Bill Niman, formerly of Niman Ranch, just blogged a response to a couple questions from New York Times readers. The second question touches on how to find meat that’s produced from animals who were raised humanely. Niman writes:
I also recommend that you look for meat in your local farmers markets. Before buying, be sure to ask questions about how the animals were actually raised. Never assume that animals were given pasture access or fed natural feeds just because they’re being sold at a farm-stand.
The million dollar question is whether the person you’re buying meat from is raising the animals inhumanely, and Niman suggests you simply take the person’s word for it? Crazy.
The big hassle about being a Pollan-style “compassionate omnivore” is that you have a moral obligation to visit any farm you purchase animal products from, so you can get a first-hand look at conditions. Considering the possible cruelty that’s at stake, I don’t think simply asking the farmer about conditions, as Niman suggests, is at all satisfactory. Link.
