As someone who loves good food but wants to make ethical choices, I‘ve struggled with the meat industry. The thought of what happens inside crowded factory farms turns my stomach. Yet the farmer‘s markets with premium steaks I feel better about are outside my budget.
Grass Roots Farmers Cooperative caught my eye as a potential middle ground for high standards without the outrageous prices. After testing out this meat delivery service for myself over three months, I wanted to share my genuine thoughts.
Below is my honest review of Grass Roots after personally sampling a variety of their products. I‘ll give you the rundown on their sourcing, standards and real performance on issues like taste and delivery. Read on to see if Grass Roots ethically raised meats deserve a spot in your kitchen too!
Overview: Bringing Grassfed Beef from Farm to Table
Before getting into Grass Roots, let’s recap the rise of grassfed and why it matters. Grassfed beef comes from cows eating open pasture grasses their whole lives, not fattened on grains in feedlots. Research shows grassfed meat is nutritionally superior with more healthy fats and antioxidants, and no GMOs or chemicals. Plus cows evolved to munch grass freely, not packed together knee-deep in manure.
So grassfed became the poster child of conscious carnivores who care both about health and making kinder choices for animals and planet. Plus it often supports small-scale, often generational ranchers practicing regenerative grazing.
The only catch? Real grassfed beef was scarcely available and pricey.
Enter meat clubs and subscriptions aiming to fix this disconnect. Companies like ButcherBox and Crowd Cow shipped frozen grassfed direct from trusted ranches to your door. It let ordinary folks access quality grassfed beef at fair prices through bulk buying.
This is the gap Grass Roots Farmers Cooperative also fills. Founded in 2014 by fifth-generation cattle rancher Cody Hopkins, Grass Roots now partners with two dozen small family farms across the Midwest. Together they sell their wares directly to consumers hungry for total transparency.
What Grass Roots Offers: From Beef to Bacon
I was impressed by the range of Grass Roots’ offerings showcasing multiple sustainable meats beyond just beef. Here’s an overview:
Grassfed Beef
- Cuts: ground, roasts, brisket, ribs, variety of steaks
- 100% grassfed and finished
- Angus, Hereford, Heritage Devon, more
Pastured Pork
- Chops, roasts, ribs, bacon, scrapple, more
- Forest-raised on acorns + supplemental feed
- Heritage breeds like Gloucestershire Old Spot, Large Black
Free-Range Poultry
- Whole birds, drums, thighs, breasts, wings and more
- Slower growing heritage breeds
- Pasture access plus supplemental organic feed
Grassfed Lamb
- Chops, shanks, ribs, sausage and ground lamb
- Dorset, Gulf Coast Native breeds
They also sell gift boxes, subscribe and save options and seasonally available cuts like holiday hams or turkeys.
Note: Grass Roots only ships within the lower 48 United States at this time. So unfortunately it‘s not an option if you live in Hawaii or Alaska.
The Grass Roots Difference: Transparency and Traceability
What sets Grass Roots apart from the growing field of meat delivery is their “radical transparency.” Customers can access details like:
- Livestreams showing actual pastures their livestock inhabit
- Farm locations plotted by GPS coordinates
- Records of when each animal was born, processed and harvested
- Pages documenting heritage breeds and husbandry protocols for animal care
- Third party audits verifying regenerative grazing practices
You’re not just taking their word for it. You can actually see Grass Roots animals living good lives outdoors on working family farms dedicated to ecological stewardship. Then via batch numbers, trace your order back to its source.
Now let’s look closer at what this means for standards, sourcing and ultimately eating.
Grass Roots Standards: How the Animals Are Raised
For me, knowing the ins and outs of Grass Roots’ animal welfare protocols gave me confidence I wasn’t supporting cruelty. Here are key promises they live up to:
Cattle and Lambs
- 100% grassfed diet their entire lives
- No grain finishing ever
- At least 30% of diet from grazing on managed pasture rotations
- No confined animal feeding operations
- No hormones or routine antibiotics ever
- Heritage and resilient breeds selected for grazing ability plus health and maternal traits
Pork
- Pasture access and forest environments supporting natural rooting behaviors
- Supplemental feed free from animal byproducts and GMOs
- No gestation or farrowing crates
- Enrichments like wallows, brush and toys to satisfy curiosity and instincts
Chickens and Turkeys
- Slow growing heritage breeds with strong health and survival traits suited for outdoor living
- Mobile housing rotated onto fresh pasture
- Enrichments like perches, dust baths and edible sprouts
- Supplemental feed free from animal byproducts and GMOs
Their farming network is audited annually by Food Alliance Midwest, a respected third party certifier focused on environmentally sound and humane livestock production. Their stamp of approval confirms Grass Roots lives up to high marks for animal welfare as well as land stewardship.
For the full nitty gritty on their protocols, check Grass Roots Cooperative’s 48 page Guide to Farming Practices. It leaves zero questions unanswered!
Tasting Grass Roots: Flavor, Texture and Experience
But enough about protocols and promises. As a discerning home gourmet, my palate craves actual eating quality too.
