Anyone buy Organic Beef?

[Iansmommy]

We are looking into buying a whole organic beef. The price is $3 lb hanging weight. Anyone else buy organic, how much do you pay a lb? Does organic taste different?

Thanks

[shortstack]

Check out my post on my blog about this very thing. We bought a half of a cow which was locally raised and grass fed.
Warning this post does contain pictures of the cow being butchered.

Buying our Half of a Cow Littlefrugalista's Blog

[Grainlady]

There can be a BIG difference between "organic" animal products and "pastured" or grass-fed" animal products.

People purchase "organic" products because they want food that is free of antibiotics, added hormones, and pesticides, which is a good thing, but grain fed beef ISN'T such a good thing.

"...many organic dairy and beef operations raise their animals in confinement where the animals have no access to pasture. The animals are fed grain and other "feedstuff" (including meat by-products) instead of their natural diet of grass. Feeding large amounts of grain to a ruminant compromises the health and well-being of the animal, is detrimental to the environment, and reduces the nutritional value of its meat or dairy products."

The health benefits found in grass-fed beef far outweigh feeding animals grain, even grain that is organic (without any pesticides). Check to see if your organic beef is also grass-fed, or at least grass-finished.

http://www.americangrassfedbeef.com/...tural-beef.asp

I'm not sure currant prices. I save unspent grocery money in the summer/fall when we can live off the garden produce and not purchase as much food from the grocery store. I purchase grass-fed (hormone-free and antibiotic-free) beef from a friend, usually in October, and also at the Farmer's Market from him during the summer. I supplement the grass-fed beef with discounted meat from the store because I don't have enough freezer space in my refrigerator-freezer, and I can't pass up a good bargain when I find one at the store.

[YankeeMom]

We have grass fed/pastured beef farms here. The price depends on how much you buy. A quarter beef is $3.89/lb but a whole beef is only $3.39/lb

I would go with grass fed/pastured beef before "organic". AND be sure you go see the farm your beef is coming from.

[nodmicks]

We have friend that raise a few organic/grass fed. The last one we paid $1.15 a lb plus .49 a lb processing. All based on hanging weight. It was far superior tasting to our household. We really got a bargain!

[happymomof4]

Check out my post on my blog about this very thing. We bought a half of a cow which was locally raised and grass fed.
Warning this post does contain pictures of the cow being butchered.

Buying our Half of a Cow Littlefrugalista's Blog

We do the same thing each year. I love that I know where my beef came from and that it is safe to eat. Every time there is a beef recall my husband just smiles. We just got a 1/2 of steer a few weeks ago and it came out too 1.28 per lb. can't beat it.

[jas]

Publix Featured Product: Publix GreenWise Market Beef

This is the type of meat I buy. I am sure it is not the very best I could be buying, but for now this is the best I can afford. I would love to be able to find a farm near here that sells what you are all talking about.

Maybe this is only a slight step up from the regular beef and chicken they sell which is wayyyyy cheaper than this. I have asked at the speciality meat stores around here and all they sell is the regular stuff.

[Judi Dial]

I buy frozen organic beef when I can find it marked down. At $3 a pound, I'd think it was a bargain!

I find organic beef is a little richer tasting than the ordinary stuff.

Judi

[gottadance]

The two farms around here - farms in northeast Illinois - that I've found that sell grass-fed beef, it runs between $4-$5 lb when you buy a share. A share is $85/month for 18-20 lbs of beef, pork, chicken, sausage and eggs. That's still cheaper than what you'd pay at Whole Foods or Dominick's. I like that I get variety, they do a drop off/pick up once a month in a neighborhood about 30 minutes from me.

[schellie69]

I have been doing a lot of research on this subject and I found that organic doesn't always mean the same as grass feed, I think grass feed meat cattle and dairy cattle is much better then just organic I have had organic and is great tasting but I am trying to find a place locally that I can buy raw milk (from grass fed cattle) and grass fed beef and pork I want to get away from all the processed and grain feed meat products but so far have not found a place locally it might have to wait until I can get my own land.

[Thevail]

I buy a half organic/grass fed beef each year, and pay $2.25/lb. for it.

I go and meet my cow when it's small, and then wait.

I used to feel kinda bad about it, but my friend says..
"My cows have a great life.. and only one bad day!"

[lisaflex]

i have purchased it at trader joes and whole foods. i think grass fed and organic taste different and better than regular beef.

[ruderring]

We buy a 1/2 of grass fed beef from my uncle every fall. Lasts us all year. This year we paid about 1.67/# hanging weight. I love that I know where my beef comes from and that they do not get growth hormones and antibiotics. They are treated very well. My family loves us because they get beef as presents for Christmas. Can't beat steak and roast etc. for that price.

[JerryG]

Friends of ours live on a small ranch. They buy a cow when it's a baby raise it and then have a friend butcher it. I'm not sure what they pay to have it butchered, they probably give the butcher part of the meat.

They know what the cow is fed and it's not given growth hormones or that stuff. They've treated us to some of the finished product and it is VERY, VERY good. Much better than store bought for sure.