Organic vs. Free Range: What’s the difference?
At Cannings, we stock only the very best high welfare, free range produce. Many people hear ‘free range butcher’ and assume that our produce is also organic. Although we have many things in common with certified organic - we actually choose not to stock certified organic meats. This might leave you scratching your head wondering ‘what is the difference?’. Well, wonder no more!
Free Range at Cannings
- For no period of time has the animal been confined to a cage, pen, stall, crate or feedlot
- Animals are free to express natural behaviour, in a natural environment
- Access to shelter
- No added hormones
- No non-therapeutic antibiotics (or antibiotic residue)
- 100% grass fed and finished (for beef and lamb)
- Animals raised with compassion including appropriate (low) stocking densities and minimising stress during transport and slaughter
Typical organic certification (can vary between certifications)
- Free access to pasture and no feedlotting or intensive farming (e.g. caged chickens)
- No added hormones
- No antibiotics
- Access to shelter
- Fed on pasture or certified organic grain
- Animals raised with compassion including appropriate (low) stocking densities and minimising stress during transport and slaughter
- Higher prices due to the cost of organic certification
It’s also worth quickly noting that there are no legal restrictions on the use of the word ‘organic’ in Australia, which makes official certifications really important if you do choose to go down the organic route.
As you can probably tell from these two lists, we have a lot in common with certified organic meat! At Cannings, we have our own rigorous selection criteria that includes the Cannings Supplier Declaration as well as visits to the farm to make sure everything is as it should be. With all the amazing things our suppliers do, if they were to add organic certification on top of this the meat would be a lot less affordable for our customers. This is the main reason we choose not to stock certified organic. We are so proud to source from Australia's best high welfare, free range producers - hopefully this answers any organic vs. free range questions you may have had!
