Wholesome Harvest: More than a business--it's a cause
Untitled
Iowa
When you first enter the website for Wholesome Harvest, a simple message scrolls slowly across the top of the screen: "Eat Well...Save the Earth...And the small farms on it!"
That statement sums up the philosophy of this Iowa-based "small family farm" coalition that is producing and marketing premium organic certified meats to grocers, chefs and direct-market member households. Wholesome Harvest, which has over 40 farmer-owners in four states, acts as the marketing agent for the farmer-producers.
According to Wholesome Harvest communications director Susan Jasper, the driving force behind the company is its founder, Wende Elliott. "Wende and her husband, Joe Rude, moved to Iowa from New York City about eight years ago. Wende fell in love with the land, but she quickly realized that a lot of the conventional farming methods are not good for the environment," explained Jasper. "At the same time, she had young children and was really concerned with what she was feeding them. So, being the industrious visionary that she is, she started an organic meat business."
Jasper says Elliott found other farmers in the area who preferred grazing animals in pastures and avoiding antibiotic use in their livestock. They created a coalition of organic livestock farmers and launched Wholesome Harvest in 2001.
In its early stages of development, Wholesome Harvest received funding and other assistance from Practical Farmers of Iowa and the North Central Initiative for Small Farm Profitability (NCISFP). The funds were used for business development assistance such as label development. The NCISFP funding was made possible by a grant from the USDA Cooperative State, Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES).
Today, the Wholesome Harvest brand of meats includes chicken, beef, lamb, duck, goose and turkey. The products are all produced organically. "We surpass the USDA standards for organic meat, because we take it one step further and don't confine any animals in feedlots or confinement buildings," Jasper explains. "Because our meat is raised on pasture, it tastes different and has different nutritional composition. The low density production style of rotational grazing is gentler on the land and water, and it's the most natural lifestyle for the animals."
Jasper said Wholesome Harvest is a supplier to the consumer "Slow Food Movement"--consumers searching for added safety and flavor. "We raise our animals by hand in small batches on pastures. Not only do the animals enjoy a longer life and normal slower growth, free from growth hormones and antibiotics while at the farm, but we also take our time with the processing. Wholesome Harvest carefully selects smaller family owned processors who work at a slower pace and can pay attention to details."
Wholesome Harvest meat products are marketed to distributors in the retail and foodservice sectors, exported to Asia, and sold direct to the consumer, according to Jasper. "Consumers can buy direct through our website. We also market through distributors, who distribute the product to restaurants and grocery food chains nationally and in Asia. HyVee has carried us for several years and we just got Whole Foods Midwest Region on board, so their 17 stores will also be carrying our products."
Jasper said Wholesome Harvest anticipates continued growth. "Wende has been talking to farmers across the country about joining the coalition with organic meat," said Jasper. "She has been talking to farmers from Texas and Montana to Pennsylvania about joining the coalition. Consumer interest in organic meat has really taken off, and these people are excited about being owners in the company. As the demand increases, she will need more producers who are committed to pasture-raised organic meat.
"It's a cause as well as a business," Jasper said. "Our commitment to quality extends beyond the wonderful meat we sell to include the quality of life for the animals, environmental stewardship and revitalizing decimated rural communities."
The Wholesome Harvest website address is www.wholesomeharvest.com.
Date: 3/23/06
Agriculture News from HPJ - Your Ag News Source
Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2008. High
Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing
of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives
or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or
comments you can reach us at
High Plains Journal
1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801
or call 1-800-452-7171. Email:
webmaster@hpj.com
|
|
