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In their own words…
White Oak Pastures works in cooperation with nature to produce premium quality beef that is healthy, nutritious, and good to eat. Care is given to ensure that all of our production practices are economically practical, ecologically sustainable, and that the animals are always humanely treated.
Will Harris is a fourth generation cattleman taking his family farm in a whole new direction. His 1,000-acre farm in South Georgia is home to about 650 grass-fed beef cattle that roam freely and graze on 100% Georgia native sweet grasses.
White Oak Pastures is a recipient of Whole Foods Market’s Local Producer Loan Program. Through the Local Producer Loan Program, Whole Foods Market makes $10 million available annually for low-interest loans to small, local producers.
Note: Our Farm to Market slide shows currently feature farmers and producers from our South and MidAtlantic Regions. We hope to expand to others in the future.
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Guys, Beautiful slideshow. Real glad you’re supporting folks like this, making media about it, and tweeting about it.
One question: Can you setup up the slideshow so it’s embeddable? I’d love to write about it and post the slideshow on my blog (www.rickburnes.com), as I would a YouTube video.
Keep up the great work!
Rick
August 26th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Taste and health issues come second to my concern over humane treatment of animals. I believe it is important to keep animal consumption to a minimum in remembrance that another being is sacrificed for our benefit and because it is better for the planet. I’m pleased that WF supports humane farming. This kind of effort is at the heart of my loyalty to your store.
August 26th, 2008 at 9:22 am
@Rick Burnes - Let me check with our masterful video folks and see what we can do. We’ll get back to you shortly!
August 26th, 2008 at 9:31 am
My wife has picked up another dieting book titled “Skinny B____”. Chapter five’s subject is the treatment of animals at the processing plants. After reading that chapter it almost would make anyone a vegetarian. I have read the Whole Food’s program about concern and quality assurance in humane treatment of animals for market and I hope this quality assurance program can continue through out the processing procedures. If so, Whole Foods will definately have a loyal customer. I cannot fathom becoming a vegatarian, but my wife has almost become one overnight after reading about some of the reports of animal processors. Please keep up the good work Whole Foods. Thank you.
September 4th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
We see beautiful surroundings and a sincere narrative — but the larger question is — How does one, lovingly care for an animal it’s entire life — and then send it to slaughter?
September 19th, 2008 at 7:34 am
‘L. Haley: We see beautiful surroundings and a sincere narrative — but the larger question is — How does one, lovingly care for an animal it’s entire life — and then send it to slaughter?’
This is Will Harris speaking- thank you for asking, Ms. Haley. I have been asked this before, and folks deserve to have this question answered.
When I first started meeting the folks that buy my beef, I did not know how to respond to this. My immediate answer was that it is what my folks have always done, it is how folks have fed their families for centuries, and it is what i am supposed to do. This is all true, but somehow it seemed flippant to me.
It took a lot of soul searching for me to finally be able to express the feelings that are in my heart.
The fact is that I love my herd as much as you love your companion animal. I have a dog that is my constant companion. But, I do not feel the same kind of love for the individual animal within the herd.
If I lost my herd, I would grieve for it and I would never get over it. But this is not the way that I feel about the individual animal within the herd. In my mind the herd is a dynamic body. It is a river and not a lake.
This said, we never let even one animal within the herd suffer if I can prevent it. I am their steward and they are my responsibility.
This is probably a lot more than you wanted to know.
Will Harris of White Oak Pastures.
September 19th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Humane treatment of animals seems to be a thing of the past. It is wonderful to know that there are still some who take pride in how they raise their beef. This is why I support Whole Foods. I know that no matter what I purchase that it is all natural with no additives. I wish everything was that way.
September 20th, 2008 at 6:48 am
Thank you for your eloquent description of the herd that you care for so passionately. I loved the metaphor of the river and it brought to light the whole of idea of the “circle of life”. Humans’ evolutionary patters show that we are an omnivorous creature, but our complex minds and our love for our fellow animals can sometimes outweigh our history and knowledge of our nature. I feel that your explanation of how you treat and consider your herd helps ease our minds when the love we feel for our fellow animals is threatened. Thanks WF for supporting local farmers like Mr. Harris
September 20th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
Thanks to everyone for the healthy discussion.
September 23rd, 2008 at 4:31 pm
[...] For more information about Harris Family Heritage Farm please visit our Farm to Market Slideshow: http://blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/2008/08/white-oak-pastures [...]
February 27th, 2009 at 11:35 am
I buy from Whole Foods because of the commitment to humane treatment of animals. I respect Mr. Harris’ feelings and his sense of responsibility to his herd. My one question is: after the animals leave your ranch to go to slaughter, do you know if the method of slaughter is humane? Does your responsibility to your herd continue to that point?
March 18th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
I doubt my comments will be posted, but no meat is “humane”. A living being is still be killed. No human needs to eat meat. GO VEGAN!
March 18th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
This is Will Harris responding to Ann Marie-
Thank you for respecting the relationship that I have with my herd. I am convinced that when man domesticates an animal he must accept the responsibility for it’s welfare. Stewardship of the animal is necessitated when dominion is taken over the animal.
All of my cattle are slaughtered on my ranch. They never leave. Last April we completed the construction of a small processing plant on our farm. I believe that it is the only farmer-owned, USDA-inspected, on-farm beef processing plant in the country. Our entire beef production program, from birth through slaughter, is handled by me, my family members, or my employees.
We commissioned Dr. Temple Grandin’s consulting company to design our animal handling and slaughter system for us. Our farm and plant are certified humane by humane farm animal care, animal welfare approved by animal welfare institute, and we are a step 4 level beef producer through whole foods animal compassion program.
We are professional herdsmen. We do all that we know to do to show our cattle dignity and respect and give them compassionate care every day of their lives, including the day that they are slaughtered to become food for me, my family, and for my customers.
I accept life style choices [vegan & vegetarian] that others make, and I ask that they be understanding of my choices.
Respectfully,
Will Harris
White oak pastures
Bluffton, ga
March 19th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
Thank you Will Harris for your compassionate and humane treatment of your cattle. Thank you too for coming to Harry’s and speaking to everyone about your ranch, your practices, and your beef. How grateful I am that WF honors your practices. We don’t shop anywhere else. Thank you WF!
April 20th, 2009 at 5:11 pm