First, a brief note about grass-fed. There are no mandatory regulations regarding grass-fed labeling of food products, as there are for organics. So buyer beware! Chances are most producers are honest and well-meaning, but much meat labeled grass-fed could have been started on grass, for instance, and finished on grain, or even the other way around. Since the last few months are the most important for the healthy components of grass-fed food, you want to make sure what you're getting is truly grass-fed.

Our beef animals are of primarily black angus genetics. They are born on pasture and for 7+ months of the year eat nothing but pasture (unless we have a drought and need to feed some hay). During the winter they are fed grass-alfalfa hay, so they are truly grain-free animals, 100% grass-fed AND grass-finished. They are taken to the locker usually in either mid summer or late fall, aged, processed, and frozen. Grass-fed meat is tenderest if the animals have had much good-quality grass for at least a couple months prior to processing, and a quality locker that can properly age the meat helps too.

Our lamb are all half or more Katahdin (known for it's mild flavor) and half mixed genetics (we're firm believers in the concept of "hybrid vigor"). Like our beef, they are also 100% grass-fed AND grass-finished. We have found the meat to be very tender and flavorful - NOT your grandparents mutton, if you know what I mean. We are selling lamb by the cut and also by the whole or half for this fall's harvest.

None of our animals are fed growth-promoting hormones or therapeutic or subtherapeutic antibiotics. The beef and lamb are processed at the Edgewood Locker in Edgewood, Iowa. This is a federally certified facility, which allows us to sell our frozen meats across state lines. Better yet, they are a very high quality facility that can provide us with the consistency of cuts that we demand for our own consumption, and we would demand nothing less for our customers.

So again, read our brochure for more on the benefits of grass-fed meat, local/regional food systems, and especially our emphasis on land care. Check out our price list. Or email (meats@oneotaslopes.org) or call (563-382-0537) us with your order, or with questions. We are asking for a minimum 15 pound order, or 30 pounds over the course of a year, though if you want to try a sample we'll do our best to work with you. Many refrigerator freezers can easily hold 75+ pounds of meat, in case you're worried about space. And our meat keeps quite well in the freezer (we typically eat it for well over a year), though hopefully it'll be soooooo good, it won't last very long at all!

Oneota Slopes Farm contact: contact@oneotaslopes.org