The “who are we” page of the archived Westcountry Organics website described a small group of organic farmers who supplied their own produce and worked only with other licensed producers. This page uses the ideas in that text to explain what organic meat production involves. It speaks about the topic in general and does not describe any business operating today.
Farm-run supply
A short supply chain is a common selling point of organic meat. In the archived description, the farmers supplied from their own holdings and dealt only with others whose organic status was licensed by an approved body such as the Soil Association. The aim was meat produced in line with a code of conduct that stresses good soil, careful animal husbandry and respect for the environment.
Traditional cuts and maturing
The page emphasised a traditional choice of cuts of beef, lamb, pork and chicken, and products such as sausages, burgers and home-cured bacon. It said the meat was matured for a time to bring out flavour, then packed fresh for delivery within a day of dispatch so it could be eaten or frozen.
Welfare and breeds
Organic systems put weight on how animals live. The text mentioned Britain’s traditional breeds thriving in an environment with natural feed and forage grown on organic land, and said processing took place locally so that animals did not travel far. It also said groups such as the RSPCA, Compassion in World Farming and the Farm Animal Welfare Network supported the Soil Association’s standards; this is the archive’s own assertion and is not verified here.
Claims about health
The page called organic meat safe and free of artificial chemicals, additives, genetic modification and growth hormones. Regulators say all meat sold legally must meet safety standards, and the nutritional difference between organic and conventional meat is still debated. It is best to treat the page’s stronger health claims as promotional.
About the Soil Association
The page noted that the Soil Association had campaigned since 1946 for healthy food, environmental protection and sustainable farming. A short summary is on the Soil Association page.
Key points of organic farming
- No artificial chemicals, pesticides or fertilisers.
- A boost for the countryside, wildlife and the environment.
- High animal welfare standards.
- Less dependence on non-renewable resources.
- Care for the health and fertility of the soil.
- No genetically modified organisms.
For a fuller explanation, see organic farming.