http://www.news.com.au/national/meat...d-for-ethical-
food/story-e6frfkvr-1225954078013


http://tinyurl.com/26np32g



Meat eaters beef up demand for ethical food

* By Pia Akerman
* From: The Australian
* November 16, 2010 12:00AM


Farmers Sam Walker and Daniela Mollica said their animals are treated with
respect. Pictu David Geraghty Source: The Australian

* Urbanites demand ethically produced food
* Ethical push designed to ease consciences
* Ethical farms an option to supermarket meat
* Join us over on Facebook | Twitter

FOR a new breed of city-living carnivores, a great steak at a good price
is no longer enough.

This small but growing band of urban consumers is demanding "ethically
produced" meat to soothe their conscience, particularly from cattle that
have roamed free on green pastures, are hormone-free and killed at a small
local abattoir without huge scenes of panicked cattle.

Charging $175 for a 10kg pack of mixed cuts, Isola Farm in South
Gippsland, Victoria, is part of the burgeoning industry providing just
that.

"The more people that do this, the more we have a viable alternative to
the supermarket meat that is being forced upon people because local
butchers close down," said co-owner Daniela Mollica, who runs the small
farm with her partner, Sam Walker.

They won't slaughter one of their prized Chianina herd - the marble white
species from which the signature Tuscan bistecca alla fiorentina comes -
until there have been enough orders from the public and restaurant
industry to warrant the kill.

Consumers aren't allowed to take only the best cuts, with a 10kg home
packs of meat containing prime and secondary cuts.

"An animal has given its life for this so we're not just going to
cherrypick the best bits of meat," Ms Mollica said. "We want everyone to
respect the entire animal."

"Respect" is also the watchword for the small local abattoir they use,
where animals are stunned before being shot. Isola Farm also tries to keep
the food miles down, politely knocking back interstate inquiries and
suggesting people look for similar product closer to home.

Slow Food Australia chairman Geoff Hudson said consumers were increasingly
worried about where their food came from, but a mass market for ethical
food was a long way off.

"People in general are concerned about what happens to the animal before
they see it nicely wrapped in gladwrap on the supermarket shelf, but it's
always going to be more expensive than stuff that is grown on a massive
production line."





$17.50kg is *really* not that expensive for that sort of meat.



--
Peter Lucas
Hobart
Tasmania


On the seventh day God rested.
But on the 8th day the Gates of Hell were opened
and God brought forth the Airborne Infantry.
And the Devil stood at attention.