So I tested a variety of Grass Roots’ beef, pork and chicken over three months. Meals included grilled ribeyes, pork medallions in mushroom sauce, whole roasted birds and chili loaded with ground beef.
Here are my candid thoughts on flavor, texture, preparation needs and overall eating experience:
Beef
- Steaks: robust beefiness accentuated by marbling; ribeyes especially luscious. Grill hot and fast.
- Roasts: outstanding pot roast pulling apart after low and slow cooking. Intense mineral flavors from bones.
- Ground: mild yet meaty. Excellent for burgers; holds up to spice rubs or Mexican flavors. Lean so avoid overcooking.
Pork
- Chops: supreme tenderness and juiciness. Brine then pan sear and baste in garlic herb butter.
- Shoulder: rich and supple after hours braising into carnitas or ragout over polenta.
- Bacon: perfect thickness, good meat-to-fat ratio (though pricier than grocery store brands)
Chicken
- Whole birds: fabulously moist meat with clear chicken essence. Roast simply with lemon and herbs.
- Thighs: stellar caramelization when crisped skin-side in cast iron.
Across categories, heritage breed flavors come through beautifully when cooked properly. There is variation in taste and texture animal to animal. But attentive prep brings out Grass Roots’ stellar terroir.
Ordering and Delivery Experience
Since they sell online direct to consumers, your ordering and delivery experience matters too.
I found the website straightforward with helpful descriptions and pictures of each cut. Ordering staples like chicken breasts or ground beef is simple. But consider bundles or split quarters if new to nose-to-tail eating.
One downside was prices came out higher than expected once added to cart. Tax and flat shipping fees notably increased costs. Complex recipes would benefit from a “meal kit” feature integrating ingredients.
However, discounts on first orders and bonus points help offset this. I saved 15% my first order, with free shipping over $175.
As far as delivery, shipments arrive well iced with frozen gel packs via FedEx in 1-3 days. You or another adult do need to personally sign. I had no issues with thawing or leaks en route.
Key Shipping & Handling Tips
- Carefully inspect all items before freezing
- Immediately store at 0°F or below
- Once thawed, do not refreeze
- Cook within 6 days of thawing
Follow storage best practices and Grass Roots meats arrive in peak quality. Now for the big question: is enjoying all this ethical meat worth the price tag?
Cost Breakdown: How Grass Roots Compares
There’s no dancing around it – Grass Roots sits at the higher end cost-wise. Yet from my experience, markdowns and member points help balance out steeper sticker prices.
To give you an idea, here’s a comparison of average per pound pricing:
| Cut | Grass Roots | Grocery Store | Premium Grocer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $9/lb | $6/lb | $8/lb |
| Pork Chop | $12/lb | $7/lb | $10/lb |
| Boneless Chicken Breasts | $8/lb | $3/lb | $6/lb |
As you see, Grass Roots runs about 1.5-2 times conventional grocery stores. Yet it’s on par with top tier organic/premium selections you find at places like Whole Foods.
And that grocery store chicken or pork almost certainly came from a cramped, dismal existence for animals. So I believe the extra cost reflects truly humane standards not found in regular industrial meat.
For budget buyers, consider mixing Grass Roots with store brands when planning meals. Use it for special occasion steaks or Sunday roasts only. Their volume discounts and rewards program also help lower overall costs long run.
Alternatives to Grass Roots: More Affordable Ethical Meats
What if even with deals, Grass Roots still stretches the ol’ wallet?
Thankfully more options offering conscientious meat on a budget are entering the market. I suggest checking out brands like:
-
American Grassfed Association certified companies like Panorama Grassfed Meats or Maple Ranch Company. Their seals ensure rigorous standards for true grassfed excellence at competitive rates.
-
Animal Welfare Approved meats available via ButcherBox subscriptions or local partners like FreshFoodConnect. A Greener World audits and validates their high welfare claims so you can trust sourcing.
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Don’t overlook local farms at your farmers market or neighborhood butcher sourcing regionally. Ask about their protocols plus any bulk discount opportunities. Building relationships with true stewards right in your community supports small farmers doing things the right way.
While prices run below Grass Roots, you do lose some traceability. Yet all still rate highly for ethical, sustainable practices without cutting corners.
My Verdict: Quality Meat Worth Investing In
At the end of the day, while expensive, I stand behind Grass Roots Cooperative meeting extremely high marks as a thoughtful meat eater. Their transparency and attention to detail reflects a deep respect of animals uncommon in modern agriculture. And you taste integrity in the end product.
Could I afford Grass Roots for every dinner? Perhaps not. Yet I feel good supporting genuine stewards of land and livestock when I can. And have zero qualms enjoying their humanely raised offerings for gatherings with family and friends.
If you too try to balance conscience, quality and cost when buying meat, I recommend giving Grass Roots a genuine look. Take advantage of first order promotions, bulk discounts and split orders with likeminded friends. With some savvy purchasing and cooking, Grass Roots ethically sourced proteins make for mighty fine eating.
