Chaffin Family Orchards in Oroville answers your Frequently Asked Questions, Butte County, California

Grassfed Beef, Lamb, Chevon/Goat:

What does grass fed mean?
Aren’t all livestock grass-fed?
What are the health benefits?
How long has Chaffin Family Orchards been raising livestock?
What kind of quality product can I expect when I purchase meat?
What are the livestock fed?
Are the animals treated humanely?
How does raising grass fed livestock affect the environment?
Are Grass Fed meats more sustainable?
How does this affect the community?
Is eating local food safer?
What does predator-friendly mean?
What is Chevon?

What does grass fed mean?: Animals that are grass fed are not put into a corral or pen but rather left in the pasture and they harvest their own feed of 100% grass, no grain, hormones, or antibiotics are ever fed. Our animals roam freely in native pastures with access to water, shade and shelter. They are never left in a corral, or fed grains. Providing ample amounts of grass, a ruminant’s native diet, for each successive year requires a great deal of understanding in land stewardship and preservation. The rancher has to intimately understand the unique mutually beneficial relationship that exists between grasslands and farmers. Animals raised in such an environment take longer than conventional animals to get a marketable weight but the product is superbly superior.
Aren’t all animals grass-fed?: The image of animals grazing peacefully on a mountain side or in a lush pasture isn’t always a correct portrait of how the industry raises animals for consumption. Most animals are confined to crowded pens (CAFO’s) and fed large amounts of grain to fatten them up prior to slaughter. It would kind of be like living in an office cubicle with six other people and only being allowed to eat donuts.
What are the health benefits?: There are many benefits to eating grass fed meats. Not only does the meat taste delicious but animals raised naturally on grass come with a myriad of health benefits to those who consume their products. The fat deposited in meat from animals eating green growing grasses and brush contains CLA, a healthy fat that has been shown to act against cancer and heart disease. Instead of the artery clogging fat in meats from animals fed grains, meat from animals fattened on pasture has a completely different fat profile, a healthy one. “Compared with feedlot meat, meat from grass-fed beef, bison, lamb and goats has less total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, and calories. It also has more vitamin E, beta-carotene, vitamin C, and a number of health-promoting fats, including omega-3 fatty acids and ‘Conjugated Linoleic Acid,’ or CLA.” Read more at www.Eatwild.com.
How long has Chaffin Family Orchards been raising livestock?: Chaffin Family Orchards has been raising healthy and humane livestock with integrity for over 60 years. Starting initially with cattle, we quickly realized the variety of native forages on the ranch were uniquely suited to many types of grazing stock. Beef, Sheep, and Chevon (Goat) are now being raised in concert with each other to make best use of the land while producing healthful meats.
What kind of quality product can I expect when I purchase meat?: We maintain the highest quality standards. Only the finest animals are kept for marketing to your family. Our animals are raised on finest native grasses and they enjoy space to roam and live naturally. Chaffin Family Orchards times the harvesting of our meats for when they are ready. We work with the land and pastures to produce the best forages and make use of them at the proper times for each type of animal. We wait to harvest until the best quality meats can be produced, insuring the best in both taste and tenderness. We believe that happy and healthy animals lead to delicious and healthy meals for you. We have been feeding happy and satisfied repeat customers for over 75 years.
What are the livestock fed?: Our animals are never given any steroids or hormones. They are never fed antibiotics and they are never given or fed grains. Rather our animals graze peacefully and naturally as they should. The livestock are given hay during inclement weather when it might be hard for them to graze, organic minerals, and kelp to supplement their nutrition.
Are the animals treated humanely?: All of the animals at Chaffin Family Orchards are always treated with respect and dignity. We handle our livestock with gentle care as we find it is best for their health as well as ours. When an animal is stressed it affects meat quality. Animals that are raised in close confinement (CAFO’s) or handled roughly will release stress hormones that have a negative affect on taste and tenderness. Our animals spend their life in a natural pasture environment with access to fresh water and shade at all times. Animals are kept in a natural setting and worked using humane stockmanship principles. We use natural weaning and mothering with our animals to reduce as much stress as possible. We work all of our animals on foot. Our animals are accustomed to moving to fresh pasture frequently so they actually come when called, in anticipation of some new pasture. This makes for very low stress gathering and handling. We use guardian dogs to protect our animals, which is a predator friendly practice. This allows the predators to remain in the ecosystem, keeping everything in balance.
