The Best Online Organic Meat Delivery Services 2024
As we become increasingly aware of the impact humans are having on the environment, we’re seeking ways to live greener, more sustainable lives.
We’re also trying to be healthier and consider animal welfare too.
In this regard, many have turned to vegan and vegetarian diets, which are often touted as one of the best changes you can make for your health and the planet while protesting the human health risks and terrible conditions for animals in industrial farming.
Plant-based diets have many advantages, but it’s not quite as simple and clear-cut as merely eliminating meat and it can be difficult for people with certain dietary needs.
It’s one thing if your plant-based diet consists of natural, whole foods, quite another if you’re cutting out your bacon, steak, and burgers, just to replace them with meat substitutes.
Plant-based meats can be high in sodium, highly processed, and not necessarily healthier.
When you’re trying to do good by the planet as well as its animals, all while leading a healthier lifestyle, the constant back and forth between meat lovers and plant supporters can become an overwhelming conundrum.
The key is to be balanced and flexible – this concept even has its own term, the flexitarian diet – increasing the plants in your diets and, when adding meat, opting for responsible, organic, high-quality meat choices.
What is Organic Meat?
When purchasing meat, consumers traditionally consider the quality, cut, and price.
As we become increasingly concerned about the impact meat has on our health, the planet, and the animal it came from, we’re becoming willing to fork out more for organic, responsible cuts and also finding new ways to shop, with 57% of meat purchasers buying meat online since the beginning of the pandemic.
This has caused a rise in organic meat delivery services.
With the expansion of the population and the rise of the middle class, the demand for meat increased and continues to rise despite the popularity of plant-based diets.
The result has been concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and supplementing animals’ diets with growth hormones, to increase yield.
However, the cramped conditions in feedlots lead to poor living conditions for the animals, causing stress and the outbreak of disease, with the latter prompting the use of antibiotics.
Organic meat production seeks to eliminate or reduce the presence of toxic chemicals like pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, as well as antibiotics, hormones, and other additives.
Allowing animals to graze in pastures keeps animals healthier, eliminating the need for antibiotics.
Implementing measures such as rotational grazing – rotating herds between different pastures – gives plants a chance to grow and reduces the need for feed and grain.
However, organic meat is not the only term you will come across when shopping.
There is a plethora of associated terms and it helps to become familiar with these, and know the differences, so you can make the decisions you need to about your health, the planet, and the animal.
Grass-finished: Animals spend their whole lives grazing in pastures. They may also eat forage, hay, or silage.
Grain-finished: Animals spend most of their lives grazing in pastures but are eventually removed to feedlots, where they are fattened up on grains.
Grass-fed: This term can be misleading, as it may mean the animal has been grain-finished. Rather look for a label that says 100% grass-fed.
Free-range: Literally, the term means animals are raised in natural conditions and allowed to roam. But, more officially, it means animals have access to the outdoors. This means they may still spend time indoors or confined.
When considering animal welfare, your best bet is usually grass-finished or 100% grass-fed.
However, this does not necessarily mean the meat is organic, because animals may still have received antibiotics or growth hormones.
If you want to avoid these, keep an eye out for organic labels, which can also have boons for the environment.
Environmental Benefits of Organic Meat
Meat’s impact on the environment has received a lot of attention in recent years.
The need for grain and feed, and even pastures for grazing, means land is cleared, contributing to deforestation.
Then there are cow burps that emit methane, leading to increased greenhouse gas emissions. While meat production has many problems of its own, its other issues are not exclusive to the industry.
This refers to the use of toxic chemicals, which lead to air and water pollution.
Because organic meat is produced with less or no toxic chemicals, it results in reduced pollution from fertilizer or pesticide runoff.
Organic practices improve air, water, and soil quality, and even sequester carbon.
By implementing practices such as rotational grazing and using cover crops, more carbon is returned to the soil.
The latter, however, is not so much an added benefit, but more a way of canceling out the increased methane produced due to cows leading longer lives.
While conventional animal farming typically produces higher yields, thus requiring less land, this usually comes at the cost of the animals’ welfare, ultimately affecting the meat’s quality.
Health Benefits of Organic Meat
Meat from a stress-free animal not only improves the quality of the product but is healthier too.
And the elimination of toxic chemicals in organic farming is also good for our health as this is not something we want to be regularly putting into our bodies.
Reducing the amount of chemicals in our food is also good for farmworkers and surrounding communities that not only eat the food, but are also impacted by the local air, soil, and water quality.
Similarly, choosing grass-fed over grain-fed has benefits for your health and that of the animal.
Feeding cattle grain interferes with their digestion, raising acidity levels and allowing bacteria to thrive.
And choosing meat that has no antibiotics is important in preventing antibiotic resistance in animals and humans.
Another health benefit of organic meat is the presence of less fat, which makes the meat easier to digest.
In addition, organic meat has higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants, which can be good for your hearth and help protect against diseases, respectively.
