Sustainability Hero
Meat With Us
West Otago farming business Meat With Us, was among the top-scoring entries assessed by the specialist sustainability judges in 2024. In addition to being judged on taste, all Outstanding Food Producer Awards entries are assessed by two specialist judges for their sustainable business practice with both marks used to confirm medal winners. Meat With Us Certified Organic Ribeye Beef was awarded a Gold Medal with the tasting judges saying; ‘delicate, elegant flavour….Judges would buy this product.’
After following conventional farming practices for five years, Rebecca and Quintin Hazlett realised they were not being led to the destination they desired. A lingering unease compelled the pair to pave a new path for their farming business.
“Most of the things we were doing seemed to be fighting with nature rather than working with it,” Quintin explains.
Guidance, innovation and time allowed for the necessary changes on their West-Otago-based farm, Hukarere Station. They solidified their footing in organic farming in 2008 and today are proud to deliver certified organic meat nationwide under the brand, Meat With Us.
Meat with Us uses the sustainable farming practice of Planned Adaptive Grazing, founded by Zimbabwean farmer Allan Savory. Their sheep and cattle herds are kept in high density and shifted multiple times a day which sees the soil endure a high impact followed by a long recovery. This allows nutrients to return to the surface of the land, maximises microbe density and allows plant roots to recover and achieve sufficient root depth. By 2019 they had developed enough confidence in Planned Adaptive Grazing to turn away from other practices such as winter-cropping.
The Meat With Us operation is also inspired by Allan Savory’s decision-making framework that promotes sustainable realities.
“When we’re making on-farm decisions, we’re questioning whether this decision is going to take us towards long-term goals or not? For example, we were using synthetic nitrogen before becoming organic farmers and we also loved swimming in the river. We thought if we and future generations want to swim in the river then the decision to use synthetic nitrogen isn’t going to take us there, so we need to farm without,” Quintin explained.
Meat With Us knew organic farming was never going to be the easy way. It can be manually intensive and not always light on the pocket. Removing gorse was once a six-week grubbing process using the helping hands of backpacker guests. Finding well-performing organic fertilisers and gorse control is an expensive experiment of trial and error. Drenching animals with homoeopathy remains a labour of love. However, they reiterate that the prosperity that prevails from their farming practice is worthy of the effort.
“You do it because you believe you’re doing the right thing by the environment, by your family and by the community and for the future.”
Among the benefits of running a farm that has escaped the grasp of harmful chemicals is a safe working environment for the Meat With Us staff and recreational enjoyment for the local community. They can also be content that their cattle and sheep have a high quality of life and spend their days treading on healthy land.
Their slogan, “The Right Choice Feels Good,” depicts the rewarding experience that transpires from the holistic approach that Meat With Us takes. As consumers savour the nutritious certified organic meat that can be bought online and delivered right to their door, they also have peace of mind. They are supporting environmental sustainability and superb animal welfare.
Attesting to their excellence is a gold medal granted at the 2024 Outstanding Food Awards in the Meat Category for their “Certified Organic Ribeye Beef,” and a high score in the special sustainability judging.
Meat With Us is currently focusing on soil microbiology monitoring and product trials to improve soil health. By prioritising organic and sustainable farming, they will continue to trailblaze the way for New Zealand’s organic farming industry.
Find out more about Meat With Us on their website.