A $35 lifetime fee offers members the opportunity to purchase vegetables, meats
and artisanal food products.
All the animals are raised as Hall puts it, “the way God
intended” and never fed growth agents, antibiotics or
chemicals. A USDA and Animal Welfare-approved processor
harvests them humanely.
The resulting product differs significantly from the grocery
store counterparts, both in taste and nutritional value.
Grass-fed beef is quite lean and cooks quicker than fattier
meats. It is rich in high levels of highly beneficial omega-3
fatty acids, critical in fighting chronic disease.
According to a study by the USDA Sustainable Agriculture
and Research Education Program, eggs from pasture-raised
chickens carry 10% less fat and 40% more vitamin A, 34% less
cholesterol and 400% more omega-3 fatty acids.
“That makes our eggs amazingly healthy,” Hall said.
Many of the farm’s eggs come courtesy of the 50 American
Brahma chickens, super-cute and hard-working egg-making
balls of feathers that produce eggs spanning the rainbow
from blue and green to teal and light brown.
LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE
In addition to the meats, the farm also sells seasonal veggies
and fruits, many from the farm, including super-delicious
ladyfinger bananas. The rest is grown by local producers such
as R&B Organics in Merritt Island.
Artisan-prepared foods, local honey, grass-fed cow’s milk,
HOLIDAY 2021: 75
Farmer Brock Hall takes a selfie with porcine sidekick, Magnum P.I.G. Despite the
fearsome-looking tusks, Magnum is a pussycat of a porker.
>>
their cattle on grain,” Hall explained. “This deceptive and USDAapproved
practice, leads unknowing consumers to pay more for
what they believe is organic grass-fed beef when actually they
are not.”
LABELING QUESTIONABLE
While some meats may be labeled antibiotic and hormone-free,
the labeling does not include a classification of drugs such as
paylean, commonly used to fatten pigs.
Hall also notes that an amendment to the USDA’s National
Organic Standards allows egg producers to label eggs free-range
even though the chicken never left its cage. The amendment
allows egg producers the right to claim free-range status by just
providing a small concrete porch to the inhumane cages where
factory-farmed birds live out their short lives.
“This again is very deceptive to the unknowing public,” Hall said.
Hall walks the walk when it comes to organic. The farm offers
local grass-fed and grass-finished Angus meats and Berkshire
pork, forage-fed Katahdin lamb, true pasture-raised chickens,
and during the holidays, pasture-raised turkeys that are
extremely popular.
“We’re taking reservations for the turkeys now and once they are
gone, they are gone,” he said.
Hall raises five to seven head of cattle annually at the farm. The
rest come from Florida ranches such as 4 Arrows Ranch in Citra.