Hey, meat-eaters! Why aren't you buying organic grassfed beef?

April 18, 3:41 PMOrganic Food ExaminerNatalie Rotunda

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I need your input. Will you comment on why you---if you’re a meat-eater/lover---buy organic grassfed beef, or---if you’re a meat-eater/lover---why you don’t buy organic grassfed beef?

I suspect there are those, like me, who believed eating organic meant eating meatless, or vegetarian. Happily for me, a meat-lover, organic foodies can either be vegetarians who eat nothing that comes from an animal; consumers of veggies, fruits, nuts, eggs, butter, desserts, what have you, as long as it's organic...and meat, from beef to yak.

Recently, I spoke to a gentleman in Florida who told me he stopped eating meat because of how cattle are treated. He described feedlot animals.  I was the happy bearer of good news...that organic certified grassfed cows are raised in very humane conditions and are never mistreated.

Back to why I need your help. I talk to lots of organic foodies, including owners of organic food businesses all over the country who tell me they’re seeing a steady growth in sales of their product. One Minnesota CSA owner even said he wasn't feeling the effects of the downturn in the economy...business is good. Yet, I also hear from a producer of organic grassfed beef that sales aren’t what they should be. I simply want to know why sales of this important food group are lagging behind?

So, meat-eaters, answer this, if you please:  Do you not buy organic grassfed beef because

(a) You don’t believe there’s any difference in taste to warrant buying it.
(b) You believe the cattle are mistreated, and by not buying it, you’re making a statement.
(c) You don’t know where to find certified organic grassfed beef.
(d) It’s too much trouble to look for a reliable source.
(e) None of these. The reason I don’t buy it is _______________.
(f) What would it take to get you to buy organic grassfed beef?

I’m just looking for answers; there aren’t any right or wrong ones. Know that I value your comments, no matter what they are…and thanks for helping me know what you’re thinking about this segment of the organic food industry.