Some people might think the selection at market is slim this time of year – not so, my friend! You’ll find lettuce, spinach, kale, asian greens, and almost every other type of vegetable you can think of, along with the best selection of local meat in the region, fresh bread, Thai food, granola, baked goodies and other delectables, cosmetics, crafts, gifts and more. Oh, did we mention locally grown rice!?

Check out the new Facebook page for great photos and updates: http://www.facebook.com/MiddleburyWinterFarmersMarket

We also have more nitrate-free hams, ham steaks, bacon, and bacon ends in stock. Hams range between 1 and 4 lbs, ham steaks weigh under a pound.

Catch us at Middlebury Farmers Market Saturdays, 9-12:30, or contact us to order.

We will once again have our delicious nitrate-free hams available for Easter (or any feast; or sandwiches for that matter!) along with ham steaks, nitrate-free bacon, and other cuts of pork.  You can call or email to reserve ahead, or take your chances and visit us at the indoor Middlebury Farmers Market this Saturday, March 24, 9:30 to 1 in American Flatbread. The indoor market continues through April every 2nd and 4th Saturday.

This Saturday’s market will be particularly exciting as some lucky person stands to win an Easter Basket full of goodies from vendors. And there will be spring greens fresh in from Foggy Meadow Farm, the debut of a delicious granola from new vendor Honest Body, the delectable treats of Lauren Slayton, and all the other quality goods from our area farmers, bakers, and crafters.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Pigs at Rest

Pigs with pumpkins

Gone are the lazy days of summer…

Here’s the one photo I got. (I couldn’t resist when I saw it.)

Two Frozen Chickens Strapped to Bike

http://www.addisonindependent.com/201108patchwork-environment-makes-whole-different-animal

A Whole Different Animal

Mad Cow Disease. Million-pound hamburger recalls. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria. A dead zone in the Gulf Coast the size of New Jersey. News stories and movies like Food, Inc. and Fast Food Nation are making more people aware of problems with our current food system. As awareness grows, so does the demand for food produced in a different way.

We see it firsthand from our booth at Farmers’ Market, where more and more people pick up our brochure, looking for locally grown meat. On our Ripton farm, North Branch Farm & Gardens, we raise pigs, chickens and ducks outside, with room to roam and forage. We feed them organically grown grains. Of course this extra work and care makes our meat more expensive.  We’ve had folks who won’t consider our products due to the price. But we also have customers who comment on how low our prices are! With market prices for pork chops ranging between $2/lb to $12/lb and chicken from $2/lb – $6/lb, one thing is for sure– shopping for meats is far from straightforward. So here it is: Buying Local Meats 101.

Lots of people buy locally grown veggies – that’s child’s play for the savvy localvore. But when the search turns to meats and eggs, a maze of buzzwords awaits. Pasture-raised! Grass Fed! Antibiotic free! Vegetarian fed, Cage Free, Free Range, Heritage Breed, Organic… What do they all mean, and why? Apparently all locally grown meat is not created equal. One thing to keep in mind is that these terms don’t always mean what they might suggest. For example, the “official” definition of free-range is chickens not in cages, but they do not necessarily live outside (although some farmers do use the phrase this way). You will want to look for the word “pastured” for eggs from hens outside on a pasture.

Our laying hens’ travels take them through pasture for some of the day, but they also like the woods and bushes a lot. We call them our clean-up crew because they do a nice job keeping the weeds down in my garlic and flower beds (veggies are safely fenced), and they clean up after our pigs. A tough lifestyle to sum up with a quick catch phrase.

So, the best way to buy local meat is to find a local farmer whose farm practices are in line with what you want, then order ahead and buy direct. Or go to Farmers’ Market, or ask at your favorite grocery stores. Any way you slice it, you will want to do some research on the farms raising the animals. What are their practices? What do they feed the animals? Why have the farmers chosen these practices? With so many ins and outs to raising livestock, consumers may need to educate themselves quite a bit before they understand a farmer’s decisions. Whether a farmer uses antibiotics, for example- is it regular use of antibiotics to increase growth and fight a myriad of possible health problems due to unnatural living conditions? Or is the use only when absolutely necessary, despite a healthy environment being provided? Organic certification requires that a treated animal can no longer be sold as organic, which is why you will rarely see organic lamb. Since lambs can die from certain parasites, it is occasionally necessary to treat them.

The “vegetarian-fed” slogan on some egg cartons presents another question in my mind. Having seen my chickens catch and eat frogs with gusto, I can attest that they are not normally vegetarian. I am guessing that the tag line in this case means “as opposed to being fed slaughterhouse waste,” rather than “forced to become vegetarian despite a natural predisposition to enjoy bugs, worms and other small animals.”

Considerable misunderstandings occur when it comes to grass-fed and pasture-raised. These terms are not regulated like the word “organic.” I’d like to be able to clarify, but my definitions went out the window when fact-checking this article, serving as a reminder that each farmer has his/her own definitions. You will usually see grass-fed used for beef or lamb, which can be raised solely on grasses and forbs (also known as weeds), or hay, with good results. Sometimes you will see “grass-finished,” to indicate that the beef was not finished on corn as is usually done. The most important thing to note is that with very few exceptions poultry and pork require grain in addition to pasture. I know of only one farmer raising pigs without grain, and no one raising meat chickens without grain.

And here is where organic really comes into play. Grain (usually corn, wheat, soy, peas, etc.) can be grown “organically” or “conventionally.” Since the USDA made it law, Organic means that the crops were grown without the use of GMOs (genetically modified organisms) or synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. Many consumers, if asked, would opt to avoid these things, which are often not on people’s radar when it comes to local meats. Many people wrongly assume that local animal products are GMO free. Because no labeling is required, even the farmer may be unaware that he is feeding genetically modified feed. Because the use of GMOs is so widespread, however, (approx 70% of US corn, 90% of US soy) it can only be avoided with organic feeds, or by growing feed from non-GMO seed.

So good luck with your shopping. With reports from the UN and more recently from Environmental Working Group on the effects of livestock production and meat consumption, we are bombarded with advice to cut way back or give up meat altogether. I would like to remind all the meat eaters out there that it doesn’t have to be this way. There is a middle ground.  Animals can be an integral part of a working landscape. Here in Vermont we are lucky to have options. Eat meat in moderation of course; and remember that, as with most things, it is the “how,” not the “what,” that matters.