Where's the Beef?

Are you a beef eater?  Even if you are, if you're like many Americans, you are eating less beef than you did previously.

Maybe you're trying to eat healthier by cutting back on red meats--and eating chicken, bison or going vegtarian.  It could be that you're simply trying to cut back on the amount that you pay for food.

Prices of beef have been rising for a number of reasons.  The price of raising the livestock--fuel, shipping, etc--has been rising, just as it has for all of us.  I've written previously how the drought in Texas and other cattle-raising areas has created terrible conditions for the grazing cattle.  And that, in turn, has caused prices to go up.

You can get statistics about the decline in beef consumption and more information about what beef producers are doing to survive this downturn in this article from Reuters.

Of cousre, if you're going to spend good money for beef, why not make it local (from such places as Haring Brothers or Tussock Sedge Farm)?  It's healthier, tastier and helps out the local economy (sorry, Texas). 

Tussock Sedge Farm

As I told you yesterday, we went to a farm tour/potluck dinner at Tussock Sedge Farm in Blooming Glen on Wed night.  It was a lot of fun and very informative. 

                                    Photo courtesy of Lynne Goldman/Bucks County Taste

Lynne Goldman of Bucks County Taste and the Bucks County Foodshed Alliance (who sponsored the event) was there and wrote a great article about it.  Once you read about this farm tour, you'll want to attend the next one on July 6.  (Unfortunately, we can't make it.)

Have a good weekend!

Musings

The last time that Jake and I went to the Philly Zoo, it was a frigid day in January.  It was actually a pretty nice time to go (if you could brave the cold) because there weren't many people there and the animals that were out, were pretty active trying to stay warm.

4 months and about 85 degrees later, we went again on Tuesday.  This time, it was crowded with lots of school trips, animals doing all they could to stay cool in the shade.  But it was still a nice time--especially with a cold strawberry ice cream to make things feel good!

We went to a great event sponsored by the Bucks County Foodshed Alliance last night--the first of their summer farm tours.  This one was at Tussock Sedge Farm here in Blooming Glen and home to Henry and Charlotte Rosenberger's grass-fed cattle.  A very nice time--a tasty potluck dinner (the beef was pretty good, too) and an interesting time learning about the Rosenberger farm.  It didn't hurt that it's about a 45 second drive home, too.  Read more about these tours here. 

FRESH Revisited

In case you missed it when we had our screening back in June, there will be a screening of Fresh: The Movie on Tuesday, Dec. 7 at the Health & Wellness Center by Doylestown Hospital on Rt. 611 in Warrington.

The program begins at 6:30 with the screening of the movie followed by a panel discussion.  But come early to taste some samples that I'll be making using local ingredients (Southwestern Butternut Squash Soup and Honeyed Apple Slaw).  You'll also be able to talk to and get information from the other panelists from Tussock Sedge Farm, Just One Seed organic farm, The Bucks County Foodshed Alliance and the nutritionists of Healthy Directions (from the Health & Wellness Center).  The Coffee Scoop from Pipersville will also be offering tastings.

If you haven't seen the film and are interested in supporting local farms and businesses, don't miss it!  You'll leave energized about changing the food culture in our country.

Registration is required and they're almost filled up, so don't wait.  Call 215-345-2121 and come out for a fun, informative and inspirational evening!

Fresh

A couple weeks ago, I wrote briefly about an event taking place on June 24--a screening of the Fresh: The Movie.  Here's some more information.

The film will be shown at The County Theater in Doylestown at 7:00 PM.  It profiles farmers, thinkers and businesspeople who are trying to change the food culture in our country to forge healthier, sustainable alternatives to agri-business. 

Following the film will be a discussion with experts in local vegetable farming, cattle farming, locavore dining and more!  Included in the panel will be myself, Lynne Goldman of Bucks County Taste, Ryman Maxwell of Down to Earth Cafe, Tom Murtha of Blooming Glen Farm CSA, Henry Rosenberger of Tussock Sedge Farm and (possibly) more.  Share your thoughts on these topical issues and have your questions answered by people who are doing these things right in our area.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance by going to www.countytheater.org/store (click on "event tickets").

Even if you can't attend, you can help us to spread the word by telling people about it.  If you'd like a poster to post or share via email, let me know and I'll send one out to you.  It should be an informative, thought-provoking and fun evening.  Hope to see you there!