Trying to source humanely raised pork

Hello again! Now for Pork....

Ok so this blog has fallen by the wayside as many blogs do. Not because I can't be bothered, or I've lost interest or don't care but because my life over the last year has been irrevocably turned upside down. We call it Hurricane Miranda and it was the birth of our tempestuous daughter. A wonderful amazing and exhausting year it has been.

I still have a keen interest in animal welfare issues and seek information about humanely raised meat. I am currently not in a position to to drive for many hours to personally go and see the farms however I have still been making a little progress. Many people ask me about CICO pork because there is very little pork readily available that is not misery raised. According to Animal Liberation "There are some 5.3 million pigs kept for meat in Australia" and the vast majority are kept in horrifying conditions. See and read here if you want some motivation to seek out humanely raised meat.

Due to my baby related constraints I have deviated a little from my original intention of seeking bulk meat from farms that I have personally vetted. However I have continued to do some research on where and how to source humanely raised, free range meat that is affordable.
Although I cannot vouch for these sources of pork I feel it is better to support a trend towards free range than to support factory farming.

On the issue of affordability pork is much more expensive than beef because it costs more to raise pigs in free range. Pigs require indoor housing to protect them from cold and sun as they are not as weatherproof as other animals because don't have coats.

Free range or even organic Bacon and smallgoods products seem to be largely non-existent in the mainstream.
I discovered that the Healesville Hotel group source their bacon and ham from a charming family run butcher in Belgrave. Bill's of Belgrave sell mostly free range meats. Their pork comes from Otway Free Range Pork and they make their own amazing ham, bacon and sausages.

The baby and I personally visited this week and purchased Kassler pork chops, pork loin chops, divine bacon scraps and heavenly hickory smoked bacon. The bacon is $25.99 per kilo. At the supermarket the only free range bacon I have found is $39 per kilo and no where near as nice.

Keep Bill's of Belgrave in mind for Christmas for lovely happy ham. Belgrave is not that far from Melbourne so you can make a delightful day trip of it, visit the hills and stock up on some great free range produce. 'Like' them on facebook and keep up with their specials. They also sell free range chickens from Glenloth Game and Hazeldene's Chicken. A size 16 Hazeldene free range chicken is $12.99. To be honest I didn't look at their beef as I am happy with my farm direct supplies but they also source their beef from Gippsland. At a glance these prices were also reasonable so they have a lot more than just great pork.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/BILLS-OF-BELGRAVE/166851799213?sk=info

I am very interested in McIvor Farms as their website claims that they are available at Coles but I have never seen them and I spend a lot of time cruising meat aisles of supermarkets to keep an eye on things.
A reporter for the ABC visited McIvor Farms and it seems they are the real deal
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/reporter/stories/s1544634.htm
www.murrayfreerange.com.au
You need to pre-order but their bacon $22.50 per kilo www.mcivorfarmfoods.com.au/the_foods
Option to buy in bulk and have delivered

I've also discovered King Valley Free Range Pork do bulk pack delivery. kingvalleyfreerange.tripod.com/index.html However I notice many of their prices are a little more than Bill's of Belgrave but delivery is convenient.

They are apparently endorsed by the Victorian Farmer's Markets Association (VFMA) According to their website
"The (VFMA) tick symbol means King Valley Free Range Pork has been accredited by (VFMA) which guarantees we grow & make the produce we sell."

Free Home Delivery to :Beechworth, Wodonga, Albury, Corowa, Rutherglen, Shepparton, Benalla, Mansfield, Seymour
Melbourne & Surrounds Minimum of 5kgs for free delivery, or $30 delivery charge will apply.

Large Black Pigs do Pig in a Box which can be collected or delivered
http://www.largeblackpigs.com.au/pigbox.shtml

So there are a few options. I will explore some of them further and report back. Please let me know if you have any experience or information to share on humanely raised, free range, affordable pork or any other meat for that matter.

Free range and organic at the supermarket

I know it's been way too long since I have posted. Life, primarily work has just been getting in the way lately. I haven't stopped thinking about my quest and I still have lots of research to do.

I have been happily eating meat from my suppliers feeling like I have achieved my initial objective of sourcing affordable essentially organic and humanely raised meat. However I have only sourced beef and lamb. For my chicken and pork I have done the next best thing in my opinion which is buy free range and/or organic from the supermarket. Ultimately I hope that CICO meat will be readily available and affordable in convenient locations such as the supermarket. I have noticed lately a lot more choice and a generally cheaper price in free range and organic meat at Coles and Safeway. So hopefully the change is coming.

I am not convinced that these producers are all that they seem as they are obviously producing on a large scale. However I feel that it is better to support farmers that are producing meat that is free to roam at least some of the time and who don't use pesticides etc because it sends a message to the supermarket that this is important.

I have purchased pork from Otway Pork. Their website is very convincing and the meat is really lovely. I paid between $14-$24 per kilo, which for free range pork is very reasonable. It is more expensive than all the CICO beef but raising pigs is much more expensive than beef as they need shelter and I believe more bought food rather than pasture. I hope to visit them personally in the future to see for myself and give you an objective opinion.

Lilydale Chicken is the supplier whose chicken I have been buying and much like Otway Pork have a slick yet realistic looking website and I hope that they are genuine. When I have time to venture to these areas I will contact both Lilydale Chicken and Otway Pork for a site visit.

I haven't found any chicken or pork suppliers that can sell in bulk like my beef suppliers making the cost even lower. So unfortunately for now I have to pay considerably higher prices for chicken and pork but at least I feel that they have had some quality of life before arriving on my plate.

Incidentally, friends have been concerned that when they invite me to their house for dinner that I would be horrified if they don't serve me free range or organic. I want to make it clear that we all have to do what we can do and I don't judge people that buy any old meat. The whole point of my crusade is to make it easier for everyone to make ethical and healthy choices not berate people when they can't afford it or don't have time. People are not choosing to eat cruelty raised, unheathy meat because they prefer it, they do it because they don't have the information and choice needed to be able to choose better alternatives. I even, shock horror, buy bacon occasionally that is definitely not raised humanely but I don't beat myself up about it because I am actively doing what I can to help the situation and there is no point on dwelling on the times that I failed to meet my objectives.

So for now I definitely haven't forgotten and I absolutely have not given up. I am just giving the blog a rest whilst I work to earn money and prepare to have a baby in December.

In the meantime I am still doing the following:

• Reducing meat portion sizes
• Eating vegetarian meals from time to time
• Ordering beef and lamb through the farmers I have already vetted. You can see them here.
• Buying predominantly free range but also organic when I see it at a reasonable price or on special at the supermarket to send a clear message to the supermarkets that this is important
• Eating nose to tail. Read more here.
• Always buying free range eggs. I would rather eat less eggs than support cage eggs

These are really simple steps that you can take to ease your conscience and vote with your consumer choice for a better future.