What "Product of the USA" Doesn't Tell You
My view this week: American-raised cattle grazing in the foothills of the Bighorn Mountains, Southern Montana
I spent this week on an 8,000-acre ranch in Montana with a couple who've been ranching for over forty years. They're in their 70s now, trying to figure out how to pass this operation on to the next generation.
As we rode across their land, they showed me what decades of careful grazing management look like: invasive grasses that once dominated their pastures are being pushed back, and pockets of native grasses like big bluestem are sprouting up.
It's working. The land is healing.
When I got back that evening, I saw the news - the USDA is opening the door wider for beef imports. Now I don’t have a problem with imports; consumers should have choices. But here’s what’s not right: cattle raised overseas can still be labeled “Product of USA” if they’re only packed here.
Over 80% of grassfed beef sold in America is imported, yet most of it carries that "Product of USA" label. Without Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling, there's no way to tell the difference.
Will Harris from White Oak Pastures said it best: importing beef will hurt American farmers unless imported beef is covered under Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling.
Without honest labels you can't make an informed choice. You can't support American ranchers who are actually healing the land if you can't tell which beef is theirs.
That's why Grass Roots exists. Every animal is born, raised, and processed in the USA - on family farms practicing regenerative agriculture. When you buy from us, you know exactly where your beef comes from. No loopholes. No misleading labels. Just honest food from farmers you can trust.
The beef industry needs fixing. And it starts with eaters having the information they need to make informed choices.
That Montana couple isn't giving up. They're passing their knowledge to the next generation. Their land is healing. And ranchers like them are proving every day that there's a better way to raise beef.
Every time you choose real American beef from regenerative farms, you're voting for that future.
Your farmer,
Cody