The Difference Between USDA-certified Meat and Meat Raised with Organic Practices
Now that you’re out shopping for meat or ordering it online, you may be keeping your eyes peeled for organic labels. You’ll likely spot USDA labels.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the federal organization that regulates the inspection and standards of the meat, poultry, and egg industry.
They require that a certified product contain no pesticides, GMOs, fertilizers, antibiotics, or growth hormones, and must be produced without the use of ionizing radiation and sewage sludge.
Animals must have access to the outdoors and measures put in place to protect the environment.
However, that’s not to say that a lack of certification on a product means the meat is not organic.
There are non-certified sustainable family farms and meat producers that implement organic farming practices.
The reason for their not having certification usually comes down to expense, extra paperwork, or size.
As long as an operation is of a certain size and implements organic practices, they may be labeled organic, just not certified organic.
Both certified organic and organic practices are a great option when selecting organic food over conventional.
6 Organic Online Meat Brands to Try
If you're ready to shop more sustainable meat you can visit your local butcher or try out one of these online butchers.
These are some of the best meat delivery services featuring the highest quality meat products online and leading the way with more eco-friendly practices in the meat industry.
This post does contain some affiliate links which means The Honest Consumer may receive a commission if you decided to purchase. Our commission is at no additional expense to you!
Crowd Cow's Organic Meat & Sustainable Seafood Delivery
Offering meat and seafood – including free-range poultry such as organic chicken, pasture-raised beef, wild caught fair trade shrimp burgers, and 100% organic grass-fed beef – Crowd Cow works with farmers, fishermen, and producers who implement sustainable practices such as regenerative agriculture.
Their handpicked and taste-tested products are free from antibiotics and their eco-friendly box and packaging is made from recyclable and compostable materials.
I've personally tried Crowd Cow and was impressed with the high quality of their meat. I specifically appreciate that you can read about the farm where your meat is coming from to learn more about the farms practices.
I love their organic ground beef, organic chicken, and wild caught seafood.
Shoppers are able to purchase at any time or they can become a member for their lowest prices and additional discounts.
Crowd Cow has pre-curated boxes, a la carte options, and subscriptions as well. Use my referral link for a $25 discount off your first order with Crowd Cow. The discount will be automatically applied at check out.
Good Chop Most affordable organic meats
Good Chop is on a mission to bring people an online butcher they can trust. They pledge to bring customers quality meat and seafood.
Good Chop partners with family farmers and independent ranchers who share our concern for animal welfare and sustainable practices.
They handle their animals compassionately and humanely, with sufficient space, shelter, water, and a diet free of antibiotics and added hormones.
Good Chop has a range of organic chicken products including organic chicken breasts, drumsticks, wings, and thighs. They also offer organic turkey and ground chicken. Good Chop features more affordable price points for budget friendly shoppers.
I have personally tried Good Chop’s organic chicken breast and wings and was impressed with the quality.
Rastelli's Online Meat Market
Starting as a butcher shop in 1976, Rastelli’s has since expanded, now also offering seafood alongside their premium meats.
Their products are free from antibiotics, hormones, and steroids. Rastelli’s products include pasture-raised beef and pork, organic beef and lamb, and organic chicken.
USDA certified meats at Rastelli's include ground chicken, New York strips, chicken breast, and more. Their seafood is wild-caught or sustainably raised in the wild.
The bags in which their products arrive are reusable and the boxes and insulation packaging are recyclable. Customers can save 5% by choosing the monthly subscription service or choose to purchase one time.
I also love that on Rastelli's online store you can also read about the farm where the meat is coming from and learn about their farming practices.
Sunday Farms Responsible Meat Subscription Boxes
The partners of Sundays Farms use organic practices including raising animals outdoors on pesticide-free pastures and never given GMOs or antibiotics.
Cattle is 100% grass-fed and finished and pigs and chickens are raised on pastures where they can forage, root, peck, and scratch.
Sunday Farms also implements regenerative practices like intensive rotational grazing. Sunday Farms is a subscription based online meat delivery service with plans starting at $75 a month and savings up to 20% when compared to retail prices.
Thrive market budget friendly organic meats
Thrive Market is an online grocery store focused on high quality, sustainable, and affordable groceries.
Thrive Market has a wide range of goods including organic groceries, gluten-free products, meat, seafood, wine, vitamins & supplements, beauty products, and more.
For organic meat they offer organic chicken wings, organic chicken breasts, organic sausage, organic pork chops, organic ribs, organic steak, and more.
Thrive Market does feature budget friendly options for organic meat. However, you do have to be a member by paying a yearly membership fee of $60. Enjoy 40% off your first Thrive Market order and check out my Thrive Market Review.
ButcherBox Organic Chicken
ButcherBox is a certified B Corporation that partners with farms using humane practices. While ButcherBox has quite a few meets, only ButcherBox’s chicken is organic and free range.
Hopefully you've learned about the importance of organic products such as grass fed beef and free range chicken.
If you are able to support your local farmer that uses organic practices that is always a great choice when shopping meat protein, but if not hopefully one of these online butcher shops helps you find a good value on responsibly sourced meats with easy home delivery.
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