[Caroline and Dave]

I've read many posts about how awfull the meat is In NZ ( Including the one incorporating the great Fish And Chip debate) but can anyone tell me the best place in the Auckland area( or maybe online) where I can get Organic Meat from as that is the only meat we eat over here.
We will be living in Coatsville but am prepared to travel around Auckland
Thanks




Caroline and Dave

[KerryS]

There is a really good organic butcher in Ellerslie, and another in Epsom. I buy from both of these and find the quality excellent.

If you are in Coatesville, you may find some decent butchers out in Kumeu or Helensville, both of which are very agriculutural areas.

I don't buy very much from the supermarket at all, so can't comment on the quality from there. In my opinion you get what you pay for - and I'd rather pay more money for good food, rather than buy something pumped full of additives, preservatives and goodness knows what else.

[Billy]

Sorry, I'm not answering your question, I'm just intrigued about eating 'organic' meat. I'm interested in the benefits?

I've found the beef in NZ a bit tasteless compared to Scotland. It is much cheaper, but that is not much compensation for a real enjoyable meal.

Cheers
Billy

[KerryS]

Sorry, I'm not answering your question, I'm just intrigued about eating 'organic' meat. I'm interested in the benefits?

I've found the beef in NZ a bit tasteless compared to Scotland. It is much cheaper, but that is not much compensation for a real enjoyable meal.

Cheers
Billy

I find the opposite - I think the meat here has more depth of flavour and taste. But then in London you had to pay ridiculous prices for decent meat, and found cheaper cuts were pretty tasteless.
I don't buy organic for any health benefits, but rather buy from a butcher who can tell me about where his meat is sourced, can recommend a good cut and how to prepare something different. Any decent butcher will do this for you, and will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Decent beef should be well hung to ensure the fibres have relaxed. Meat in the supermarket is usually bright red, which is a sign it hasn't been hung for the right length of time.
Organic food is only beneficial in the fact that you won't be absorbing all the pesticides and chemicals that are added to non-organic produce.

[bpk]

What is meant by organic meat?

[Smiler]

bpk

Couldn't find meat specifically but this may help;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_food

[Avalon]

Not organic - but if you are after "free range" bacon that tastes pretty darn good look out for Freedom Farms Bacon in the supermarkets. I think they may co pork chops and stuff as well but im not sure.

[Moorf]

Or grow your own, I'm considering getting a couple of weaners... two will give us enough bacon and pork etc for about 6-8 months. Obviously you'll need a paddock :laugh

[KerryS]

Or grow your own, I'm considering getting a couple of weaners... two will give us enough bacon and pork etc for about 6-8 months. Obviously you'll need a paddock :laugh

Yum - home kill is the best!

[bpk]

bpk

Couldn't find meat specifically but this may help;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_food

So does it mean Bio-meat or bio food?? It is very famous here in Germany

[KerryS]

So does it mean Bio-meat or bio food?? It is very famous here in Germany

I have no idea what bio-food is, sorry. But organic is food - or in this case meat - that is grown without the use of excessive pesticides or additives. Therefore it is considered more natural and better health-wise.
I'm not sure how else to explain this. The wikipedia article pretty much sums it up... There is no reference on wiki to bio-food, so I can't compare the two.

[Glo & Gil]

So does it mean Bio-meat or bio food?? It is very famous here in Germany


Bio or Organic , it's the same. pesticides & chemicals free.

In european countries the term BIO is more used the label is recognised as AB (Agriculture Biologique) and the term Organic is mostly used in English speaking countries.

glo

[bpk]

I have no idea what bio-food is, sorry. But organic is food - or in this case meat - that is grown without the use of excessive pesticides or additives. Therefore it is considered more natural and better health-wise.
I'm not sure how else to explain this. The wikipedia article pretty much sums it up... There is no reference on wiki to bio-food, so I can't compare the two.

From description, I can say Biofood or biomeat= organic food

Here in Germany you can find in every Supermarket biofruits, biomilk, bio vegetables. But bio meat I am not sure about it. There is some kind of beef from very Young cows that did not eat anything but milk. It is called here "Kalb Fleisch". It is white in colour and very delicious and expensive too.

[Trigirl]

From description, I can say Biofood or biomeat= organic food

Here in Germany you can find in every Supermarket biofruits, biomilk, bio vegetables. But bio meat I am not sure about it. There is some kind of beef from very Young cows that did not eat anything but milk. It is called here "Kalb Fleisch". It is white in colour and very delicious and expensive too.

in the uk its called "milk-fed veal" and is considered by many people to be cruel. its now pretty rare in the uk for that reason although you can still get veal calves which have been raised on milk + grain or hay.

[KerryS]

I always thought that milk-fed veal in itself isn't considered cruel - what else should baby cows eat? (I think in many cases they are actually fed a milk substitute product - the real milk goes to humans.)
It was the veal crates in which they were kept for the duration of their life that was the cruel aspect. It was due to being housed in the crate and lack of movement which caused atrophication of the muscles and hence the tenderness of the meat.
Veal crates are now banned in most European countries and are not used in NZ.

[Trigirl]

no you are right it is a milk substitute not real milk - its just called "milk fed veal". but it is the process itself that may people consider cruel - not just crating. they are fed a milk substitute that is lacking in iron to keep them anaemic - and hence keep the meat white and are deprived of water to make sure they eat the milk substitute.

also unfortunately veal crates are not yet banned in most european countries. they will be next year when an eu ruling comes into force banning them. they were banned in the uk in 1990 but live cattle exports resumed from the uk only a few weeks ago. so veal calves may not be allowed to be crated in this country but once they leave the uk they can be crated on the continent.

in the uk you can buy rose veal (or red veal) which is from calves fed on a diet meeting certain standards for fibre and iron. but you can also still buy white veal in uk supermarkets thats been raised on the continent in conditions that are illegal in the uk.

[KerryS]

Cheers Trigirl - I had no idea they had started live imports again back in the UK (or rather from the UK). After all the protests back in 1990s I can't believe it!
Thankfully they don't have veal crates in NZ, so I can continue to eat it without the guilt factor - other than the dead animal aspect obviously.
I am actually enjoying the meat in NZ - despite what others have said in the past on this forum, I think it is actually more tasty and flavourful than the meat on offer in the UK was. (Non supermarket though in both cases.)

[Trigirl]

i know what you mean - i was still at school when all that happened but i can still clearly remember the news of the protests etc. good news that they don't crate veal in NZ - somehow i couldn't have imagined they would!

so where do you buy your meat in NZ? i really enjoyed all the food i ate there on the two visits i've done so far.

[KerryS]

I go to a butchers in Epsom - the guy there is fab and will always chat about where he has sourced his meat from. He knows all his farmers really well, and is happy to talk about them. He is always ready to offer suggestions on different cuts and recipe ideas too.
Also the butcher in Grey Lynn is wonderful. One of the few places I've been able to source suet and good offal. (If you like that kind of thing!)

Butcher shop meat is no more expensive than supermarket meat, but the quality is so much better.