Buying sustainable meat (and my favorite source for delivery)

Thinking about buying sustainable, ethically raised meat? You've come to the right place and hopefully I can explain why you should at least give it a try.

First, I want to acknowledge that throughout the 1900s (and even a little before), we made incredible advances in the meat industry, making it affordable for more people. And I think that's really valuable.

However, it seems like we've swung way too far. Between 1980 and 2010, the meat industry saw massive consolidation. The number of small hog farmers dropped by almost 90%, for example. And today, 4 major companies dominate the meat market with 85% market share.

That's just the tip of the iceberg, but instead of dwelling on the negatives, I want to talk about all of the good reasons why sustainable, ethically raised meat and supporting those farmers is worthwhile.

• The meat is actually healthier
• Better flavor
• Caring for the animals and environment
• Why does it cost more?

Jump to:

• Pasture raised meat is healthier & tastier
• Pork
• Beef
• Chicken
• Cholesterol & your health
• Farm-to-you recommendation
• Special November offer: $55 off
• Why does pasture raised meat cost more?
• Recipes to try

Pasture raised meat is healthier & tastier

Pasture raised pigs, chicken, and cows all have healthier meat profiles. What does that mean? In general, they have less overall fat, more Omega-3 fatty acids (the good kind), and more vitamins.

The flavor and texture is usually better as well. Pasture ranged chicken isn't spongy (like some store bought options), and pork and beef have richer flavors.

Let's quickly look at some more research on the subject, so you don't think I'm just repeating something I saw on TikTok 😉

Pork

I went through several years where I was disappointed with Italian sausage and bacon from stores, no matter what brand I bought or how high-end it seemed to be. But once I started buying directly from a sustainable farm, the quality was like night and day... the farm's meat was so incredibly goooood.

Research backs up the claim to better flavor, believe it or not. One study found that "pigs reared in outdoor conditions had enhanced juiciness in their meat," while another found that pigs "grown on grazing farms had a better meat quality and higher nutritional value."

To get more specific on the health claim, pasture raised pork has more omega-3s (a healthy fat), more vitamins and minerals (like vitamin E) than conventionally raised pork.

Beef

First I want to point out there there isn't a good term for cows that are raised on a pasture, eating grass their entire lives (surprised? Me too!). The term "grass-fed" is regulated by the USDA but still allows for grain in the diet. As Texas A&M explains the term, "Cattle may have had grain in their diet previously, but were on grass during the last 90 days before slaughter."

It's frustrating and difficult as a consumer to buy good quality, ethically raised beef. That's why I just purchase directly from a farm that I know does it right (Seven Sons Farms, which you can tour in person).

Anyway, pasture raised beef is tastier, leaner, and has a better nutrient profile. According to Gary Auld's presentation at a food industry conference (pdf), "25% - 50%, sometimes 70%, leaner, and as a result the calories are lower, maybe 15-50 calories less per serving."

In fact, he continues on to illustrate that based on the average annual beef consumption for an American, that caloric difference adds up to 5,000 - 18,000 calories, which is 1.5 to 6 pounds a year.

Chicken

Pasture ranged chickens also have better flavor, texture, and nutritional profiles. For example, one research study showed that a free range feeding model had "higher scores for flavor, chewiness and overall acceptability for greater sensory satisfaction in both breast and thigh meat. In addition, the thigh meat contained high protein and total collage but low fat, offering a healthier diet choice."

Eggs are also better for you, with 30% less cholesterol, a better fatty acid balance, and more vitamins, backed by research. Typically, eggs with dark yellow-orange yolks are an indicator that the chickens were pasture-raised, eating their natural diet. However, some factory farms have started adding supplements to chicken feed which adds more color to the yolks, like marigold extract. Again, this is why I buy from a farm I know.

Cholesterol & your health

Some research studies even looked at the effect of lean red meat on cardiovascular health (like people with high cholesterol). The study looked at lean meat (not specifically pasture-raised meat), but one could deduce that since pasture-raised meat is leaner and has a better omega-3 profile, it would add to the benefits.

