EcoFriendly Foods tag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-1679852 2010-03-17T08:56:46-04:00 Great Taste Just Isn't Enough TypePad Local Slaughterhouses Come Back to Life tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553765a6688330120a94820ae970b 2010-03-17T08:56:46-04:00 2010-03-17T08:56:46-04:00 While we've spent the past few days bringing you up to date on the Congressional hearing on humane slaughter earlier this month, a quick time out to point you to this great article in this morning's Washington Post about the... EcoFriendly Foods

While we've spent the past few days bringing you up to date on the Congressional hearing on humane slaughter earlier this month, a quick time out to point you to this great article in this morning's Washington Post about the role of small slaughterhouses.

Find our main introduction on EcoFriendly's Facebook page.  (You don't have to be a registered member to read it.)

 A Living Wage for Farmers + More Facilities Like EcoFriendly = "The Answer" tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553765a66883301310fa8278d970c 2010-03-16T08:09:19-04:00 2010-03-16T08:09:19-04:00 It wasn't easy getting EcoFriendly Foods off the ground. And it hasn't been easy keeping it there. But as we see it, the more "EcoFriendly" processing facilities that can be built across the country, the sooner we'll be able to... EcoFriendly Foods

Bev Eggleston Testimony
It wasn't easy getting EcoFriendly Foods off the ground.  And it hasn't been easy keeping it there.  But as we see it, the more "EcoFriendly" processing facilities that can be built across the country, the sooner we'll be able to move closer to establishing a parallel food system that gives more consumers choices to buy local, healthy and humane meats for their family table.  It also will make farming an attractive and economically viable career option.

No matter if there has been a Democrat or Republican in the White House or controlling Congress, we've seen our country's food system derail.  And the meat industry has consolidated to the point where the real cost of food is hidden, Americans are getting sick or dying from contaminated food, and the institutional knowledge of farmers from generations ago disappears year after year.  Finding a way to put younger people back on the farm by providing them with a living wage and the knowledge of the "old foodways" is important to EcoFriendly.  And if our nation's leaders can jigger the system and the laws to allow others to do the same around the country -- providing local foods from small scale operations to communities in their regions -- we'll see our system get back on track. 

Download and read for yourself what Bev Eggleston had to say before Congress this month. 

Congressional Hearing on Humane Slaughter - What Happened? tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553765a66883301310fa1934c970c 2010-03-15T09:48:58-04:00 2010-03-15T10:08:38-04:00 How did the hearing go? What did Bev have to say? What happens now? Over the last few weeks, we've been hearing from many of our friends, colleagues, and customers about the Congressional hearing earlier this month regarding USDA enforcement... EcoFriendly Foods

Bev_Web How did the hearing go?  What did Bev have to say?  What happens now?

Over the last few weeks, we've been hearing from many of our friends, colleagues, and customers about the Congressional hearing earlier this month regarding USDA enforcement of the 1978 Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (HMSA), the law designed to ensure that (the animals covered by it -- a whole other issue), are rendered insensitive to pain before slaughter. 

In the coming days, we'll provide you with links and access to the testimony so you can read and see for yourself what was shared.  Many of us from EcoFriendly attended the hearing, not only to support Bev Eggleston as he spoke as a sworn witness before the subcommittee, but also on behalf of you -- our customers -- since we know that you, too, believe any step that can be taken to clean our food system and treat animals humanely and with respect is worth making.

At EcoFriendly Foods, we firmly stand by the work that we do, adhering not just to the letter of the law, but showing compassion and care for each of the animals that will move through our facility.  We go above and beyond the letter of the law because at EcoFriendly, we know deep down that the animals which sustain us deserve to live a life that is befitting and natural for their species and to be treated with the utmost respect when that life is ended. 

This is a link to streaming video of the full hearing provided by the House of Representatives. It runs just under two hours, so you may wish to watch it as you have time. Please note that during the introduction by Rep. Kucinich, he played a video obtained by hidden camera from the Human Society of the United States of what can be described -- at its utmost kindness -- as the revolting torture of calves at the Bushway slaughter facility in Vermont.  It is gut-wrenching video, but the importance of exposing inhumane treatment is a key path to getting it stopped once and for all.  If you choose to skip the video, it runs for 2 minutes, beginning at 5:30 and ending at 7:30 in the video time.  What was shown was referred to many times during the hearing, as you'll read when we post statements, articles, transcripts and other material related to the testimony.

Here you can download the list of witnesses asked to testify. Please note the names of the Representatives serving on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. While not all are on the Domestic Policy subcommittee that called this hearing, if your Representative (or Delegate -- we do love and know the plight of our D.C. friends) is on this list, we encourage you to send them an email with your thoughts and ask them how they plan to take action on what was learned at this hearing. You can find their email address from the House website.  We all know they're up for re-election in November. 

Change policy with your voice. 

Vote with your fork.

 At the Markets - March 13 and 14, 2010 tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553765a66883301310f92b19a970c 2010-03-12T08:25:11-05:00 2010-03-12T08:25:11-05:00 Spring is right around the corner. Grass is going to be growing. And for EcoFriendly Foods, our producers, customers, and animals, that means a big step in the process. Grass is free food for our animals brought to you courtesy... EcoFriendly Foods

Spring is right around the corner.  Grass is going to be growing.  And for EcoFriendly Foods, our producers, customers, and animals, that means a big step in the process.  Grass is free food for our animals brought to you courtesy of the sun.  Next thing you know, fresh chicken season returns and a new cycle for the year begins again.  Don't forget it's still "winter" market hours at Arlington and Dupont Circle, which means we start at 9 in Arlington and 10 at Dupont.  But also don't forget that we move our clocks forward one hour this Saturday night so 10AM a Dupont will be sneaking up a little quicker on you!

Here's what you can expect to find at our market stands this week:

We've got fresh pork, including our popular tenderloins, center-cut pork chops, more of our delicious prosciutto we like to call VAsciutto (thanks to its Virginia heritage).  And we've also got a suckling pig that we've cut into 8 pieces.  If you're looking for a particular one, I'd recommend making the trip to Arlington on Saturday because with only two shoulders, two legs, etc.....when they're gone, they're gone.

Fresh beef this week includes brisket, various steaks, tenderloin (which I still must note that for a traditionally tender but flavorless cut, EcoFriendly tenderloin will change your mind -- tender AND flavorful!).  Lots of ground beef, too.

From the frozen selection, look for our selection of pork breakfast and sweet Italian sausages, as well as pork bellies.  For frozen beef we have wonderful, NY strips, T-bones, ribeyes, and brisket, too. Our rose veal (that is raised NOTHING) like commercial veal has been very popular and we'll have some frozen scalloppine.  And we have more frozen chicken this week.  A few whole birds (less than 15 so come early to get yours), our popular leg quarters and French-cut breasts, plus chicken livers and hearts.

Unfortunately it seems you may have to be balancing your umbrella along with your market basket this weekend, but we hope the rain doesn't stop you from paying us a visit.