EcoFriendly Foods

At the Markets - March 13 and 14, 2010

Spring is right around the corner.  Grass is going to be growing.  And for EcoFriendly Foods, our producers, customers, and animals, that means a big step in the process.  Grass is free food for our animals brought to you courtesy of the sun.  Next thing you know, fresh chicken season returns and a new cycle for the year begins again.  Don't forget it's still "winter" market hours at Arlington and Dupont Circle, which means we start at 9 in Arlington and 10 at Dupont.  But also don't forget that we move our clocks forward one hour this Saturday night so 10AM a Dupont will be sneaking up a little quicker on you!

Here's what you can expect to find at our market stands this week:

We've got fresh pork, including our popular tenderloins, center-cut pork chops, more of our delicious prosciutto we like to call VAsciutto (thanks to its Virginia heritage).  And we've also got a suckling pig that we've cut into 8 pieces.  If you're looking for a particular one, I'd recommend making the trip to Arlington on Saturday because with only two shoulders, two legs, etc.....when they're gone, they're gone.

Fresh beef this week includes brisket, various steaks, tenderloin (which I still must note that for a traditionally tender but flavorless cut, EcoFriendly tenderloin will change your mind -- tender AND flavorful!).  Lots of ground beef, too.

From the frozen selection, look for our selection of pork breakfast and sweet Italian sausages, as well as pork bellies.  For frozen beef we have wonderful, NY strips, T-bones, ribeyes, and brisket, too. Our rose veal (that is raised NOTHING) like commercial veal has been very popular and we'll have some frozen scalloppine.  And we have more frozen chicken this week.  A few whole birds (less than 15 so come early to get yours), our popular leg quarters and French-cut breasts, plus chicken livers and hearts.

Unfortunately it seems you may have to be balancing your umbrella along with your market basket this weekend, but we hope the rain doesn't stop you from paying us a visit.

Food, Inc. -- Deserving of Congratulations

 Although it was not awarded a particular statue, congratulations to “Food, Inc.” for surely earning a place at the table at the Academy Awards. They have uncovered and addressed those issues around food that matter most to America – food safety being primary.

This film is an essential step in expanding an understanding across the country that our food production system has strayed and we need to get it back in line. By putting in place a parallel food alternative, EcoFriendly Foods is proud to be part of the solution to the problem. We will continue to do our part by providing living wages to farmers who raise animals in a humane and sustainable manner, and giving consumers a product that is safe, healthy, and can actually be traced back to a source that can be trusted every step of the way.

Our ground meat comes from one animal, not thousands from around the world.  When you buy our products, you can simply ask us questions. We will give you straight and honest answers. We will let you see where your food comes from.  And when it comes to transparency, if it is your choice, we will show you how we harvest and process. We stand firmly in the belief that we're making a positive change to our nation's food system and will continue to work hard to see that this country can soon see not just one EcoFriendly Foods operation in southwest Virginia, but allow others to start and operate their own similar small, humane, sustainable facilities -- independently supporting their own producers and consumers -- from coast to coast. That is one of our paths to change.

“Food, Inc.” has done an amazing job in helping people understand the real cost of real food and we will be right there with others in this movement to put a solution in place. Robert Kenner and his colleagues have clearly earned a true stamp of approval and we applaud their effort in preparing America for a change that not only MUST come, but IS coming. 

-- Bev Eggleston

Tune In to Thursday's Congressional Hearing with EcoFriendly's Bev Eggleston

We told you a few days ago that Bev Eggleston of EcoFriendly Foods was asked to testify before the House Subcommittee on Domestic Policy about humane slaughter. This hearing is the first of its type before this committee in nearly two years and we are honored that Bev was asked to present thoughts based on his experiences once again.

The hearing will be held at 2:00 PM Eastern Time on Thursday, March 4 and it will be webcast live.  You can find the link to the webcast from the page on the committee's web page.

In the meantime, we invite you to visit EcoFriendly's page on YouTube and contribute a video explaining why you believe it's important to treat the animals we eat with care, respect, and dignity for all that they give to sustain us.

At the Markets - February 27 and 28, 2010

Fresh lamb leads our look at what we have on offer this weekend at our Arlington and Dupont Circle Farmers Markets.  We'll have rib and loin chops, whole legs as well as de-boned and rolled.  Fresh lamb shanks (stew anyone?) and riblets, too.

We'll also have fresh ground beef and sirloin steaks, and for pork look for fresh tenderloins, butterfly filets, and other assorted chops.

On the frozen side, plenty of chickens: Whole birds, pollo rosso, whole poussins, parts including leg quarters, breasts, wings, and livers.  And if chicken stock is on your mind, we'll also have our ready-to-go stockpot bags containing necks, backs, feet, etc.

Frozen beef, too, including various roasts, brisket and liver.

And don't forget our usual selection of great pork sausages in a whole variety of sweet, savory and spicy flavors for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

And more on this to come, but we also want to bring to your attention that EcoFriendly's Bev Eggleston is speaking before a Congressional Subcommittee on Thursday, March 4, requesting that small and medium-sized processing plants deserve separate USDA regulations from the massive-scale, industrial plants out there. If you've read Michael Pollan's "The Omnivore's Dilemma" you know EXACTLY what this is all about. They also want to know about the importance to consumers of humane animal handling. This committee hopes to act as the eyes and ears of consumers, workers, animals, and small business.

Call or email your Representative and Senators in Washington before Thursday (yes, we know DC residents!) and tell them what you think.  Let's see if they can live up to their mission and actually get this one right for the People!!