Raised in the Palouse country of WA, Eaton Natural Beef is a hidden gem. Let’s change that. They have 250 head of cattle, only 60 of which do they have enough demand for to raise them naturally and guarantee a healthy, satisfying life. And guarantee a healthy, satisfying product. The remainder unfortunately find themselves in feedlots of the West, victims of industrialized agriculture. Most of the American public wants to pay less, so they make a choice too, to care less, turn a blind eye to the suffering that provides their pleasure.
Eaton Family
Fortunately, ranchers like Nikki & Joe Eaton carve out a different life for the ones they can raise and successfully sell as natural. I went to the main ranch, I met the family, I trust the beef.
Where can you find it? Oddly, mainly in Moscow, ID right now. Nikki hasn’t had the best luck finding buyers in Spokane, the most likely, close, large market for this pastured, grass fed, no antibiotic, no hormone beef. What?!?!
With the rave on-the-spot reviews I heard at our recent Main Market Co-op fundraising dinner where we featured the ground beef, and Nikki, it just doesn’t add up. At a $55.00 per person dinner, when the burger is the part of the meal people can’t stop complimenting, we should all pay attention. I can promise you we’ll have it at the co-op when we open. But I’ll be working on some restaurants before then.
Why? These people raise beef cattle the right way. They care immensely about these animals. They know these animals. I’m incredibly grateful for that commitment and it’s important we make it rewarding enough for them to continue. It’s not easy work, yet they do it.
Cattle View
Why? It’s the closest medium size ranch to Spokane that raises beef this way. Local is important. At this size, they actually can provide a regular retail supply. These cattle help keep the beautiful Wawawai Canyon out of the hands of development – the views could command a price.
Why? I enjoy eating beef… a lot. But, it’s increasingly rare that I do unless I can trust it’s life was respected, healthy, natural and good. That it’s good for me. That life was good for the animal. What that means now is it’s a real exception that I can eat out and eat beef. I’m hopeful and confident others in this community would pay $1.00 more a burger to dine without guilt and worry. If at least one restaurant in this town can step up to an Eaton Natural Beef burger, I’ll make sure it pays off for them.
I like to see these small operations, I hope in this economy they can hang on.