By Dr. Robert Cynowa
When it comes to food choices, you know we are always talking about eating the very best. Well, we have walked through the mud and truly seen where some of the best meat comes from. Recently, we had the privilege of going on a tour of 3 farms that opened their doors to us to see their entire process from start to finish. Combined with the information we have had previously, we now know where you can get the best locally there is to offer.
For your convenience, we have broken up where we think you can get the best of each category and how to get it.
Beef
Proffitt Farms in Kings Mountain! Wow, what an impressive operation. They have Black Angus cows on over 650 acres of land. They have not used pesticides or fertilizers on any of their fields for over 5 years and all their cattle are free roaming. They even rotate daily the areas which the cattle graze in order to allow less stress on the re-growth of the grass. They are one of the only USDA Certified Organic beef operations in our local area. The hay they have is organic and in times of grass shortage the pellets they supplement the cattle with are certified organic alfalfa. The cows are sprayed with all natural sprays (which is unheard of in the beef industry) to control bugs. They never use antibiotics, steroids or hormones on the cattle either.
Why is all this important? Organic, grass fed, free range, steroid and hormone free beef contains a high amount of omega 3 essential fatty acids. Normal beef contains no omega 3’s (good omega) and all of the (bad omega) omega 6 and 9’s. Why this is so important? That is for another conversation, and can be answered through the numerous research articles we have in the office.
Where to get this? You can shop at the farm store, or order online at Proffitt farms website: www.proffittfarms.com and pick it up at one of the 3 farmers markets in the area:
■Shop the farm store: Fridays, 2:00pm to 7:00pm at 150 Old Home Place
■Atherton Market: Saturdays, 9:00am to 1:00pm
■Kings Drive Market: Saturdays, 9:00am to 1:00pm
■Regional Market at Yorkmont: 8:30am to 1:00pm
Chicken and eggs
Gilcrest Farms in Huntersville is a great, smaller local farm where you can get 2 types of chicken. Depending on what type of chicken you are looking for, they have Cornish hens and completely free- range chickens. From start to finish these chickens are steroid, hormone and antibiotic free. They are free range and free roaming so they can scratch, eat and act like normal chickens. They are constantly watched over and are supplemented periodically with organic feed. They also have a limited supply of eggs from these chickens for sale.
Why is this important? If you do not know that your chicken is free of all these chemicals and has the ability to free roam you are not eating real chicken. The nutritional benefits of real chicken to your health is astronomical, again another conversation for another day. Either way a good tip to remember is that 70% or our ancestors’ diets were raw fruits and vegetables and 30% was a mix of wild game.
Where to get this? You may call them at 704-308-1431 for prices and to place an order, or shop at locations below:
■Davidson Farmer's Market: Saturdays, 8:00am to noon
■Charlotte Regional Farmer's Market: Saturdays, year-round 7:30am to 11:30am
■Cramerton, Wednesday's 4:00pm to 8:00pm on the green
Pork
Grateful Growers: Also located in Huntersville, is the best Pork operation in the area. Again, like the previous two farms, they are all natural and free from using antibiotics, hormones or steroids. Their pigs are all able to eat natural foods and play in the mud. They have room to do what normal pigs should do and their pork is much healthier because of it. Not only that but, they make some great mild and hot breakfast sausage and a chorizo mix. Due to the lack of lymphatic systems in pigs, pork is the most toxic of meats. Getting pork from farms, such as Grateful Growers, is much healthier for you, if you cannot do without a good rack of ribs or bacon in the morning. Grateful Growers also have great chickens as well, although we did not have time to see that part of their farm.
Where to get this great pork? You can order over the phone at 828-234-5182 or through their website www.ggfarm.com for pick-up at Grateful Growers Farm or:
■Charlotte Regional Farmers Market: Saturdays, year-round, 7:30am to noon.
■Matthews Community Farmers Market (next to Renfrow Hardware): Saurdays, 7:15am to 11:30am
■Lincoln County Farmers Market (at Rock Springs Elementary School in Denver): Saturdays, 8:00am-sellout, or noon, whichever comes first. May 1 thru October, at the Freedom Farm booth
■Davidson Farmers’ Market: Saturdays, May 1 to November, 8:00am to noon
■Cramerton Town Center Farmers’ Market: Wednesdays, 4:00pm to 8:00pm at the at the Gilcrest Natural Farm booth
Or at these grocery locations:
■Hillbilly Produce on Independence Blvd. in Charlotte
■Earth Fare stores in Charlotte: Southpark and Ballantyne, also in Rock Hill, SC.
■Healthy Home Markets in Davidson and in Charlotte on South Tryon Street
Milk
Let’s make this one easy. Go to the Peach Stand and get yourself half a gallon or a full gallon of the non-homogenized, non-pasteurized milk. Real milk, like that at the peach stand, is completely different from that at the store. Store bought milk is actually very acidic, has synthetically infused calcium in it and the net result actually will lead your body further from health and closer towards muscle fatigue and osteoporosis. The milk at the Peach Stand comes from Milky Way Farms and is from free range, free roaming, antibiotic, steroid and hormone free cattle. The cattle are 100% grass fed and are Jersey Cows. This is considered an A1 cow which has an enzyme that is better for us as a human species. These A1 cows are hard to find in the United States and we should be grateful there are cows so close to us that we have access to. Go and get your Milk, which tastes great by the way, and it will be like drinking pure sunlight for your body.
The Peach Stand
www.PeachStand.com
1325 Hwy 160 West, Fort Mill, SC 29715
BuyPeaches@SpringsFarm.com
803-547-7563
6:00-9:00 Monday through Friday
8:00-9:00 Saturday
8:00-8:00 Sunday
Now that you have read what we have seen, there are probably one or two last concerns you have…PRICE and TASTE. Well we did too. Keep in mind that we currently spend about 10-15% of our income on food when 20 years ago we used to spend 20%.
Product Price at Lowe’s Food Price for the best of the best
Ground Beef 4.49 5.39
Chuck Roast 4.29 6.84
Rib eye Steak 11.99 16.18
Bacon 4.99 6.50
Sausage 4.65 4.90
Gallon of Milk 4.39 6.50
You are going to spend slightly more than you would at the grocery store. The difference, though, is minimal. We have included a price comparison chart, but we think you will find like we did, the difference in price is well worth the difference in health. If you consider all the negative effects chemically- raised and corn- fed pork, cattle and chicken have on you, the difference between the real stuff is well worth the added costs for your family. Take a look and compare next time you are at the grocery store. Keep in mind also that meat should only be about 30% of our diet for great health, therefore only 30% of your grocery bill.
And the taste?
Phenomenal! We loved the taste of all the above and think a lot of it actually tasted better than normal. We also understand that our opinion may be biased so we brought home some burgers, eggs and chicken and didn’t tell our neighbors before they ate it. They all stated all 3 meals were amazing and asked us what our secret was. When we told them it was all organic ,they first didn’t believe us and then were surprised how tender and tasty it all was.
You now have no excuses to at least investigate this great option for food that is so close to your home and supports local produce.
