Organic vs. Natural Meats | Health Benefits | Environmental Benefits | Recommended Links and Useful Information

ORGANIC VS. NATURAL MEATS

Greensbury Market never refers to our meats as natural. That's because we've chosen a much higher standard: organic.

There are no official guidelines for natural foods. The only way we can promise our customers a truly superior product is to embrace the USDA's very strict guidelines for certified organic meats. Look for the USDA seal on our package. What this means to you:

• organic farmers do not use antibiotics or synthetic growth hormones.
• organic meat comes from animals that are given 100 percent organic feed.
• organic animals are given access to the outdoors and/or pastures.
• organic farms do no use most conventional pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, bioengineering, or ionizing radiation.
• organic farmers emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations.
• organic farms are inspected by a Government-approved certifier to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic meats must be certified, too.

For more information about certified organic foods and farms, you can visit the USDA website at www.usda.gov.

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HEALTH BENEFITS

When you choose Greensbury meats, you never have to worry about how and where the animals were raised. Our team insists on high quality meats from people we trust: a select network of organic family farms that follow traditional, healthy practices. If you are concerned about eating nutritious, delicious foods with the fewest possible health risks, organic is the right choice. Benefits include:

Healthier, more traditional, more attentive farming practices. Animals on certified organic farms are raised with special attention to their health and wellbeing. They have access to fresh air, sunshine, and the outdoors. Organically raised animals grow at their own natural pace, with no artificial hormones. By following free-ranging or free-grazing practices, organic farms not only treat animals more humanely, but also improve the animals' health and reduce stress.

No hormones, antibiotics or GMOs. Organic livestock are never given antibiotics or synthetic hormones such as the genetically engineered bovine growth hormone. Their feed is organic and vegetarian. By eating all-organic meats, you also limit your intake of genetically modified foods, because organic farmers cannot raise genetically modified crops or livestock or use production aids that are genetically modified.

Good old-fashioned nutrition. Organic meat is naturally rich in protein, vitamins and minerals such as iron. Serving organic beef, chicken and pork is a great way to make sure your family stays strong and healthy. Organic animals are raised the way nature intended, in an environment with fewer toxins, no pesticides, healthier soil, and 100% organic all-vegetarian feed.

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ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

At Greensbury, we love the great taste of organic meats – and we're also mindful of how everyday food choices may effect the environment for generations to come. We partner with a network of farmers who are committed to using organic agricultural practices. These practices:

Reduce unhealthy chemicals and toxins in our environment. Organic animals are never fed hormones or antibiotics. Certified organic farmers do no use most conventional pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, bioengineering, or ionizing radiation. Organic agricultural practices prevent pesticides and other chemicals from getting into the air, earth and water that sustain us.

Build healthy soil. Well-balanced soil is the foundation of healthy, nutritious food. Conventional farming depletes the soil over time. Organic farmers use practices that replenish and build healthy soil.

Protect the water supply. Eliminating polluting chemicals and nitrogen leaching, in combination with soil building, prevents contamination and protects and conserves water resources.

Consume less fossil fuel. Organic farming seeks to make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls. Organic farmers use green manures and crop covers, rather than synthetic fertilizers made from petroleum.

Respect and nurture healthy animals and people. Choosing organic is a great way to take care of the people you care about. You can nourish yourself, your family, and the planet by supporting sustainable farming practices and eating foods that are truly good for you.

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RECOMMENDED LINKS and USEFUL INFORMATION

The USDA
http://www.usda.gov

The Organic Consumer

http://www.organicconsumers.org

The Organic Trade Association
http://www.ota.com/index.html

The National Sustainable Agricultural Information Service
http://www.attra.org

Organic Farming Research Foundation
http://ofrf.org/index.html

The Organic Center
http://www.organic-center.org

The Mayo Clinic
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/organic-food/NU00255

National Geographic Green Guide
http://www.thegreenguide.com

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