Choose Healthy Holiday Beef

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Shoppers who are committed to buying healthier and more humanely raised beef face a number of confusing label claims, such as "free range" and "natural," neither of which are independently verified, while cloned meat won't be labeled at all. Among the most meaningful certifications is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's "certified organic" label, which prohibits the use of antibiotics and growth hormones on animals and synthetic fertilizers and pesticides on feed. You'll also find "Certified Humane Raised & Handled" beef, backed by Humane Farm Animal Care, and "Animal Welfare Approved" beef certified by the Animal Welfare Institute, both of which ensure that cattle are raised and processed humanely. Also look for beef raised in environmentally and socially responsible ways certified by The Food Alliance. The USDA premiered its "grass fed" certification in November, but it will take several months before products appear on store shelves.

You'll find producers of certified organic, grass-fed and humanely raised beef in nearly every state, making it easier to shop locally (see www.eatwellguide.org). Find organic beef from Maverick Ranch in over 2,000 stores nationwide (www.maverickranch.com, 800-497-2624), and grass-fed, Certified Humane beef from White Oak Pastures is available in over 220 Publix stores throughout the South (www.whiteoakpastures.com, 229-641-2081). Shoppers in California and New York can look for organic and Animal Welfare Approved beef from Prather Ranch, available for shipping (www.diamondorganics.com, 888-674-2642).

When buying local isn't possible, e-commerce now readily links small producers to the national marketplace. Keep in mind that mail orders involve excess packaging, so reuse what you can, such as freezer packs. Order an organically raised, grass-fed 3- to 6-lb. rump roast ($5.48/lb.) or sirloin tip roast ($5.98/lb.) from Waterfall Hollow Farm (www.waterfallhollowfarm.com, 870-423-3457). Genesee Valley's organic, grass-fed bottom round roast serves four to six people ($23.25; www.geneseevalleyorganicbeef.com, 530-284-6371). Feed big family gatherings with 20 pounds of beef from Lynn Brakke's certified-organic, grass-fed griller pack, including rib-eye, T-bone and sirloin steaks and ground beef ($6.59/lb.; www.lborganicbeef.com, 701-318-0834). For gift baskets or holiday snacks, Rosas Farms produces organically raised, grass-fed Polish and Italian beef sausages ($7.99/lb.) along with sirloin ($17/lb.) and rib eye steaks ($16.45/lb.; www.alrosas.com, 888-353-9912), while NFR Natural Beef's garlic sausages come from grass-fed beef raised without hormones or antibiotics ($8.45/pkg.; www.nfrnaturalbeef.com, 530-284-6371).

For more information, see The Green Guide's Smart Shopper's Beef and Pork Choices Card.

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