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About US Wellness Meats
Where are your farms located?
Our four founding cattle farms are located in the northeast corner of Missouri and western Illinois, alongside the Mississippi River. The Wood farm is near Canton, Missouri; the Leeser Farm is in Taylor, Missouri; the Suter farm is near Wyaconda, Missouri; and the Crum farm is near Virginia, Illinois. A few other small partner farms throughout the US supply us with cattle throughout the year. Approximately 85% of our beef is sourced domestically. In order to meet demand for certain cuts, we’ve partnered with a farm run by personal friends of ours in picturesque Tasmania. This island is the ideal place for grazing animals as they have a temperate climate that allows for grazing year round, and no hormones or GMOs are even allowed on the island. Any cuts sourced from Tasmania will be labeled as such on the website in the individual product descriptions. Both our Midwest and Tasmania cattle are 100% grass-fed and grass-finished. Our other products come from our co-operative of family farms around the country. To learn more about our partner farms, visit our Discover Blog.
Are you certified organic? Why not?
All US Wellness Meats' cattle, pastures, and animals have been maintained with organic principles in mind since 2000. Unfortunately, the state of Missouri dropped a state-run organic-certification program and turned it over to a private certifier several years ago. The private certifier wanted 3% of the gross income of the preceding year to maintain the license. We politely said no, and felt if Thomas Jefferson were still alive he would concur. Sadly, greed has infiltrated a noble cause. 50% of the Missouri organic producers have let their certification lapse since this situation was created by the Missouri legislature.
Does US Wellness Meats adhere to regenerative farming practices?
Yes. For over 20 years, US Wellness Farms have maintained strict adherence to principles emphasizing regeneration and holistic systems. These efforts allow us to work in concert with nature. Our farms use no pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics, GMOs, or added growth hormones. With a 30 to 45-day rest period between grazing, we increase the density of existing plants in our cattle pastures and allow for the re-introduction of new native plants. As a result, all of our grassland is deeply rooted, and this better root structure and thicker sod enables the landscape to catch and hold nearly all of the rain that hits it, resulting in virtually no soil erosion or flooding. Finally, this sustainable eco-system is a natural carbon recycler: the carbon our animals produce is reused by our plant life for further growth.
Do you offer wholesale or affiliate programs?
Yes, we offer both. As an affiliate, you can earn commissions based off sales from your website. As a wholesale customer, you can save by buying in bulk. For more information on both programs, visit our website.
About Our Meats
Do you feed antibiotics or hormones?
No, none of our animals are fed antibiotics or growth hormones throughout the course of their lives.
Are the cattle finished with grain?
Never! From the moment our animals are weaned from their mothers, they consume high quality forage for the rest of their lives. Not only is grain-finish counter to the values of grass-fed farming, but a change to a starchy grain diet can undo omega 6:3 ratios and CLA values in 30 days.
What do cattle eat in the winter?
For our midwest farms, the onset of winter doesn’t mean the end of grazing for our animals—there is still stock-piled forage that they consume until it is harvested or snow is an issue. When snow makes grazing impossible, we feed our animals our own hay, which is pasture grass that is harvested and stored when dry. Baleage, fresh pasture grass that is cut at optimal freshness, stored and vacuum packaged while moist, allows for nearly green grass in January. During harsh weather, we supplement with a starch-free grass plant protein for added energy and protein. We never use grain (starch) as it will ruin excellent lipid chemistry. We're also blessed to have farms in southern Alabama and Tazmania where conditions are nearly utopian for year round grazing.
Where are cattle harvested? Is it humane?
The animals are tended as humanely as possible up to point of slaughter to minimize stress. The process is done as quickly as possible to eliminate animal trauma or suffering. And we are sticklers about cleanliness: We demand a steam-cleaned facility for the slaughter process in order to eliminate all risk of cross contamination with grain-fed animals, and we strictly adhere to the USDA’s Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) standards. In over a decade with our current abattoir, we have yet to see any evidence of adrenaline-rush damage (an immediate stress indicator) in the meat tissue after slaughter. And in keeping with our tradition of supporting outstanding family businesses, our facility is family-owned with six members of the same family involved in overseeing daily operations.
Are your meats aged?
- Beef is aged. Aging is critical to a tender, flavorful beef product. Meat is cut into sub-primal cuts and aged for an average of 30 days before it is cut into retail portions. Wet aging allows for the breakdown of collagen, essential to infusing fat through the meat. In order to ensure freshness, wet aging is done in a vacuum package to improve meat safety.
