Comments on: White Oak Pastures

By: Tina Sasuga-Paludi

Tina Sasuga-Paludi — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 20:14:22 +0000

Thank you Mr. Harris for your views on cattle ranching and the stewardship you have taken to heart. It is refreshing that in this modern age such traditional values of caring and pride of ownership can be clearly heard in your own voice via the Whole Food’s market circle.
Tina

By: Jacqui B

Jacqui B — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:53:41 +0000

Thank you, Mr Harris, for answering these difficult questions honestly and openly. I am a vegetarian, and will never eat meat for many reasons, but I truly appreciate the fact that your animals are treated with respect from “birth to death” as you stated in one of your responses. Your farm should be held as a gold standard for all meat processors showing that there is no excuse for the brutal and inhumane manner in which most “food” animals are treated. Thank you.

By: Fran

Fran — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:11:59 +0000

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!

By: WILL HARRIS

WILL HARRIS — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:12:45 +0000

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

By: Kathleen w.

Kathleen w. — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:46:25 +0000

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!

By: Ann Marie

Ann Marie — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:42:39 +0000

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?

By: briarcliff, Whole Foods Market » Blog Archive » The Art of The Cattleman

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:35:19 +0000

[...] For more information about Harris Family Heritage Farm please visit our Farm to Market Slideshow: http://blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/2008/08/white-oak-pastures [...]

By: Joshua

Joshua — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:31:48 +0000

Thanks to everyone for the healthy discussion.

By: Matt Evans

Matt Evans — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 04:26:59 +0000

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

By: CGillespie

CGillespie — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 11:48:42 +0000

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.