Hey, Yellowstone campers! Did you know you can buy organic beef and wine at their general stores?

July 10, 5:03 PMOrganic Food ExaminerNatalie Rotunda

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As organic foods move into the mindset of health-conscious Americans, visitors to Yellowstone National Park may not be too surprised to find wonderful organic foods like certified organic grassfed beef, wine, veggies and fruits in many of the 12 grocery stores located in the park. “People who hike here tend to be healthier,” says Jeff Bruce, grocery manager for Delaware North Company, the park’s contract concessioner. The company is concessioner for other national parks, such as the Grand Canyon, Sequoia, and Yosemite, and supplies organic food items in their general stores. The 2.2 million acre Yellowstone is the site for more than 300 campgrounds. The stores provide a handy way for campers to buy food supplies and prepare their own meals.

Bruce also buys as many organic fruits and veggies as he’s able. “We’re limited on who will deliver to us,” he says, “because we’re a ways out here.”  He strives to bring in organics whenever possible, and healthier foods, too, though they’re not always organic. “Hopefully, next year we’ll be able to start off with more organic products.”

Earlier this year, Rod Morrison, president and CEO of Rocky Mountain Organic Meats, Inc., a certified organic grassfed beef ranch also located in Wyoming, pitched the idea to Bruce of carrying a selection of the ranch's organic, grassfed beef. It seemed the perfect match. After all, they both practice sustainability: Morrison in the way he raises his cattle; Yellowstone, and our other national parks, in the way they protect their environments. Add to that the fact that Rocky Mountain Organic Meats is fairly local.

Soon, meat counters in the larger stores that carry the grassfed meats will sport signage making it easier for shoppers to zero in on the healthy ground beef, ribeye and New York steaks choices. Pair a pair of steaks with a good organic wine, and voila! what a meal..

Morrison praises Jeff Bruce and Karen Tryman, Delaware North’s director of retail, for their forward-thinking in bringing in his meats, along with all the other organic foods they buy, for the healthful enjoyment of the park’s campers. “The idea of national parks is all about sustainability,” he says.

Delaware North Company is also forward-thinking in bringing about the first environmental management system in the U.S. Called Green Path, the registered entity underwent strict ISO standards to adopt environment-friendly practices that include energy consumption, solid waste and water use.

Yellowstone National Park became the world’s first national park in 1872. Their season opens in April, ending in October each year.

Morrison markets his tender, juicy, omega-3 rich ground beef, steaks, roasts, pastrami, summer sausage, and varieties of jerky through his company’s website, and through Amazon.com.

Read more about Yellowstone National Park at our National Yellowstone Examiner’s site.

Read more about organic grassfed beef in other articles you may enjoy:

Why eat organic grassfed beef?

Organic grassfed meat eaters and vegans share this view

Thanks to Rod Morrison for providing slideshow photos.