- Fats (tallow, lard, and duck fat) are not aged, but rather the fat is frozen and rendered as needed.
- Organ meats are not aged; organ meats are delicate, and need to packaged quickly after harvest.
- Pork is not aged, but it is chilled ~5 days prior to fabrication.
- Bison The majority of our Bison is not aged since it is so lean to begin with and intramuscular fat is needed to age meats; Bison hangs for ~48 hours to chill the carcass prior to fabrication. The Bison Ribeye Steak & Bison Top Sirloin Steak are aged for 21 days for added tenderness and flavor.
- Lamb, Goat, Elk, and Venison is not aged; it is chilled for ~48 hours prior to fabrication.
- Chicken, Duck, Turkey, and Rabbit is not aged; it is frozen after harvest and fabrication.
- Seafood is not aged; the frozen seafood selections are processed and frozen immediately after the initiation of harvest.
- Canned Seafood Most customers with histamine sensitivities prefer to order frozen seafood selections and avoid canned seafood. Should you consider including canned seafood in your diet, our supplier (Vital Choice), shares that tuna has been reported to cause more histamine issues based on their customer feedback. For histamine sensitivity concerns, Vital Choice recommends either their canned salmon, sardines, or mackerel instead of their canned tuna.
What is a "primal" and a "sub-primal"?
There are nine primary cuts of beef in a harvested animal, and these are known as “primal.” You can learn more about each primal cut here. It is possible to cut each of these primal into smaller “sub-primal” cuts. For example, a short loin is sub-primal of the loin primal. A tenderloin and a striploin are also sub-primals of the loin primal. You can save significant money on our meat by ordering a primal, and cutting it into retail cuts at home.
How can I learn about the different cuts of meat?
Please visit our “Learn Your Cuts” page for more information.
What is the difference between "fresh chilled beef" and regular beef products?
Most US Wellness Meats products are stored and shipped frozen, but a small selection of “fresh chilled beef” has never been frozen and will arrive at your door fresh and cool to the touch. Like our regular beef products, it is forage-fed and aged for optimal tenderness and flavor. Please note, fresh chilled beef ships the third Wednesday of every month and arrives separate from frozen products. Please note the shipping schedule listed in the web store. For more information, visit our Fresh Chilled Blog.
Why will some vacuum ground beef packages show color differences?
US Wellness Meats uses cryovac vacuum packaging on bulk burger and patties in order to guarantee that our packaging is the safest possible. Vacuum-sealing ground beef packages will often remove some oxygen from the beef itself, this can result in varying surface color on all four sides of the package. This is an appearance issue only and will not result in taste or flavor concerns. US Wellness has never ever used food dye to mask the dull color of vacuum sealed ground beef.
Are the "processed" products (sausage, franks, pre-cooked products, etc.) also made from grass-fed beef?
Yes. All beef products on our site are made with 100% US Wellness Meats grass-fed beef.
How do I find the ingredients in any prepared product?
Ingredients are listed on the individual product page. Click “details” to read the full product description. Feel free to contact our office with any specific questions or concerns.
What is pemmican and how does it fit into my diet?
Centuries ago, the Native Americans of the Great Plains developed pemmican as a means of preserving fat and protein. Pemmican was a blend of tallow (40%), air-dried jerky (60%), and seasonal berries and raw honey, if available. With dried berries acting as a natural preservative and added energy from honey, pemmican was—and still is—a wonder food. US Wellness Meats pemmican is:
- A super snack bar, best opened when frozen for ease of opening;
- Ready to consume after 15-20 minutes at room temperature;
- A delicious and healthful addition to scrambled eggs, green beans or meat loaf.
Why does the pemmican have to be frozen?
Pemmican is made from beef jerky that is dried, but not to the point of being shelf-stable. For this reason, our pemmican is perishable and must be stored in the freezer. To learn more about our pemmican, check out this pemmican blog page.
How long can US Wellness Meats products be stored in the refrigerator? Freezer?
Storage time varies from product to product. On average, we say three to seven days in the refrigerator, and up to several years in the freezer as long as the vacuum seal holds.
Do you use mRNA vaccines?
No. None of our animals receive mRNA vaccines and we have no intention of doing so.
About Our Other Products
Which dairy products are pasteurized and which are not?
