Petaluma, Calif., and Boulder, Colo., May 19, 2009 — News from Panorama Meats, Inc. and Whole Foods Markets
For Immediate Release
Panorama Meats Contact:
Michele Wells, Wells Communications, Inc.
(303) 417-0696
mwells@wellscommunications.net
Whole Foods Markets Contact:
Jen Marshall, The Fresh Ideas Group
(303) 449-2108 x 18
Jen@freshideasgroup.com
Panorama Meats Exclusively Supplies Organic Grass-Fed Angus Beef from Northern Arapaho Indian Tribe to Whole Foods Market Rocky Mt. Region
VINA, Calif., and BOULDER, Colo., May 19, 2009 – Panorama Meats, Inc., the nation’s leading organic grass-fed beef producer, has partnered with Arapaho Ranch, the nation’s largest certified organic cattle operation, to supply Panorama Organic Grass-Fed Beef exclusively to 28 Whole Foods Market stores in the Rocky Mountain region beginning this week.
Operated by the Northern Arapaho Indian Tribe on 595,000 acres on Wyoming’s Wind River Indian Reservation in West Central Wyoming, Arapaho Ranch received USDA organic certification in 2008. The tribe has raised an all-Angus herd —a breed known for producing tender, highly flavorful beef — on a year-round diet of grass and forbs since the 1940s. Its 3,500 cattle and 2,800 yearlings never enter a feedlot, are never fed antibiotics or growth-stimulating hormones and coexist with predators and a diverse mix of wildlife on Wyoming’s high plains.
The agreement, resulting from a half-year of discussions between Panorama and the Northern Arapahoe Indian Tribal Council, makes Whole Foods Market stores in Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas and Utah the exclusive U.S. retailers of Arapaho Ranch beef.
“The Arapaho Ranch product will further grow the Whole Foods Markets’ access to locally-raised food since the cattle are raised in Wyoming and processed in Colorado,” said Mack Graves, CEO of Panorama Meats. Panorama will process Arapaho Ranch beef in compliance with its own and Whole Foods Markets’ standards for safety and humane animal treatment.
“We’ve been searching for an organic, grass-fed beef supplier that would offer our shoppers high-quality beef at a good value,” said Dave Ruedlinger, Meat Coordinator of the Rocky Mountain Region. “Since Panorama’s beef is also local, raised and harvested within a 7 hour-drive, our shoppers will revel in the taste.”
The Northern Arapaho tribe is committed to maintaining the biodiversity and ecological balance of its land. Even wolves and coyotes, normally regarded as cattle’s predators, are protected. The cattle move freely over abundant pastureland, sometimes spurred to move by those very predators — a natural check against overgrazing. Loss of cattle to predators is miniscule. More information about Arapaho Ranch can be found at http://tinyurl.com/cyg22q.
Many firsts are represented by this recent purchasing commitment:
* First time certified organic and grass-fed beef is offered to customers in 28 Rocky Mountain Region Whole Foods Market Stores
* First time for grass-fed and/or certified organic beef to retail at an average of only $1 per pound above natural beef choices
* First time for the Northern Arapaho tribe to sell 100 percent of their beef to a retailer
Panorama’s relationship with Arapaho Ranch is a major addition to the firm’s existing network of ranchers based in Northern California, Southern Washington and Southern Oregon.
Panorama Organic Grass-Fed Beef comes from cattle raised entirely on pastures of natural grasses, legumes and range forage.
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About Panorama Meats, Inc. (Petaluma, Calif.)
Panorama Organic Grass-Fed Beef is produced by a group of family ranchers in Northern California, Southern Washington, Southern Oregon and Wyoming who raise cattle on natural grasses, legumes and range forage. It is sold through Whole Foods stores in Northern California, Washington, Oregon, Utah, Kansas, New Mexico and Colorado and other independent retail grocers.
By following strict grass-feeding regimens and humane protocols Panorama is able to offer one of the most flavorful and tender grass-fed beefs in the country.
Panorama cattle are never implanted with hormones, fed animal by-products or treated with antibiotics. All animals are raised in compliance with the “Born and Raised in the USA®” verification program.
Ranchers who raise Panorama cattle treat their animals humanely in low-stress environments and employ pasture-rotation and land-management practices that promote animal health and protect delicate rangeland ecosystems. Their ranching and animal-handling practices are verified through regular third-party audits by Western Ranchers Beef Cooperative, an association that promotes sustainable ranching practices.
More information is available at http://www.panoramameats.com.
About Whole Foods Market®
Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market (www.wholefoodsmarket.com), a leader in the natural and organic foods industry and America’s first national certified organic grocer, was named “America’s Healthiest Grocery Store” in 2008 by Health magazine. The Whole Foods Market motto, “Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet”™ captures the company’s mission to find success in customer satisfaction and wellness, employee excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder value, community support and environmental improvement. Thanks to its 53,000 Team Members, Whole Foods Market has been ranked as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” in America by FORTUNE magazine for 12 consecutive years. In fiscal year 2008, the company had sales of $8 billion and currently has more than 275 stores in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Whole Foods Market, Fresh & WildTM, and Harry’s Farmers Market® are trademarks owned by Whole Foods Market IP, LP. Wild Oats® and Capers Community MarketTM are trademarks owned by Wild Marks, Inc.
More information is available at http://www.wholefoods.com.