HOME

Head to Store

About Us
Contact us
About Alderspring
  Grass Fed Beef
Cooking with Caryl
Learn Why
  everyone is 
  excited about
  Grass Fed Beef!

Is Alderspring beef Organic?

Most of the beef currently for sale on the website is certified organic.  We finished transitioning to 100% organic production last year, so the calves born last year are certified organic.  We have a few animals that we are processing as they become ready from our transitional phase, so occasionally there is "natural" grass fed beef for sale in the online store.   Like our organic beef, these animals have never been given hormones or antibiotics.

What does 'Grass Fed' mean?  I thought all cattle were fed grass! 

Our cattle are only fed pasture grasses and legumes (e.g., clover, alfalfa) and grass/legume hay from start to finish.  They 

Do you use antibiotics or use growth hormones?
Never.  While we sometimes treat sick animals with antibiotics, none will be sold to you as Alderspring Grass Fed Beef.  We never use any form of growth hormones.

Do you irradiate the meat?
Never.

Do you raise the cattle? We raise our beef on our family ranch.  By purchasing from us, you support an agricultural model that is becoming more and more unusual in the US: a non-corporate, single-family owned farm.  You also support our vision of sustainable agriculture and the care for the land and the animals on it that it entails.
 

What is available?
Our beef  is available as steaks, roasts, ground, and sausage in individually sold and wrapped cuts and in sample packs of 10 to 40lbs.  You can also create your own custom packs in our online storefront.  You can select or create packages of primarily ground beef, or primarily steaks.   We also sell our beef in several stores in Idaho and Montana (see a list here).

How do I pay?
We accept MC/Visa over our secure server.

How can I order?
Via the shopping cart on the storefront, or if you cannot find what you would like, you can contact us by email, phone or mail.

How soon will I get my beef?
We ship on the average of every 2 weeks. The beef is packed and leaves the ranch on monday.  Shipping takes 2-3 days. 

How does my beef arrive at my door?
We use UPS to deliver insulated boxes of flash frozen beef direct to your home from our ranch.

How is my meat packaged?
We use a small family-owned packer.  He is USDA-inspected, with an inspector examining every animal individually.   Large orders (halves or larger) can be packaged according to your specifications on types of cuts, number in each package, etc.  Quarters, halves and wholes are typically packaged in paper freezer wrap, double wrapped.  We have found this is the best packaging for long-term storage.  Cuts we sell individually and in our packs are typically vacuum packaged, so that the meat can be viewed through the packaging.  Meat packed in vacuum pack will never freezer burn, unless the vacuum pack is punctured or compromised.  We caution our buyers to handle their vacuum pack meat carefully to avoid putting holes in the packaging.

How much room will a 20lb package take up in my freezer?
A package of 20lbs will take approximately 1.5 cubic feet.  A 40lb pack will fit in a typical refrigerator freezer with some room to spare.

Is any special cooking methods needed for grass fed beef?
You will find grass fed beef much leaner than what you are familiar with, and care is needed to bring out the best in Alderspring Beef.  Overcooking can make it tough, and browning hamburger may require the addition of a small amount of oil because there is little internal fat to fry the meet.  You won’t need any special tools or equipment, nor does cooking our beef require extra effort.  You just need a few tips.  Look at our Cooking with Caryl page to find suggestions and great recipes.