All of our raw A2/A2 cheeses are of superior quality, grass-fed, raw, and aged; hand-crafted in small batches. USWM cheese is pasteurized to 102 degrees (except our Swiss that is heated to 107) maximum. Butter is pasteurized at the lowest temperatures allowed by state law, 161.6 Fahrenheit, for 15 seconds. Anchor butter is homogenized and soy-free from pasture-raised cows free of growth hormones. The color of all dairy products will vary slightly due to seasonal variations without affecting quality or taste. Our dairy is high in CLA, omega-3 & 6, as well as vitamins A, D, E, K, and K2.
Is your butter "raw"? Homogenized? Cultured?
Please see above. It is illegal for us to sell raw butter.
Is the butter frozen? Is the cheese frozen?
Butter ships frozen; however, it can be stored in the refrigerator but freezing will extend shelf life. Cheese is fresh and ships fresh. Cheese will store for a month in the refrigerator. Cheeses can be frozen and will have minimal texture changes after thawing. Gouda freezes the best and cheddar may be a bit crumbly after thawing; however, flavor will not change significantly.
What are neutraceuticals? How can I learn more about them?
US Wellness Meats’ nutraceuticals are concentrated vitamin and mineral supplements designed to enhance your daily diet.
Health & Safety
What is the best way to thaw my order from US Wellness Meats?
It is best to thaw meat using the refrigerator. With this method, a one-pound package will thaw in approximately 20 to 24 hours. We do not recommend thawing meat in the microwave; however, if you must, select the lowest power setting to avoid cooking (rather than defrosting) the meat. Check the meat frequently to monitor thawing. Occasionally, pinholes can occur in the tumultuous first hour or two of transit at minus 10 degrees. We always suggest thawing products on a plate in the refrigerator to catch any packages that have developed leaks in transit.
How should I cook my order?
Cook ground beef until no pink remains, or until the meat temperature registers 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Slow-cooking methods that retain moisture work well on lean, red meat. Braising is recommended for roasts and low heat is ideal for steaks. Steaks should be prepared to a minimum of 140 degrees Fahrenheit (rare) to a maximum of 160 degrees Fahrenheit (medium) for the most tenderness and flavor.
What is CLA?
Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is fatty acid that is produced naturally in the bodies of grass-fed animals and is found in their meat and milk. Grass-fed cattle are likely to have two to three times the amount of CLA as grain-fed animals, and this nutritional value is passed on to you when you eat grass-fed meat. Research shows that a diet rich in CLA can help reduce a person’s risk of cancer, atherosclerosis, and diabetes.
Shipping Information
Where does US Wellness Meats ship?
All 50 states and Puerto Rico.
Do you ship to Canada?
No, we are no longer able to ship to Canadian addresses. Due to new Covid customs protocols in Canada, we will no longer be able to ship product across the U.S. and Canadian border. We apologize for the inconvenience, but unfortunately this is out of our control.
Is there a shipping weight minimum?
No. However, having shipped frozen perishables for over 20 years, we've learned that a package with 7+ lbs of frozen product will arrive cold or frozen nearly every time. It's especially true since most orders are only in transit for 24-48 hours.
If your order is under 7 lbs, we'll pack with additional ice, but the the smaller the order weight, the less confident we are it'll arrive cold. Unfortunately, we can make no promises on arrival condition for orders under 7 lbs.
We recommend adding a few more selections to your cart to get as close to 7 lbs as possible to ensure items arrive cold.
Is there a purchase minimum?
No. Orders 15 lbs and over are shipped free. Orders below 15 lbs will be charged $15.00 shipping/handling fee.
How is my meat packaged?
After four weeks of wet aging, the beef is vacuum packed in state-of-the-art cryovac vacuum packaging. All other meats are cut and packaged directly after harvest without aging. This airless environment ensures high quality and a long shelf life in your freezer. Meats are then placed in our sub-zero Quick Freeze system. Meat will arrive at your door in well-insulated, recycled "green" shipping containers.
When will my order be shipped?
We ship Monday-Wednesday every week and ship via FedEx Ground or Express service based on your zip code. Orders placed before 10AM CST Wednesday will ship the same week; orders placed after 10AM CST Wednesday deadline will ship the following week. Deliveries are expected to arrive within three days from when we ship. Packages normally deliver Tuesday-Friday. Occasionally, packages will deliver on Saturdays due to holidays or FedEx workload. We are unable to deliver on Sundays or Mondays due to FedEx’s schedule. You will receive a tracking number from FedEx after the order ships which will display the estimated delivery date and allow you to monitor delivery progress. See our Shipping FAQ blog for more details.
