FRESH FROM THE FARM
A monthly column on sustainable agriculture, humane husbandry & artisanal food production
Originally published in Northside San Francisco July 2006
Marin Sun Farms may have a cult following for its free-range eggs, but it's best known for producing 100% grass-fed beef. David Evans, a fourth generation rancher, raises cattle without antibiotics or hormones on nearly 4,000 acres in and around Point Reyes National Seashore, more than half of which is certified organic (he's working on the rest). Three times a week, he and his faithful dog Bueno move the cows, a mix of Hereford and Angus breeds, to pastures full of perennial rye and white clover. Besides being natural, an all grass diet produces beef wtih a unique, highly prized flavor and high levels of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Evans only slaughters about 260 beef cattle a year, which has Northside restaurants like Quince and Americano fighting for the steak, but Bay Area consumers are lucky: Evans is adamant about selling his beef locally, so none of it leaves the area. If you buy from his butchery, it's dry-aged for up to 50 days.
Just like the cows, Marin Sun Farms chickens roam freely, pecking at a diet of insects and grass supplemented with organic grain. Evans raises a variety of breeds, some heritage, ordering day-old chicks from all over (they arrive in the mail, chirpring away). Eggs range in color from beige to gray-blue with rich gold yolks, and they are to supermarket eggs what fresh-squeezed OJ is to mass-market cartons. Evans sold his first round of roasting chickens in May with the feet still on, but take heart - he's since decided to remove them.
The Goods - Grass-fed beef, stewing & roasting chickens, free-range eggs, lamb
The Markets - Ferry Plaza Farmers' Market, Marin County Civic Center Farmers' Market, Rainbow Grocery and Bi-Rite Market
Fun Fact - The Point Reyes Station butcher shop, damaged by January's heavy rains, reopens July 1.
www.marinsunfarms.com
Shhhhhhh! Please be quiet about Marin Sun Farms already. Can't we keep it a secret? I got there today (about 9.30) and all the eggs were sold out and they didnt have any in Cowgirl either, so I had to buy my eggs from the competition instead. This is the first time all year I haven't had Marin Sun Farm eggs in my fridge :(
Posted by: sam | July 08, 2006 at 11:29 AM
Oh dear, Sam! Well, bad news. I've had several emails from readers who got eggs there for the first time this weekend after reading Catherine's column in the paper this week and loved them...guess they better bring more eggs ;-)
Posted by: Susan | July 09, 2006 at 02:48 PM
that will teach me to be an hour late to the market, huh?
Posted by: sam | July 09, 2006 at 06:07 PM
Boo for Sam, yay for all the people who tried them for the first time and loved them!
Posted by: Catherine | July 09, 2006 at 08:33 PM