Why We Believe in Certified Organic Meat
From Our Family to Yours...
Looking after the health and well-being of your family is no doubt a big priority in your life. We all want what is best for our families, and for me, good quality certified organic meat and produce would have to be at the top of the list. Without good food, we can’t look after our family’s health in the right way, and that is why my family believes in the goodness of certified organic meat, in suitable practices and ethically farmed produce. I want to share our knowledge with you, and invite you to discover the goodness of certified organic meat, and how feeding your family with natural, ethically sourced produce, can benefit your health and well-being. But let’s start by looking at what ‘certified organic’ means, and how my family came to be distributors of Australia’s best natural organic meats and free-range, chemically-free small goods.
What Does Certified Organic Mean?
I’m sure you’ve heard the words ‘certified organic’ thrown around at markets, restaurants, cafes and even the supermarket, and have probably wondered if there is any substance behind these claims. You may even be wondering what the fuss is all about. I mean, why would you want to pay more in some cases, when you are not sure if the label is accurate or what it really means in the first place?
By general definition, certified organic foods have not been treated with synthetic pesticides or fertilisers, and animals raised organically are not given hormones or drugs to promote more rapid growth. In Australia, for something to be labelled ‘certified organic’ it must abide by the National Standards of Organic and Bio-Dynamic Produce, which are set by the Australian Department of Agriculture. Some of the standards to produce meat, for example, include:
- No pesticides or chemical fertilisers are permitted in the growing of the animal’s feed
- No genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are permitted in the animal’s feed
- No animal by-products are used in feed
- No antibiotics or growth hormones are permitted
- Third-party inspection and verification by an accredited certifying body are required
- A thorough audit trail is required to trace all certified organic products back to the farm of origin
- Ethical treatment of the animals is essential at all times
So, what does this mean for you? Every time you buy and consume products, you are shaping more than just your body. In some cases, you might even be shaping the landscape of the food system. By choosing certified organic produce, you can have a positive impact on not only your family’s health, but also your social awareness and ethical standpoint. Having grown up in a family of health-conscious ‘farmers’ and food producers, I can certainly attest to this.
My Organic Family’s Guide to Health
To paint a bit of a picture for you, and shed some light on my organic food journey, I thought I would share a bit of my family’s history.
My Mum grew up on a farm, where fresh fruit and veggies were grown by the crop-load. My Dad, was a butcher and owned his own shop. As you can see, food, or more specifically healthy, well-prepared food, was a big part of my life. I remember going to school with a lunch box full of interesting and nutritious foods. My friends would often be jealous of the colourful delights I had. But I was jealous of their packets of chips and roll-ups. Little did I know; my parents were teaching me very important skills.
When I was in year 12 I became quite unwell, so my Mum decided to do some research around what we were consuming, and the chemicals we were regularly in contact with. Turns out, we were exposed to a lot of different chemicals. Everything from the pesticides sprayed on our fruits and vegetables, to the hormones in meat. It was from this research that we decided, as a family, to change our habits. We transitioned to organic products and minimised chemical exposure as much as we could.
But our journey did not end there. Fast-forward to when I worked within the family food services business. We used to sell conventional meat, dairy and small goods’ products to hotels, cafes and restaurants. The more I heard about the process and treatment of animals in producing conventional meat, the more I found it hard to swallow (pun intended). It seemed so strange to me that these animals endured a life of suffering and then we would consume their stress, their pain, their heartache. How can one feel nourished in any sense of the word when consuming produce like this?
Changing Consumer Habits
After my family had enjoyed the taste and quality or certified organic produce, and experienced the health benefits that came with cleaner eating, we knew other families would benefit from our journey and expertise. My parents decided to sell the food services business, and embark on a business venture that would better ‘feed’ our joint passion for organic meat and ethical farming.
Australian Organic Meat Co is thriving today because we believe in providing families with certified organic produce. We have seen the positive effect of changing to organic foods, and are proud to support the ethical treatment of animals. When purchasing certified organic meat, you know that the animal has lived a natural and stress-free life, just as nature intended. What better way is there to feed a hungry tummy and the soul then with certified organic produce that is sourced directly from family-owned farms who care about the animals they are producing?
Choosing Certified Organic Meat
Just as my family made the switch, you too can choose to switch to certified organic produce and experience the many benefits it offers. The next time you are filling your shopping cart or basket (at the supermarket or online), consider the quality and how it will really ‘feed’ your family.
By choosing certified organic produce, you are choosing:
- Better quality and tasting meat and produce
- To support ethical farming and giving animals a better life
- To feed your soul as well as your tummy with good, natural food that can be better for you
- To support a growing industry
- To do your part for the environment
- Create a better future for our children
