It’s no secret that we Americans love our convenience foods—whether they come in a box, a bag, a can, or through a drive-thru window. So it wasn’t really a surprise to see how the United States compared to the rest of the world in a recent New York Times graph showing consumption of “fresh food” vs. “packaged food.”

The message in the metric? Our country and our health would benefit from a return to good old-fashioned foods like meats, dairy, vegetables and grains—ideally from family farms that use organic and sustainable methods. One of the reasons we founded Greensbury Market was to make it convenient to choose organic beef, chicken and pork, and we’re glad to support our customers’ efforts not to rely on what the Times calls “factory food.”

Rethinking frozen pizza

According to the Times, based on data from the USDA’s Economic Research Service, Americans eat 31 percent more packaged food than fresh food, and they consume more packaged food per person than their counterparts in nearly all other countries. A sizable part of the American diet is ready-to-eat meals, like frozen pizzas and microwave dinners, and sweet or salty snack foods.

As you might guess, this isn’t good news for American health. Research shows that diets high in salt, sugar and fat—and low in nutrient-rich fresh foods—put us at risk for diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and other conditions.

A frozen pizza every once in a while is an easy way to please your family. But since we understand more than ever before about how food and health are connected, and we all care about living long and healthy lives, it’s time to find other easy solutions for cooking fresh meals.

Finding convenient ways to eat fresh food

Most people rely on ready-to-eat meals and other packaged foods because they make our easier. Everywhere we go, there are grocery stores, fast food restaurants, vending machines, and other places full of fast, convenient meal and snack choices.

But fresh food can be convenient, too, especially if you make some new habits for shopping and cooking. For example:

-       Go digital:  Grass-fed and organic meats, organic produce, organic grains and flours, local creamy butter and milk, delicious herbs and spices, and flavorful marinades are all available via the Internet, as are many grocery staples ranging from baking soda to seltzer water.  Shopping online can save you valuable time, since you can get items delivered directly to your door, and don’t have to make as many trips to specialty stores. Research and order great ingredients—because when you start with great ingredients, simple recipes turn out delicious.

-       Stock your pantry & freezer: Don’t get caught without the basics. From frozen organic chicken breasts, to canned tomatoes, to fresh garlic and onions, keep your kitchen full of ingredients that you can use to make fast, easy meals.

-       Make your own “fresh” frozen food: Cook many portions each time you make a meal, and refrigerate or freeze the portions you don’t eat that day.  Make sure to label and date. You won’t be nearly as tempted by frozen pizza if you know you’ve got homemade chili, lasagna, or steak stir-fry that you can simply heat and serve. And unlike processed foods, you know exactly how your own frozen food was made and what’s in every bite.

-       Make your own cookbook: Collect recipes that you like to cook and love to eat.  Once you have a small collection, put them together in a notebook, store them on your computer, or keep them in an “app” on your cell phone, along with a list of grocery items you need.

The good news for American health is that a variety of fresh, interesting foods are more accessible to the average consumer—online, in grocery stores, and in local farmer’s markets. With the proliferation of cooking shows, cooking websites and how-to videos, there is no shortage of opportunities to learn how to make simple meals.

And of course, if you’re ordering from Greensbury, feel free to use our online recipes for ideas and inspiration!

Greensbury Market is proud to announce that we recently set a new record for daily sales on Jasmere.com. We couldn’t be happier to welcome over 200 enthusiastic new customers, and we hope you continue to give high marks to our selection of organic meat  and our customer service.

Jasmere seeks out small specialty retailers they believe deserve national attention. Their team of New York, Los Angeles and Washington, DC- based shopaholics personally tests every product they feature, and they offer exclusive discounts for a limited time.

If you’re wondering whether chemicals are really present in your food, the answer is clear: most meats and other foods sold in the United States today contain a cocktail of trace amounts of chemicals, from pesticides to synthetic growth hormones.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, our country’s meat supply contains the residues of 500 to 600 different chemicals. The debate isn’t about whether they’re there, but how much harm they cause humans, especially because the FDA only monitors some of these chemicals.

What are the possible risks?

The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) recently released its latest “Smart Guide” covering the issue of hormones in the food system. Here’s a list of some of the types of chemicals that find their way onto our plates and into our bodies:

o hormone growth promoters given to food animals

o hormone-active pesticides sprayed on food crops

o hormone plastic additives in baby bottles, infant formula cans or other food packaging

o hormone disruptors that build up in the food chain (like brominated flame retardants)

According to the Guide: “[E]ver-strengthening science links exposure to many individual hormone disruptors —pesticides, Teflon chemicals, plasticizers and food contaminants—with these common or rising chronic conditions, including:

o Breast and prostate cancer

o Thyroid disease

o Obesity and diabetes

o Endometriosis, uterine fibroids and infertility

o Immune-related disease, such as asthma or allergies.

Why are hormones and other chemicals used in food production?

Certain synthetic hormones can make young animals gain weight faster. They help reduce the waiting time and the amount of feed eaten by an animal before slaughter in meat industries. Pesticides are used on farms to protect crops – including grain used for feed – from insects.

Does organic meat contain chemicals?

Even organic meats and organic produce aren’t completely free of toxic chemicals. Contaminants leach into the land, water, and air around the globe. But certified organic livestock are never given antibiotics or synthetic hormones such as the genetically engineered bovine growth hormone. Their feed is organic and vegetarian. Organic farmers use natural methods to control pests. 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.

Is organic meat better for the environment, too?

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. They also protect the water supply. Eliminating polluting chemicals and nitrogen leaching, in combination with soil building, prevents contamination and protects and conserves water resources. Organic farmers use green manures and crop covers, too, rather than synthetic fertilizers made from petroleum.