What shipping method do you use?
FedEx is our current exclusive carrier. We are unable to ship via other carriers.
When will I receive my order?
We ship Monday-Wednesday every week and ship via FedEx Ground or Express service based on your zip code. We ship on Thursdays as needed due to high order volume or holidays. Deliveries are expected to arrive within three days from the time of shipping. You will receive a tracking number from FedEx after the order ships so you will know estimated delivery date. If you ever have special shipping requests, please contact customer service prior to ordering to ensure we are able to accomodate your needs.
How can I change my personal account information like billing and shipping addresses?
Click here to change customer profile information. Enter your username and password and then make any necessary changes under “MY ACCOUNT”.
How should I dispose of the styrofoam cooler? Do you have a recycling program?
US Wellness Meats has been searching for a reliable shipping container to replace styrofoam coolers for years. Shipping frozen perishables requires high standards to insure your food arrives in the best condition and quality possible. We have recently been testing a new container made from 100% recycled materials for shipping that we believe will replace the styrofoam containers. These new "green" containers are gradually being employed. We hope to have these in use for the majority of our shipments by the end of 2023. If you receive a styrofoam cooler with your order, we suggest reusing it as a travel cooler or contacting local Meals On Wheels, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, or similar organizations to determine if they could make good use of these superior coolers. For more styrofoam reuse and recycling ideas, visit our Go Green Blog.
Which items ship separately?
We have some items that ship directly from the farm and some that ship separately from our warehouse. South Carolina bulk chicken and pork bundles ship directly from our South Carolina farm. The order deadline for these bundles is 10PM Central Monday evenings. They ship from the farm on Tuesdays. BBQ Sauces, Apple Cider Vinegar, and 5 gallon Tallow and Lard Buckets also ship separately from our warehouse. Fresh Chilled Beef Bundles ship once a month. The order deadline is the 12 noon the first Friday of every month. We ship Fresh Chilled Bundles on the following Wednesday. For more information on Fresh Chilled see our Fresh Chilled Beef FAQ page. Some of our Fresh Chilled Beef Bundles do not qualify for Free Shipping because they are not 15 lbs or more. Since they are shipped separately, they are not counted toward the Total Order Weight when combined in the same cart with Frozen items.
Your Order
How do I order?
Follow our easy online process. You can also call our toll free number (877) 383-0051 for live assistance.
When will my order be shipped?
We ship Monday-Wednesday every week and ship via FedEx Ground or Express service based on your zip code. We ship on Thursdays as needed due to high order volume or holidays. Deliveries are expected to arrive within three days from the time of shipping. You will receive a tracking number from FedEx after the order ships so you will know estimated delivery date. If you ever have special shipping requests, please contact customer service prior to ordering to ensure we are able to accomodate your needs.
Fresh chilled (never frozen) beef ships separately from frozen meat. Fresh beef usually ships the Wednesday following the first Friday of each month (as designated by the schedule in the product description on our website). Our South Carolina Bulk Chicken and Soy Free Pork Bundles also ship separately. These ship directly from our South Carolina farm on Tuesdays. If you have any questions about the shipment date of your fresh chilled beef order or South Carolina bundles, please call customer service at (877) 383-0051. Visit our Fresh Chilled Beef FAQ blog page for more details.
When will I receive my order?
We ship Monday-Wednesday every week and ship via FedEx Ground or Express service based on your zip code. Deliveries are expected to arrive within three days from when we ship. Packages normally deliver Tuesday-Friday. Occasionally, packages will deliver on Saturdays due to holidays or FedEx workload. We are unable to deliver on Sundays or Mondays due to FedEx’s schedule. You will receive a tracking number from FedEx after the order ships which will display the estimated delivery date and allow you to monitor delivery progress.
How can I change my personal account information like billing and shipping addresses?
Click on the farmer icon in the upper right corner of the page. Log in to your account. On your Account page, you can make changes to your personal account information, email, addresses, password, etc.
How are credits issued?
In the event that we must issue a credit, it will be issued as a credit to the credit card used for the purchase.
How much freezer space will I need?
One cubic foot of freezer space will hold approximately 22 to 28 lbs. of beef.
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Address
18685 316th Avenue
Canton, MO 63435