As the study explains, "There is a common belief that eating pork meat might increase the risk of cardiovascular disease due to its fat content, particularly its fatty acid composition. However, evidence from randomized clinical trials... suggests otherwise. Studies have shown that incorporating lean pork into the regular diet can improve blood lipid profiles, including lowering total cholesterol and LDL [bad] cholesterol while raising HDL [good] cholesterol." - source on NIH

I'm not a nutritionist, a biologist, or a food scientist. That's why I link to research papers - so you can read it directly from the experts themselves.

Farm-to-you recommendation

I've been buying my meat almost exclusively from Seven Sons Farms for several years now. It's family owned and family run by (you guessed it), seven sons. They are relatively young and have made it their mission to practice as much regenerative agriculture as possible.

They even help get other farms started on regenerative practices and other ethical farming as Big Ag puts pressure on small farmers. And lastly, you can tour their farm and the processing plants they partner with. They aren't hiding anything and are genuinely good people.

Even though sustainable meat is more expensive (more on why below), I'm happy to know my money supports a bunch of hard working people who treat the animals, workers, community, and environment with respect.

Special November offer: $55 off

I reached out to Seven Sons farms to see if they'd be interested in sponsoring a Thanksgiving (and Friendsgiving) promotion. I want to get more people to try sustainable meat, but understand it can be expensive. I asked if they could let me pass along an extra discount to my readers.

They not only agreed, but over delivered! They generously offered an extra $35 off your order, in addition to their regular $20 introductory offer. That's a total of $55 off your order (with a $99 minimum, since it doesn't need to be shipped with dry ice and that can be expensive).

There are zero tricks here either, just a family run farm trying to make a difference. You can place a one-time order, no locked in subscriptions! They do have a subscription you can opt in to (you're not auto-signed up).

If you do choose a subscription, you get an extra 5% off and a free item with each order. Subscriptions can be easily skipped, rescheduled, or cancelled at any time. You get a reminder email before each order processes too, in case you want to skip it or customize it. There really are no tactics to trick you into accidentally ordering more than you want or hoping you forget.

Like I said, they are genuinely good people!

Inspired by their generosity, I'm also donating $10 to my local food bank for each purchase this week (using my link), since I get a partnership fee throughout the November promotion.

How to get the discount

If you want the extra $35 discount, you need to use my link to make an account. The $20 discount shows up on account creation and in your cart, but the $35 doesn't show up until the checkout page. (Like I said, a family farm who added a discount just for me and my readers, so stick with us here!)

I know people say a lot of things on the internet... like 'look how much weight a lost' when they really just sucked in their belly and put on appropriately-sized pants. I'm not one of those people, so here's a screenshot of the last year's worth of my purchases from Seven Sons Farms.

Why does pasture raised meat cost more?

Pasture-raised, sustainable meat does cost significantly more than the grocery store. And there's real reasons for that! It's not farmers trying to capitalize on our desire for 'artisanal' products (at least not Seven Sons).

First, it takes longer to raise animals this way. They don't eat as fast or as many calories each day when they are naturally grzing so they take longer to grow to a marketable size.

These animals also don't usually grow as large, even when given more time. If you've ever bought directly from a small farmer, you'll notice that whole chickens are smaller, or if you order a quarter-cow it weighs a lot less.

Another cost is lacking access to giant processing facilities. For example, commercial chicken processing plants go through 100,000 chickens a day, with modern equipment that can significantly lower costs. Whereas small processing facilities might only handle 1,000 chickens a day. The large facilities are locked up by the large companies (sometimes because they've heavily invested in building them). This means the 'small guys' don't get the economies of scale.

There's also seasonality to consider. Some things can be done to raise animals year-round, like providing heated shelter for chickens. But it's more costly than having a year-round warehouse optimized for growth (regardless of animal welfare).

Ready to try some sustainable meat? Use my link for a total of $55 off your order. Even if you just take the time to check out what they offer, I'd be appreciative. I'm happy to just be able to introduce you to the world of sustainable meat so that maybe someday, you're in a position to buy it.

Recipes to try

All of the meat in these recipe photos use meat from Seven Sons Farms.