For special occasions, choosing the "protein" part of the meal is pretty important. If you live in a country or rural area, the ability to order Prime USDA poultry, pork, beef and seafood is less of a whim and more of a necessity. On the other hand, rural areas often offer local choices for "home grown" fruits and vegetables. But what about meat? What about organic meat? Not always available to you from local merchants.

When you want to prepare a special dinner or ANY dinner and the protein needs to be perfect, give these online retailers a try and taste the difference.

Organic Products and Sustainable Agriculture

With these two requirements in mind, Foxfire Farms, located in Ignacio, Colorado, is certainly a great place to begin your online shopping.

Grass-fed meats, organic wines, soy-free eggs, plus true stewardship of the land and animals, all combine to make a perfect environment for the quality of food we should all require.

Grass-fed beef, lamb, and goat, Apple-fed pork, Chuck roast, New York and Ribeye steaks...there is no shortage of choices and great information on the Foxfire Farms web site for those interested in finding out more about the health benefits and increased quality of grass-fed and organic meats. Make sure to look around at their other organic products such as soy-free eggs, organic wines, and Wild Copper River Seafood.

Planning a special event? What better place for wedding or family reunion than at Foxfire Farm? Check out their events page for more information.

I wrote a blog post about the idea of farm tours as vacation destinations for you and your family on the sister-site to Rose Cottage Ltd, Country Vacations & Resorts. Good news for those who are interested in taking a farm tour this year - Foxfire Farm has them! You can find out the details here. It is a spectacular time in the US to learn more about agritourism, organic farming, and to experience first-hand why this is important to you, the consumer. Take advantage and eat healthy!

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What is "organic" or "USDA Organic" and what does it mean for your meal? And what the heck does "grass fed" really mean?

According to the USDA National Organic Program web site, "Organic" means the following:

"The National Organic Program (NOP) develops, implements, and administers national production, handling, and labeling standards for organic agricultural products. The NOP also accredits the certifying agents (foreign and domestic) who inspect organic production and handling operations to certify that they meet USDA standards."

Okay then. This means that foods marked as organic have met or exceeded standards for processing, handling and labeling from their start to your table. But there is more:

"The Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 requires the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances which identifies synthetic substances that may be used, and the nonsynthetic substances that cannot be used, in organic production and handling operations."

Good luck getting through that. Also on the same USDA web site is a list of "petitioned" substances...things that have been identified as not being acceptable for food labeled as organic. It gets very confusing.

GRASS FED?

Grass fed beef is lower in saturated fat and cholesterol than conventional beef, with more vitamins and "good fats" like Omega-3s and CLAs. Beef that is good for me with all the vitamins and minerals I expect from what I eat? I'll take some of that! And...I'll pay a little extra for meat of high quality.

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Chicken Wellington

Chicken Wellington from Kansas City Steak Company is a marinated chicken breast topped with a mushroom duxelle of baby portabella mushrooms, sage, roast garlic and chives, wrapped in a flaky crust, and laid on a bed of long-grain white rice.

Individually vacuum-sealed.

Order Chicken Wellington

 

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Hickory-Smoked Baby-Back Ribs

Tender baby back pork ribs, hand-rubbed with delicious spices, then hickory smoked till they practically fall off the bone.

With these smoked pork baby back ribs, The Kansas City Steak Company™ proudly upholds our city’s reputation as the world’s barbecue capital. Baby back ribs are simply the best cut available, and these spice-rubbed, hickory-smoked delicacies are fall-off-the-bone tender. Available with or without our sweet, tangy sauce.

Fully cooked, slow smoked with hickory...Just heat and serve!

Order Hickory Smoked Baby-Back-Ribs

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Consumers want food that tastes good from the table, is not full of hormones, and is not full of bacteria. I think this is a simple enough set of requirements. It is disheartening to think that supplying this basic criteria has to be regulated - but it does.

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Kansas City Steak Company

I covered Kansas City Steak Company on my seafood page since seafood is also one of their specialties.

I have placed several orders from them and I can tell you, instead of an "apple" a day, I could easily eat a "steakburger" a day! These things are AWESOME - and I am not even a hamburger-lover as a rule! I guess this points out the huge quality differences between an average hamburger and a Kansas City Steakburger.

Lucky for viewers of this web site (and the author!), Kansas City has a special deal right now on their Classic Steakburgers. See the link below...

These steakburgers are so juicy and so full of flavor it is really hard to describe. Since I just had two 4oz steakburgers for lunch, the FTC can NOT fine ME for not actually "using" the product I am endorsing! Steakburgers also come in 5 and 6 ounce sizes - but honestly, the 4oz burger(s) is my favorite.

I can also comment on the Kansas City Strip Steaks. There is little to no waste when this steak is broiled or grilled and served - and little shrinkage either! The steak you see is the steak you get on your plate...not always true with meat of lesser quality.

Since I don't want to end up weighing 400 pounds, I can't and won't be able to comment on ALL the products Kansas City Steak Company offers - there are SO many it is really hard to choose. Here are a few links to get you started and this will definitely be some of the more appetizing web research you do this week:

4 (7oz) chicken breast w/ $150 purchase. Use code AFCHK3.

8 (4oz) Classic Steakburgers Free with $100 order. Use code ABRG84

Order Roasts Online.

Order Lobster and Shrimp Online.

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Order from Kansas City Steak Company via the internet and you get exactly what was advertised, expertly wrapped, safely packaged, and ready to prepare.

Take advantage of the convenience of shopping online with these exceptional merchants and don't forget you can also shop online for essential ingredients, fresh seafood, and delicious desserts.