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.

The USDA is finally going to define what “natural” means for meats. Writer and nutritionist Marion Nestle reports on her Food Politics blog that the new USDA administration is poised to clear up the confusion regarding what “natural” means for beef, pork and chicken.

Currently, there are two definitions for natural meats: one definition that says meat can be labeled “natural” if it is minimally processed and doesn’t have any artificial flavorings, colorings, preservatives, or other additives; and another that says “naturally raised” means the meat must come from animals raised with no hormone growth promoters, no antibiotics, and no animal by-products. 

For detailed information on the USDA’s plans, read Docket No. FSIS-2006-0040A.

Marion Nestle is Paulette Goddard Professor in the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health (the department she chaired from 1988-2003) and Professor of Sociology at New York University. Her book, What to Eat, published by North Point Press/ Farrar, Straus & Giroux (2006, paperback 2007), was named as one of Amazon.Com’s top ten books of 2006 (Health, Mind, and Body) , and a “Must Read” by Eating Well magazine.

Bobby Flay's L.A. Burger

The 4th of July is a great excuse for a burger, in our opinion. Whether you indulge at a community picnic, a backyard cookout, or an urban rooftop barbecue with view of the fireworks, why not start your own American tradition and go organic this 4th? Here are some hamburger recipes that will taste even better made with organic grass-fed beef and organic produce. 

ORGANIC HAMBURGERS

To spice it up, try Chef Bobby Flay’s Spanish-style hamburger, the Bolo Burger. Or add a little West Coast flair to your grill with Flay’s avocado-topped L.A. Burger. If you’re in the mood for a smokier flavor, Chipotle Burgers bring on the heat. An open-faced Chili burger will keep even the hungriest eater busy. For more traditional burgers, stick with our Greensbury chef’s grilled basic organic burgers. 

SIDE DISHES

Onion Strings make a fun, flavorful accompaniment to any burger. Have you jumped on the slow cooking trend? Try these slow-cooked baked beans. And it wouldn’t be 4th of July without a potato salad; choose a classic German potato salad or go a little wild with this Fingerling Potato Salad with Chili-Cilantro Salad.

Filet mignon with asparagus

Spring is the perfect time to begin cooking with healthy, organic ingredients. Your supermarket or farmer’s market will start offering more greens, herbs and vegetables at affordable prices.  Whether you’re firing up the grill, heading out to a picnic, or simply looking for more ways to put organic foods on your table, this is the season to experiment with new recipes, fresh-picked flavors, and earth-friendly choices.  

Here’s a simple Greensbury recipe featuring a perennial spring favorite, asparagus, paired with tender organic filet mignon and herb butter. Try it with grass-fed filet to increase the health benefits of this celebratory meal. 

Organic Broiled Filet Mignon with Lemon-Herb Butter and Asparagus

Serves 4

• 4 filet mignon steaks
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• Zest and juice from one lemon
• 1 tablespoon chopped flat leaf parsley
• 1 tablespoon chopped tarragon
• ½ teaspoon salt
• One bunch asparagus
• Course sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to season

Our team at Greensbury Market has spent a lot of time traveling around the country, getting to know some of America’s finest organic family farms.

Our goal is to find the best quality organic meats and to support farmers who share our commitment to sustainable farming practices and healthy organic meats free of antibiotics and added hormones.  We seek out family farms where animals are raised organically and humanely, according to the strict standards of the USDA national organic program.

Greensbury is proud to partner with farms like Natural Acres, a beautiful place in Pennsylvania dedicated to producing organic foods. Natural Acres supplies Greensbury with 100% organic grass-fed beef.

Natural Acres Bed & Breakfast

Visiting Natural Acres is a true pleasure. The farm’s history is rooted in Amish traditions. It has been certified organic since 1999. They grow crops using sustainable organic methods. Their cattle and chickens roam free, grazing in the farm’s pesticide-free pastures. Our team was struck immediately by how alert and healthy every animal looked, as well as by the traditional farming atmosphere.

If you’ve never visited an organic family farm, we urge you to experience it for yourself. At Natural Acres, you can even stay the night at the farm’s own Bed & Breakfast.

So many foods claim to be “natural” these days, it’s hard to know exactly what the word means. In today’s marketplace, the word “natural” is about as scientific as a “good” or “tasty.” 

That’s why we love the word “organic.” It doesn’t matter whether you’re buying carrot sticks, or milk, or tortilla chips, or chicken: when you see the certified organic label from the USDA, you can rest assured that what’s inside the package has been produced according to strict guidelines. In fact, the USDA is actually pushing for stricter guidelines on the standards for “natural meats,” as reported in this news story by NPR. 

The Organic Guarantee

As you probably know, organic farms don’t use conventional pesticides. But did you know they don’t use synthetic fertilizers, bioengineering, or ionizing radiation, either? They also use renewable resources and conserve soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. So when you buy organic, you’re taking care of yourself and your planet by supporting sustainable farming methods.

The USDA organic seal guarantees that your purchase is made from ingredients raised organically, on farms inspected by a Government-approved certifier to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards.

Organic Vs. Natural Meats

There is no official definition of “natural.” But according to U.S. agricultural regulations, organic beef, pork or chicken must meet rigorous standards. Organic farms:

•        Use no antibiotics or synthetic growth hormones
•        Use 100 percent organic and vegetarian feed
•        Raise animals humanely in a healthy environment, where they are given access to the outdoors and/or pastures
•        Practice eco-friendly, sustainable farming methods.

Companies that handle or process organic meats must be certified organic, too.

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

To order 100% certified organic meats online, please visit Greensbury Market, where everything is organic – and nothing is labeled “natural”!