When you’re picking up ground beef at the grocery store, you may assume you know where it came from. But according to Ben and Corley Spell, founders of Good Ranchers, that answer is not always easy to find.
The couple joined Houston Life to talk about changes in the U.S. beef market, the challenges facing American ranchers and why they believe consumers should pay closer attention to where their meat is sourced.
Ben Spell said the conversation around imported beef has gained more attention in recent weeks, but he believes it is part of a much larger issue that has been developing for years. Spell says consumers should have greater transparency when it comes to the food they purchase. Good Ranchers products are all sourced from American ranchers and farms.
Co-founder, Corley Spell said one of the biggest questions customers are asking is simple: Where does my beef come from?
She said many consumers may not have realized how much beef was already being imported into the United States before the issue received renewed attention.
The Spells also pointed to the complexity of country-of-origin labeling in the U.S. They said consumers can have difficulty determining where beef originated based solely on the information available on grocery store packaging.
For Good Ranchers, that is where its “Behind the Label” campaign comes in. The company says its products carry USDA labeling indicating they were born, raised and harvested in the USA.
The issue goes beyond the grocery store, according to the Spells. They say increased competition from imported beef can create challenges for American ranchers who are already dealing with difficult market conditions.
So what can consumers do?
The Spells encourage shoppers to “vote with their dollars” by supporting local farms and ranchers when possible, or companies that provide clear information about where their meat comes from.
That philosophy is also part of the reason the Spells say they started Good Ranchers. After having their first child, they said they began paying closer attention to food labels and realized how difficult it could be to find products they felt they could trust.
Today, the company delivers meat directly to consumers and says it only sells products the family would serve to their own friends and family.
For shoppers interested in trying Good Ranchers, the company is currently offering a free ground beef bundle with a first order. The offer includes 4 pounds of 100% American Angus ground beef.
For more information or to claim the offer, visit Good Ranchers online at goodranchers.com/houstonlife.
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