Grass-Fed Beef is More Than a Marketing Term

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Terms like “grass-fed,” “free-range,” “pasture-raised,” and “wild-caught” aren’t just marketing buzzwords in our world. They describe ethically sourced meat: how animals are raised, what they eat, how they live, and how the final food is produced. And those differences matter, as the ethical and humane treatment of animals is a core value of Steve’s Real Food.

Grass-Fed Beef

Cows are ruminants, which means that their bodies are built to digest grass and forage. Grass-fed beef means the cows grazed on pasture, instead of being fed cheap grain (like corn and soy) in a feedlot to promote quick weight gain.

When cows forage and eat the natural diet their bodies were designed for, the nutritional profile of their meat changes. Grass-fed beef generally contains more omega-3 fatty acids, which are known to support heart health. It also tends to have higher levels of antioxidants like vitamin E and beneficial fats.

The beef in our recipes comes from family ranchers in the heart of the Northwest. They are checked daily for signs of illness or discomfort and have access to an on-call veterinarian 24/7. The USDA-verified farm shares our belief in preserving the environment and treating animals with the best care.

Free-Range Poultry

The term “free-range” sounds comforting: chickens roaming freely in open fields. But legally, the definition is fairly minimal. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, free-range poultry must have access to the outdoors. The law doesn’t actually clearly define how large that outdoor space must be or how long birds must spend outside each day.

True free-range systems, or “free-roam”, like those of our suppliers, go beyond simply opening a small door. Birds are given meaningful outdoor access, space to move, fresh air, and room to engage in natural behaviors like pecking the ground, dust bathing, and soaking up sunlight. They also have safe, clean housing to return to at night for protection.

Our chickens come from an eighth-generation family farm in Washington and Oregon that introduced “No Antibiotics Ever Chicken” and is “Non-GMO Project” verified.

Pasture-Raised Pork

Pasture-raised pork refers to pigs that live outdoors on pasture, where they can roam freely and eat a varied diet of grasses, roots, and other natural vegetation. This type of environment is dramatically different from confined indoor production.

From a nutrition standpoint, pasture-raised pork often has a different fat composition than conventionally raised pork. It may be leaner and contain higher levels of beneficial nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E.

The pork in our recipes hails from a five-generation family farm in Oregon. The pigs are fed a biologically appropriate diet and the farm prides itself on its sustainability efforts.

Wild-Caught Fish

Wild-caught fish are harvested from oceans, lakes, or rivers. Farm-raised fish, also called aquaculture, are raised in controlled environments like ocean pens or tanks.

Like any business, fish farms aim to grow fish quickly and efficiently. Farmed fish are typically fed processed feeds designed to promote rapid growth. Wild fish, on the other hand, eat their natural diet: smaller fish, plankton, and marine invertebrates. That difference in diet changes the nutritional profile of the fish. For example, farm-raised salmon can contain significantly more total fat and calories because their feed differs from that of wild fish.

The fish used in our White Fish Recipes is sustainably sourced from the Pacific Ocean. Like commercial-grade sushi, the white fish is flash frozen at -40 degrees C to ensure parasites are eliminated.

Feed Naturally

At the end of the day, responsible sourcing is about aligning food production with how animals were designed to live and eat. When farming works with nature instead of against it, the benefits ripple outward- to the animals, to the environment, and ultimately, to our pets and us. At Steve’s Real Food, ethical and humane treatment isn’t a trend; it’s a core value that guides how we choose our suppliers and source every ingredient. Because when animals are raised with care and respect, it results in better nutrition you can feel good about feeding.

Find a local pet store near you or purchase Steve’s Real Food online.