I have had a few potential customers and wholesale outlets ask if I am organic and it has been a sticking point to get them to buy. Whilst I am not certified organic and can’t make promises that the bones will always be organic, I might just be going one step further.
Organic farming practices are amazing and any farmer farming to these standards is doing exceptional work. The organic certification sets a rigid framework that ensures the health of the animals, and our planet is at the forefront of production. It gives the customer who has no connection with where their food comes from (for instance buying in a supermarket) peace of mind.
However, as a consumer it can sometimes be misleading. Organic certification speaks to inputs, not always outcomes. What an animal eats day to day, how often it moves, and how it’s finished matters just as much as the label on the packet. For instance, an organically raised cow can still be fed organic grains and raised intensively. Grain fed animals tend to have a high omega 6 profile which promotes inflammation. This doesn’t make organic meat “bad” it simply highlights that not all organic systems are created equal.
There are other options which are as good if not even better. From regenerative agriculture where animals are used in crop grazing systems or grazing outside over winter and feeding on turnips and fodder beet to small family farms where the sires and dams of the animals are known after years of breeding.
Small-scale farmers are often farming using organic practices but don’t have the time or resources to tick boxes and go fully certified. These farmers are often exceeding organic standards in practice, even if they aren’t recognised for it on paper. It is much better to find a source you trust. Labels can be helpful, but they can’t replace curiosity, relationships, and informed choice. Have a conversation with your local butcher or find a pop-up farm gate sale and get to know who is producing your food and how they do it. I reckon they would be more than happy to have a chat with you.
Organic is best, but knowing your farmer is better.