As promised, continuing from our last newsletter, here is a more in depth explanation of number five of the top ten health reasons to eat grassfed beef.According to a 2009 study that was a joint effort between the USDA and researchers at Clemson University in South Carolina, grassfed beef is better for human health than grainfed beef in these top ten* ways:

1. Lower in total fat
2. Higher in beta-carotene
3. Higher in vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)
4. Higher in the B-vitamins thiamin and riboflavin
5. Higher in the minerals calcium, magnesium, and potassium

Calcium, magnesium and potassium are all very important minerals in your body that work together in many ways. Calcium helps you to maintain healthy, strong bones, supports the proper functioning of nerves and muscles and helps your blood to clot. Magnesium helps to relax your nerves and muscles, builds and strengthens your bones and keeps your blood circulating smoothly. Potassium helps to maintain the proper electrolyte and acid-base balance in your body and helps lower your risk for high blood pressure.*

* From WHFoods, www.whfoods.com:

6. Higher in total omega-3s
7. Better ratio of omega-6 to 3 fatty acids (1.65 vs 4.84)
8. Higher in CLA (cis-9 trans-11), a potential cancer fighter
9. Higher in vaccenic acid (which can be transformed into CLA)
10. Lower in the saturated fats linked with heart disease

When I grew up in rural Wisconsin my hometown had four world class cheese plants. Thorp, Wisconsin was a place of 1,600 residents that milked cows, made cheese or serviced those two industries. Clark County, USA has been the dairy capital of the country for nearly a century.

As with many industries, consolidation and homogenization of the dairy industry began in the mid-1970s. Across Wisconsin today you can see hundreds of empty cheese plants that have been bought-up and shut-down. The goal being to convince you where your milk comes from and how it is produced doesn’t matter. Do you feel the same about your favorite wine?

The last local cheese plant to have experienced this reality of modern business was a plant my Father worked at for 27 years. A plant that ten percent of the town also worked at and that I grew up around, seeing some of the best blue cheese made for nearly 100 years.

The tradition of specialty cheese making is still alive here in Wisconsin (you just need to know where to look) and the dairy farmers who produce the milk in the traditional grass based ways also can be found throughout our rustic two-way lane roads. Wisconsin is no more the frozen tundra as Seattle is a rain forest. For you Floridian’s we do recommend you pack a sweater if you visit in January, but don’t be surprised to see cows outside. Remember a cow does wear a custom made leather coat! Be assured that we live here year-round and will find the best cheese makers and best grazing farms to provide a common label you can trust—Grass Point Farms.

Our land, grasses and climate make cows from around the world long for their chance to live here. The greatest reason to purchase Grass Point Farms premium dairy products is that we work with family farmers who manage their grass lands, woodlands, wetlands and of course animals under managed grazing methods. Family members produce over 50% of the labor required to produce the products you enjoy and our company is owned by those who actually live here and do the work to bring you the best Wisconsin has to offer!

My goal in 2001 was to get my Dad’s job back for him and once successful work hard to get those other 160 jobs back. We are about sensible sustainability for you, the cows, the farmers and the rural communities.

We are succeeding each day and providing job creation and economic security for our farmers and neighbors. We are reducing excess hauling, fossil fuel emissions and pushing back urban sprawl.

Unlike USDA organic standards we practice reality farm marketing. We ask ourselves what is best for the cow before we enact legislation to prove to you we make a good product.

You are invited to visit us in Wisconsin, join us on a pasture walk or view our farms online and to review our written standards. We think you will agree that we understand milk here in Wisconsin and Grass Point Farms is making a difference in everyone’s lives from Thorp to New York to Los Angeles.

The global economy starts locally with local artisans. Our soils, our grasses and seasonal temperatures produces the ideal environment for small, family farms to graze their animals producing the best dairy products we think you will find. Your support not only brings you a quality product, but protects a way of life for farmers and other hard working people like my Dad.

Take some time to learn about what we do and why we do it and why it matters. I know you will agree that Grass Point Farms is the spirit of organic farming without the politics and high price lawyers rewording rules for the benefit of factory style farms and large corporations.

Enjoy our hormone free, antibiotic free, pesticide free products from family farms that are higher in CLAs and Omega’s compared to other milk. Our point is grass and sensible sustainability.

Cheers!