Parker Farms Natural Meats

We are excited about all of the recent positive press about the health benefits of grass fed beef. This is all we have eaten ourselves for several years and are just recently confident enough with our genetics and forage management to market this to the general public. Recent research has shown that grass fed beef contains 3 to 6 times more Vitamin E than feedlot beef, as well as 4 times more beta-carotene (an antioxidant). Grass fed beef raised without antibiotics and hormone implants also has less overall fat, fewer calories, more omega 3 fatty acids, a healthier ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid, more CLA, and it tastes wonderful. None of our livestock ever receive antibiotics or hormone implants, if they need to be doctored, they are removed from our meat program.

These are hair sheep, which means they have a fine coat of fine hair year round and also grow a coat of wool in the winter. When the weather warms up in the spring, they shed off their winter coat. Since they don't have a typical coat of wool, they also don't have a high quantity of lanolin in their skin. This gives them a very mild flavor. This milder flavor seems to be greatly appreciated by most of our customers.

Scientists from the USDA acknowledge that lambs grazing pasture had 14% less fat and about 8% more protein compared to grain fed lamb. Also, being a ruminant animal, designed by God to live entirely on a forage based diet, they have more omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid or "CLA". For health conscious consumers this is a delicious and unique choice.

Our laying hens live outdoors on a rotational grazed pasture, not a dirt pen. They receive plenty of sunshine, fresh air, exercise, and green growing forages (within season). Artemis P. Simopoulos M.D., former chairman of the Nutrition Coordinating Committee of the National Institutes of Health discovered that free range eggs contained almost 20 times more omega-3 fatty acid than those from confinement houses. A USDA Sustainable Agriculture and Research Education Program compared eggs from caged birds and free range hens and found the free range eggs had 10% less fat, 40% more vitamin A, and 400% more omega-3 fatty acid. Other research has shown that eggs from free range hens are higher in folic acid and vitamin B-12 as well as containing 30% more vitamin E than the kind you buy in the supermarket. Our hens' diet is also supplemented with corn and roasted soybeans with all natural vitamins and minerals boosted by seaweed.

It is our belief that food raised in a healthy environment without artificial stimulation is truly healthy food for our customers. Our objective as a Family Friendly Farm is to produce the healthiest food possible in a manner that is sustainable for our family and our community.

These products are available year-round on a first come, first serve basis, supply varying with the season. If you are interested in purchasing healthy food for your family or your customers, please contact us at 816-470-3276.

Thank you, Tom & Paula Parker