Hey Ex-Vegetarians...

[Zim]

Originally Posted by Lord of the Cock Rings

Around here (WI) it's illegal to sell wild venison because of poaching concerns. I'm sure laws very by state, but farm raised venison is almost always very humanely treated (though often pretty 'spensive).

mmmmm ... poached venison ... wait, that isn't what you meant, was it?

[marina]

So last night after work I went to Henry's Market which is a subsidiary of Wild Oats. We looked into the meat section and there wasn't anything there about humane-whatever. I asked the cashier if they had a fact sheet or something. She said I could talk to the butcher, but we were already out the door. So, in short- fail.

[marina]

I had to stay home sick again today and I decided that enough was enough. Dr. Boyfriend got some chicken on the way home and he's making chicken enchiladas. I already had some of the chicken, so I guess that's my first meat.

[pheno]

Originally Posted by marina

I've been looking around for ways/places I can get a hold of humane meat and I ran across Animal Welfare Approved - Home What do you guys think?

Your best bet is to look into a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). There you'll get access to quality fruits and vegetables, which aren't organic (although they can be) but instead are just of high quality. Most CSA's have meat as part of the deal, or can introduce you to the local farmers to get your meat from.

if you want humane, pasture raised, and much higher quality meat then you need to go to local farms. The lie of the current industrial food machine is that you can only access chicken through Tyson or Perdue.

[marina]

Originally Posted by pheno

Your best bet is to look into a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). There you'll get access to quality fruits and vegetables, which aren't organic (although they can be) but instead are just of high quality. Most CSA's have meat as part of the deal, or can introduce you to the local farmers to get your meat from.

if you want humane, pasture raised, and much higher quality meat then you need to go to local farms. The lie of the current industrial food machine is that you can only access chicken through Tyson or Perdue.

Thanks. All the different organizations are really overwhelming. I'm going to keep looking for a less cruel, more healthy alternative. I have a feeling I have to go back to Henry's and talk to the butchers. A lot of these websites have them listed as a store that they deliver to.

[pheno]

Yeah. I have my own thoughts on animal cruelty - it mainly revolves around I like to eat dead animals. It's not the cruelty that bothers me more than the fact that animals raised on factory farms are vastly inferior in flavor and nutritional value than what you can buy from a farm providing pasture raised meat.

CSA's are a good way for people to circumvent the government's penchant for subsidizing corn and soy crops. After the Nixon administration I just don't see any feasible way for the country as a whole to move away from this system. But the choice still exists to get great food that isn't shot up with hormones or doused with pesticides. Plus a CSA helps the small farms that don't see any money from the government.

It's worth it just for the fucking eggs. I don't know if there's an official rating for "Super Duper" eggs, but there should be.

[Zim]

The most humane meat is meat you've hunted and killed yourself. Meat that has roamed free and wild until it was dispatched with a single, well placed shot is happy meat. Laugh now, but try it and see.

[marina]

Originally Posted by pheno

Yeah. I have my own thoughts on animal cruelty - it mainly revolves around I like to eat dead animals. It's not the cruelty that bothers me more than the fact that animals raised on factory farms are vastly inferior in flavor and nutritional value than what you can buy from a farm providing pasture raised meat.

CSA's are a good way for people to circumvent the government's penchant for subsidizing corn and soy crops. After the Nixon administration I just don't see any feasible way for the country as a whole to move away from this system. But the choice still exists to get great food that isn't shot up with hormones or doused with pesticides. Plus a CSA helps the small farms that don't see any money from the government.

It's worth it just for the fucking eggs. I don't know if there's an official rating for "Super Duper" eggs, but there should be.

I totally agree with you on this. I don't know where you live, but I think it might be more complicated in the LA/OC metro area just because there is not a lot of farm land around. I need to go to more farmers markets. I don't think that they sell meat there, but I think it'll be a good place to start.