Trying to source free range and ethical meat!

elliecarr

Hi all

I'm sure this is a subject that has ben covered before, but I couldn't find it when I searched, so thought I would ask anyway.

I'm trying to find ethically grown meat, not too bothered about it being organic, but I am bothered if the animals had enough space (particularly pigs I'm thinking about) whilst they were alive. Organic would be a bonus, but I would rather the animals had a good life. Wondered if anyone knew anywhere to find this. Can't seem to find a local farm, and have tried online with varying success - but some websites are over 4 times the price of Tesco - and as much as I would like this ideal, I would rather go veggie and only eat meat on very special occasions than spend quite so much on bacon. OH, however, doesn't particularly agree and would like to eat meat on a more frequent basis than a couple of times a year! So, we need a happy medium.

Any advice would be MUCH appreciated!

Thanks!

artichoke

HI

Animals raised to Soil Association standards will have the high animal welfare standards you are looking for, as Soil Associaion rules stipulate how much space the animal needs as well as what they can eat and regulations around antibiotics and pesticide treatment. Organic pigs have to be outdoor reared and be able to free range and root around.

I co-ordinate a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Project which encourages local people to reconnect more with their food and the farm from which it comes. It enables people to sign up in advance to obtain local organic meat raised to high welfare standards at a cheaper price than in supermarkets. Why not see if there is a CSA project near to you that you could get involved with and obtain food from?

The soil association website has a list of CSA projects nationally.
http://www.soilassociation.org/Takeaction/Getinvolvedlocally/Communitysupportedagriculture/LocalCSAgroups/tabid/207/Default.aspx

I think from a previous post that you live near Sheffield. I know Transition Sheffield have been setting up a CSA project recently (although i think they might only be growing veg in the first year although they would like to have livestock in the near future. Here is the link
http://www.transitionsheffield.org.uk/node/89

and Loxley Valley CSA have pigs and poulty - but i think they might have a waiting list to join..

http://www.loxleyvalleycommunityfarm.org.uk/

More CSA's and Food Hubs are starting up all the time, and are a good way to get involved in growing veg and or raising livestock without needing to have the land yourself, and hopefully allow people to get god quality food at a cheaper price than the supermarkets. They are the ultimate way of knowing the animals are reared humanely as you are involved in the farm yourself and can see / learn how they are raised. Our CSA will hopefully have lamb, pork, bacon etc, and poulty from next year.

art

Mojisola

If you can afford to buy from them these people have the ethical approach you want - https://www.realmeat.co.uk/acatalog/Welcome.html

I think you could find organic meat that's cheaper and all organic meat has been reared to high welfare standards.

blueeye

elliecarr wrote: »

Hi all

I'm sure this is a subject that has ben covered before, but I couldn't find it when I searched, so thought I would ask anyway.

I'm trying to find ethically grown meat, not too bothered about it being organic, but I am bothered if the animals had enough space (particularly pigs I'm thinking about) whilst they were alive. Organic would be a bonus, but I would rather the animals had a good life. Wondered if anyone knew anywhere to find this. Can't seem to find a local farm, and have tried online with varying success - but some websites are over 4 times the price of Tesco - and as much as I would like this ideal, I would rather go veggie and only eat meat on very special occasions than spend quite so much on bacon. OH, however, doesn't particularly agree and would like to eat meat on a more frequent basis than a couple of times a year! So, we need a happy medium.

Any advice would be MUCH appreciated!

Thanks!

I used a company called Riverford who deliver organic produce and they have an ethical policy if you go to the site its under the faq. They are reasonably priced and the quality of the meat was great, plus you get seasonal recipes.

seraphina

If you're concerned about animal welfare, stay away from non-UK reared pork. The UK has some of the toughest animal rights standards in farming. For instance, farrowing crates are banned in the UK but very much in use in Denmark and Germany, where most of our pork comes from. I don't eat meat but MrS does occasionally and if we have to buy supermarket meat it's very difficult to tell where the animal was raised - if it's butchered in the UK doesn't mean it's UK meat. For instance, you can get Wiltshire cured ham which is made from Danish meat.

We have a good local butcher but they're increasingly difficult to find - butchers seem to be going towards either the organic, ££££s for small portions, not going-to-turn-my-mincer-on-for-anything-less-than-£10, to cheap and cheerful meat of unknown origin.

If you're limited to supermarkets I'd stick with Waitrose or M&S - failing that look into organic certification.

Pink.

Hi ellie,

These threads may help:

Organic meat online.. does anyone buy it?

Buying British Meat

Is organic meat all free range?

And these threads from the Green and Ethical board:

Organic or local meat

Ethical meat/fish delivery box

Meat Cost v Ethics

Eat less meat!

Cheap and well cared for meat? Can we have it all?

Once you've had some more Old Style input, I'll move your thread over to the Green and Ethical board to see if you can get some more replies.

Pink

elliecarr

Thanks for your help - I've looked into the co-op stuff, and whilst they seem brilliant, I don't have the hours to put in every month - I work full time, and also am doing an Open Uni degree, as well as an accountancy qualification. We also seem to spend endless weekends going to see people - pretty much none of our friends or family live in the area.

We already get Riverford organic veg boxes - which I think are totally brill - but they don't deliver meat to our area at the moment. I had looked into Donald Russell, but can't actually find on their website a bit about how their meat is raised - don't know if I'm being thick. Abel and Cole do meat, both organic and non-organic, which I'm tempted with, even though I don't get their boxes anymore. I'm not sure if this makes a difference, but it's something I will look into.

Thanks so much for all your help! Any more tips will be appreciated too !

Gigervamp

Have you tried the Bigbarn site? This is a place not far from me. They're reasonably priced and they do boxes.

Farway

Have you looked in Waitrose? Loads of outdoor reared stuff, but obviously not as cheap as Tesco

I "think" Waitrose are like Co-op, insist upon ethics for meat, not sure about their basic ranges though

wssla00

I use douglas willis for ethical meat and also waitrose. Douglas willis is very good and the quality for the price is superb!

PennyForThem_2

Have you tried your local farmers market? I think you can google to find local one.

Go look and then speak to the person selling - often the farmer or family member.

Just reread your post - your farmer market stuff isn't any dearer and often cheaper than supermarket - I now get all my meat from my local fm and though not a great veg eater I know that i could get veg box from organic supplier if I wanted. Also they will talk to you and advise how to cook.