isn't a hobby. Intensively managed ranches are a lifestyle, a full-time-plus job.--------------------------------- "You bring the weasel, I'll bring the whiskey." - kellnerin[ Parent ]
last spring, total cost of the meat we brought home (and subsequently lost in the freezer accident) was $4.00/lb. pretty damn cheap![ Parent ]
Yes, he could do it full time, but would never make money. Economy of scale. Get big enough, hire some illegals, get gubmint subsidies, then maybe you'll get a profit. If you can find a market for your expensive beef/pork/mutton.[ Parent ]
i've noticed that WF sells the same crap HEB does for quite a bit more. i suppose it's how they pay their stockholders.[ Parent ]
there's a place for cheap food and for real food. i still buy diet mt. dew and pretty highly processed beef jerky. at the same time, i'll generally only buy non hormone/antibiotic chicken, 80% wild caught fish, and i support local growers at the local organic/farmer's markets and "specialty" stores.
i'm about a third of the way through Omnivore's Dilemma, it's pretty readable.[ Parent ]
(clock and i make all our own breads - it's the best way to make sure nothing nasty is put in)[ Parent ]
But given that these are wheat and gluten free, cellulose gum free and low fibre, they are the only option for me. And a godsend, quite frankly. [ Parent ]
And calorie for calorie, this bread's much cheaper than rice cakes.[ Parent ]
