Country Natural Beef

Country Natural Beef & Partners host Portland events
June‚ 2010

The ranch families of Country Natural Beef (CNB) descended on Portland, Oregon, in June to celebrate our partnership with Whole Foods, New Seasons, Fulton, Burgerville, and Bon Appe´tite. A team effort, this event brought together rural and urban in a unique way. From teaching kids to handle a rope, to serving at a soup kitchen, we shared our ranching heritage with city folks and explored firsthand our goal of “building relationships that link the meal to the land.”

Ranchers could be found behind the meat counter of every New Seasons store on Wednesday. We had a great chance to thank customers as we worked with the staff to weigh, wrap, and label product. Jack Southworth, a rancher from Seneca, Oregon, remarked‚ “I’m always amazed at how hard the meat cutters work.”

On Wednesday evening, many families of our retail partners joined us at a “slightly wet” event at Blue Lake Park. CNB served up barbequed beef ribs‚ side dishes and finally homemade pies brought in from member ranch kitchens. Muddy conditions only seemed to fuel the exuberance of children that swarmed the activities, which included calf roping lessons and a turn at bull riding!

Pictured below: (left to right) CNB hosts our retail partners’ families at the Customer Appreciation Picnic‚ future CNB Rancher Maura Braatz watches the festivities‚ Sarah & Tessa Damele of CNB‚ CNB members teaching the fine skill of roping.

New Seasons Market–Concordia
Meat Team

Thursday morning‚ ranchers toured the Fulton meat processing plant. Fulton, founded in 1921 and now in its fourth generation of family operation, prepares CNB beef for Burgerville. Ranchers saw up close the meticulous procedures in place to ensure the meat is healthy to eat and the working environment safe for the staff.

The Dodge family’s Sandy River Ranch provided a stunning backdrop to a focus circle of CNB ranchers and Whole Foods Market Meat Team Leaders who‚ though geared up for a ranch tour, were forced indoors by the rain. In true CNB fashion we sat on hay bales in a hundred year old barn, discussing what our customers are asking for and exploring new ways to provide it.

That same day‚ thirty-eight Burgerville restaurants hosted our ranch families‚ inviting them to serve customers‚ grill burgers‚ mix shakes‚ and work the drive up. The loyalty shown by Burgerville’s customers‚ staff expertise‚ and a welcoming atmosphere were mentioned over and over by ranch families.

Ranchers enjoyed meeting customers of Bon Appe´tit during lunch at cafeterias across the city including the Oregon Episcopal Church‚ Adidas, and Intel.

The highlight event was our COUNTRY FOOD FAIR‚ held at Portland’downtown Director’s Park. The public had a chance to listen to ranch stories and poems‚ ride a stick horse‚ and even dance a quadrille with their country neighbors. Whole Foods‚ Burgerville‚ Fulton‚ New Seasons‚ and Bon Appe´tit were on hand serving up great beef and vegetables at low, low prices. According to Claudia Knotek‚ Community Relations Manager for New Seasons Market, “The music‚ food and especially the ranching families made the whole evening one to treasure”. All proceeds from sales went to benefit the Oregon Food Bank.

Rancher Jessica Habein‚ Drewsey, Oregon, later commented about her family leaving their ranch to interact on the urban beat. “Wherever you go‚ people are people…we want the best for our families, we want to be part of something good‚ and we hope for sustainability of the resources we rely on for survival”.

Thank you to our partners and friends in the Portland area, both old and new.

Whole Foods and CNB Circle
Dodge Ranch‚ Sandy‚Oregon