The True Cost of Meat

1. The True Cost of Meat A transparent look at the meat growing, processing and distribution system By Matt Kendrick (The Butcher) and Melissa Baer (The Farmers Daughter)

2. Who We are & Why We’re here • Matt Kendrick – Manager & Head Butcher at The Bauer Butcher, trained Chef, committed to supporting small Ontario Farmers focused on sustainability • Melissa Baer- Certified Organic Farmer’s Daughter, Food and Health Advocate, Sell Grass Fed Organic Beef to people Twitter: Matt - @bauerbutcher Melissa - @afarmdaughter

3. Objectives • To leave you with a clear understanding of the different kinds of meat • Have you clearer on your own priorities when it comes to meat • Destroy any myths about meat and pricing

4. Your Worksheet • This if for you to take home • Fill out as many spaces on it as possible as accurately as possible • You may need a calculator (phone) to do it

5. Your Total Calculations Total Meat consumption rate= Household size X # meat meals X 0.3lbs Total Meat Spending Rate = Total consumption X8.00

6. Start at the Beginning (the farm) • Defining various types of meat • Inputs to raising these different types of meat • Why and how farming techniques affect your health

7. Defining the Labels • Conventional • Naturally Raised • Organic • Grass Fed • Free Range • Factory Farmed • Local

8. Conventional • Typically means using regular feed mill feed • Not organic • Likely GMO • Likely antibiotics and hormones and vaccines are utilized • Is not labeled as such – often is the default when no other label is present • These are the farms you’ll see scattered across the country side • Can sometimes mean Feedlot (or factory farmed) conditions

9. Naturally Raised • ZERO standards (what is natural to one person is not natural to another) • Can mean simply that they are outside sometimes • Can mean that they don’t have as MANY antibiotics, or maybe none at all • Can mean a variety of things, none of which are the same from farm to farm

10. Organic • A third party inspection agency has come to inspect the farm, and has determined they are adhering to standards • There are various standards across inspection agencies and jurisdictions • CFIA – lowering standards but governing • Band wagon jumpers – beware! • DOES NOT require farmers to NOT vaccinate • no medication (Drugs/hormones) • No pesticides • Animals must have access to outside

11. Grass Fed • No standardization • Can mean they got some or they were entirely grass fed • Grass Finished – means they were ALSO Finished on grass (usually farmers will use corn or grain to finish for better fat marbling) • Usually means they have access to outside • USDA has standards but NOT in Canada (CFIA)

12. Free Range • Not Standardized • Is supposed to mean they have free access to pasture land • May just be Free Run – cage/stall free and can freely roam about • May not have any health benefits depending on the quality of the soil, or if they are still fed in the barn (corn and grain etc)

13. Factory Farmed • Typically refers to CAFO’s (confined Animal Feeding Operations) • Feedlots, caged hen laying operations, sow barns, etc • Generally is for the purpose of high volume, is likely feeding corn/high energy food for quick production and weight gain • Generally uses stock that has been genetically manipulated for production • Will use high amounts of medication due to sickness (Vaccinations, hormones, drugs etc)

14. Local • Local does NOT mean healthy • Local can mean factory farmed still • Local can still be GMO, Vaccinated, drug and hormone filled • Local only refers to the proximity in which it is grown to its final destination (your plate)

15. What’s important to ME? Organic Local Humanely raised GMOfree Vaccine free Antibiotic free Naturally raised Drug free toxicity sustainable micro nutrients Grass Fed Grass Finished Socially conscious Environment

16. List in terms of priority • List each of your priorities in order of importance • By understanding what is your TOP priority this will help to guide your purchases

17. Time and Inputs • Conventional has corn – subsidized • Works on volumes • Grass fed – takes more time to get them to market (and more land - $$) • Organic –depends on type of feed (certification and attention to detail) • Cow Calf operations – low meds required, more attention to detail

18. Processing • Large slaughter houses (work on volumes), have no ability to identify • Have no humane policies • No traceability • Smaller abattoirs for local meat – sparse • Cost of transport for small batches • Cost of land • Cost of hay (drought, weather dependent) • Micro nutrient density • Soil stewardship – wont be around if we dont

19. Price At the Farm gate (wholesale) • Lowest – Conventional • Middle – Naturally Raised • Higher- Organic • Highest – Organic Grass fed

20. The NEXT step – Butcher Retail • Cost of Grass fed • Cost of organic • Cost of naturally raised • Cost of conventional

21. Meat – Retail Perspective • Purchasing, loss and costs, rent, salaries etc • Planning – when buying meat • Buying better cuts: • need less when buying better: article (maintains muscle mass, etc) • get creative with cuts

22. Beef Yield (i.e. true COG) *as a whole animal butcher we lose up to %30 of what we pay for by the time the product is ready for sale

23. Retail Meat – The Numbers

24. Buying Meat – Plan Ahead • When buying at a butcher try to go every 2-3 days • Plan meals to include leftovers (lunch, another dinner, etc) • Consider buying whole pieces (i.e. a whole chicken can yield 3 meals or more) • Cook more stews, stir fry, salads where the average portion size tends to be smaller

25. Buying Sustainably • The 3 most popular beef cuts account for only 15% of the yield • Find different cuts to try(Flat Iron, Hanger, Flank, Round) • Challenge yourself to try recipes for new cuts every 2 weeks. • Talk to your butcher and ask questions!

26. Other Hidden Costs • Health costs Long term • Soil costs long term • Fossil fuels cost long term • Need less when buying quality “It may cost less in dollars right now because of a falsified economic system, but when it takes 2 units of energy to produce 1 unit –we’re missing something” “you pay for your health at the grocery store or the hospital” (since we have free health care, it would be in quality of life)

27. Where to get each type of meat • Conventional- Large Grocery Chains, Costco, Walmart • Naturally Raised – Butcher shops, farmers markets, direct from Farmers • Grass Fed and/or Organic- Bauer Butcher, specialty meat shops, direct from farmers

28. Meat Industry Myth’s & Facts Myth or Fact Loblaws “Free from” program is an Organic program?

29. Myth or Fact Drug Free meat is entirely drug free

30. Myth or Fact Local is basically the same as Organic

31. Myth or Fact Eating better is A LOT more expensive

32. Myth or Fact If I eat conventionally raised beef, its not REALLY that bad for me

33. Thank you Any Questions? We hope you have gained some insight into meat, and how you can improve your grocery shopping