Where Does Your Ground Beef Come From?

Have you ever picked up a package at the store and flipped it over, looking for where your ground beef comes from?

Good luck.

They know exactly where they come from. Do you know where your ground beef comes from?

Back in July, in our Keepin' It Real post, we mentioned news reports of the 300,000 metric tons of imported ground beef headed our way.

Well, it's here.

Starting September 1, that beef began coming into the country without the usual tariff, and it will keep coming through the end of November. That's about 661 million pounds.

Several people asked how we feel about that, and I can honestly say, it doesn't bother us at all. In fact, it has helped us to sell more ground beef than ever before.

Why? Because people want to know what they are feeding their family.

And on August 24, the border reopened to live cattle from Mexico for the first time in over a year.

So what does all of that mean for the beef on your family's table?

Let's talk about it.

Where does imported beef go?

Most of it goes into ground beef. The imported beef is very lean, so it gets mixed with fattier American beef to make the ground beef you see in the meat case.

That means one package can hold beef from more than one country and from hundreds of different cows.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. I don't want to eat a mix of a thousand cows in a single bite.

Do you?

Doesn't "Product of USA" mean it was raised here?

It does now, but only since January 1 of this year.

Before that, beef from cattle raised in another country could be processed or repackaged here and still be labeled "Product of USA." Nearly half of shoppers in a USDA survey thought that label already meant born and raised in America.

It didn't.

Now the rule says "Product of USA" can only go on beef from animals born, raised, slaughtered, and processed right here in America.

That's a good change, and we're thankful for it, but you probably won't see it on our own labels.

Why don't we have it on our label?

You can't eat a label. Changing ours would add another cost, and we'd rather not pass that on to you.

Our farm friends know us and they trust us. Trust is important. When you buy directly from a farmer, trust might be the single most important thing.

A label can tell you a country. It can't tell you a farmer. Our label does!

How do I really know where my beef comes from?

You ask.

Ask the rancher at the farmers market. Ask the family selling beef down the road. A farmer who raises their own cattle will be happy you asked, and they won't have to think twice about the answer.

You've met some of our cattle by reading this blog, like Tomiko, who crossed an ocean, and our bull, Emperor. And you've met Miss Steak, the surprise baby that is growing up to be part of our herd. They stay on Weise Farms from birth to harvest, and every one is processed at a USDA or state-inspected facility.

Our family has been on this land since 1854. We aren't going anywhere, and neither is our name on our beef.

What about our ground beef?

Most families eat a lot of ground beef, and that is exactly where imported beef hides the easiest. And that is why we started The Meat Club.

When you join The Meat Club, you can choose 5 pounds of ground Wagyu for $55 a month, or a $100 sampler that includes a variety of cuts, or both!

Did you know? Some families choose the $100 sampler and request 10 pounds of ground beef.

Whatever your family needs, just let us know, and we'll do our very best to make it work. And no matter what you choose, you'll know exactly where your beef comes from.

Nothing makes us happier than hearing from our farm friends who love the flavor of the beef we so lovingly raise. If you're ready to know where your beef comes from, join The Meat Club today.

Join The Meat Club

And speaking of 'in the news,' Tim was featured in the local Bluebonnet Electric magazine for his gardening. He is really enjoying his retirement.