Greetings,
Fall is officially here and with the recent rains our fall crops are doing nicely. We already have beautiful greens and romaine lettuce. Persimmons are falling in earnest and we have persimmon pulp for those delicious persimmon puddings.
With recent low prices for commercial cattle several producers have begun selling what may be called ‘pasture raised grain finished beef’. While this may be a better choice than supermarket beef it is far less healthy than totally grass fed beef.
Healthy omega 3 fatty acids are found in green grass. Unhealthy omega 6 fatty acids are found in starchy grains such as corn. As soon as cattle are taken off grass and fed grain the omega 3 fatty acids begin to drop. In 120 days on grain omega threes drop around 83% while omega 6 rises.
Americans have as much as 20 times as much omega 6 in their bodies as is considered healthy. These high levels of omega 6 contribute to high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, ADHD, depression, and Alzheimer’s. Omega 6 has been shown to increase cancer tumor growth while omega 3 inhibits growth.
In addition to omega three benefits pasture raised animals have about one third total fat content, four times vitamin E, three to five times more CLA ( conjugated lanolinic acid), three times more beta-carotene, four times more vitamin A.
These health benefits are not only found in grass fed beef but are found in comparable quantities in pasture raised chicken, eggs, and dairy products.
There are two reasons we chose the Jersey breed to grow. They consistently test higher in omega 3, CLA, and beta-carotene than other breeds. Secondly, they rate higher in tenderness and taste. They provide the highest quality grass fed beef available.
Why are grass fed products priced higher? Simple. It takes twice as long to grow them to market size. The weight is several hundred pounds less (less fat). There are less pounds to sell so the price per pound is higher. The value is justified by the health benefits and higher production costs per unit (lb.).
Our new chickens are really turning on the eggs now! We are now keeping them available at the market all the time we are open. That means everyday, not just on Saturday. We have several dozen sizes small and pullet so we are putting these on special sale at $2.00 doz. this week. These are pasture raised eggs with the health benefits mentioned above.
Persimmons have begun falling so we have frozen persimmon pulp available for you. Ask for my late mother’s persimmon pudding recipe.
Our romaine lettuce is producing well so we have plenty for sale. We have both green and red.
Other items from our gardens include turnips, turnip greens, curly mustard, arugula, kale, calico crowder peas, four types of heirloom tomatoes, spagatti squash, butternut squash, kabachi squash, eggplant, okra.
We have plenty of fresh shiitake mushrooms, dehydrated, and powdered. We have some recipes available.
We have a good supply of Pasture Finished Jersey Beef (including mild and hot beef sausage) and pasture raised chicken.
Our hours at the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market are Wednesday through Friday (9:00 until 3:00) and Saturday (8:00 until 4:00). While we prefer not to be open on Sunday, we presently have plenty of product to sale so we will be open each Sunday (10:00 until 4:00) for the next few weeks.
We will look for you at the market. We are in booth 74 in farmer’s area #2.