Our Pork Products:
Over 90% of the pork products we distribute come from Quebec, Canada. The farms are located in Quebec and the Maritimes. Hogs are raised in large open spaces with room to socialize, groom and bed. They are raised on a vegetable grain diet and are never administered growth hormones or antibiotics.
Our Beef Products:
Beef products we distribute are made using beef that was produced in Canada and the USA. Cattle are raised outdoors on family run farms. They have a combined diet of grass and vegetarian grains and are never fed any animal bi-products. The cows do not receive growth hormones or antibiotics.
Our Poultry Products:
Turkeys and chickens are never ever EVER raised in pens. The birds are raised on family owned and operated farms with large custom built barns that are designed to allow for fresh air and sunlight to flow in when the weather is nice and be closed off during colder temperatures. The animals are raised in a low stress environment with lots of room to roam, socialize and nest. No birds are given growth hormones at anytime.
Our Family Of Farms
Shared values from farm to table
At Mclean Meats we embrace food with gratitude. What this means to us is having awareness and sensitivity towards the land that provides both bedding and nourishment for the animal, respecting both farmer and livestock welfare, plus striving towards clean recipes in the finished product.
As awareness of our philosophy grows, we hope to increase opportunities and incentives for farms to adopt more natural and sustainable farming practices. The end result is that collectively consumers and farmers can send strong messages to government that it's time for changes in North America's food industry, from farm to plant to store. But the changes start with the food we are putting on our tables.
Today, many farmers are overusing antibiotics rendering the drugs useless in the event of any serious virus. Antibiotics should only be administered when illness is detected. It is not a precautionary medicine. If an animal is raised in a low stress environment it will not be as suseptible to disease. Consumers can help encourage farmers to stop abusing antibiotics by seeking foods that do not support this practice.
Globally, animals are being raised on large factory farms and are transported long distances to slaughter, sometimes even under extreme weather conditions that are truly inhumane. Our government should put standards in place that regulate the maximum time an animal may be transported and the condition in which it is loaded and loaded. Consumers can send a strong message to government by purchasing only meat products that are produced by farms with standards around transportation and slaughter.
Sadly, many animals that are raised for human consumption never see a day of sunlight or breath fresh outdoor air. They are raised in artificial environments on cement floors, and often penned in one place for hours or days at a time. This is not a natural way to raise an animal but it is a very economical way to raise many animals in small spaces. Chances are if you are buying a meat product at any restaurant or grocery store you are supporting this kind of farming practice. We send a collective message to government and industry when we request free range at our local restaurants and butcher shops. These are the questions that hold us accountable at all levels from farm to table.
At MCLEAN our ultimate goal is to go 100% organic. This is a challenging task that requires commitment from farmers to industry, but ultimately it's the consumer that will make the choice.
In the meantime, we are trying to make small viable steps in this direction. We actively seek out farms and market-ready products that meet our criteria for animal welfare and clean recipes.
We are always open to ideas and suggestions. Do you have a product you want to bring to market? Do you own a farm and are looking for ideas and information on how to take the first step towards organic? Send us questions, ideas and feedback to michelle@mcleanmeats.com or garth@mcleanmeats.com
We would love to hear from you! And if we don't have the right answer we'll point you in the direct where you can find it.