How does raising Grass Fed livestock affect the environment?: Raising livestock on native lands is good for the land. Livestock keep the land in good condition by grazing back invasive plants that might destroy habitats for other species. Deer are often seen sleeping with our livestock to avail themselves of the guardian dog’s protection. Livestock naturally fertilize the land with their manure. Since we use organic farming practices, our livestock’s manure is a healthy organic fertilizer.; Purchasing locally produced, grass finished meats is good for the environment. When you purchase locally farmers receive a living wage and are able to stay on the land, protecting it from development. Grass finishing of livestock allows the land to stay in it’s natural state as no buildings or stock yards are required. Buying locally produced products also requires much less petroleum for transportation.
Are Grass Fed meats more sustainable?: Many consumers today are concerned about the carbon footprint of their foods. If this is your concern eating local, sustainable foods is a great choice. Eating local food as well as grass finished meats drastically reduces consumption of fossil fuels. Typically animals and their feedstuffs such as grain are trucked vast distances all over the country to get animals to a finished weight and then the meat is shipped all over the country again for consumption. A calorie of food can take as much as 15 calories of energy to produce and deliver under a conventional agricultural system. Our animals work to fit into mother nature’s natural cycles. All of our animals are born on our ranch and they are taken to a local USDA inspected harvest facility. More importantly, having an economically sustainable farm and ranch helps maintain open space for wildlife and preserve natural beauty for the community to enjoy as well. We work with the Natural Resource Conservation Service to improve the health of our rangelands and wildlife habitat.
How does this affect the community?: Much of the countries food production is controlled by large corporations. Typically, only a small percentage of money spent on food at a grocery store goes back to the farmer and an even smaller percentage of food is raised by family farms. When you shop direct from the farm, a drastically higher percentage of each dollar spent is recycled back into the local economy. In addition, when you buy direct from the farmer strong relationships are built. This gives the you and the farmer a direct feedback loop to better enhance your eating experience.
Is eating local food safer?: When you buy food products from Chaffin Family Orchards you know where your food is coming from. Chaffin Family Orchards is concerned about the health and safety of your family so we follow all the USDA regulations with regards to health and sanitation. Because our growing systems are small there is less chance of the contamination that is seen in industrial agriculture. Our family has farmed and ranched on the same property for over 95 years and doing so has put us very attune to our local ecosystems. Around every corner there is a piece of family history and story to be told. Feel free to come and visit the farm and as you tour the operation you too can become part of the story of growing food for satisfied customers.
What does predator-friendly mean?: Predator-friendly means that we do not kill predators to prevent or stop them from harming our livestock. Instead we use preventative measures that hold predators at bay while livestock are in the area. One of our main tactics is with the use of guardian dogs. We bond guardian puppies to either sheep or goats by raising them with the animals. As the puppy grows it takes the herd on as its own and will protect it the same way it would protect its own family. Since our sheep and goats are constantly moving to new locations the predators only have to share their areas with the dogs for a few days at a time. We have found in the 15 years we have had guardian dogs that a symbiotic relationship develops between the predators and guardian dogs where they respect each other’s territories.
What is Chevon?: Chevon is goat meat. Goat is the most widely consumed meat in the world. We hope you will try ours, we are sure you will enjoy it. Goats are finished on browse, which is comprised of a variety of native woody plants. The bark of woody plants is high in trace minerals. These minerals add health benefits to the meat in addition to healthy fats from the forages. Goat is available in whole animals by pre-order. If you would like a whole animal it is a good idea to get your order in by mid summer. Individual goat cuts are also available at the ranch and farmer’s markets. We start marketing in late fall and stop when we run out of goat. If you would like special cuts, be sure and stock up by the first of the year. Whole live animals are also available by private treaty in mid fall. Please Contact Us or join our newsletter list if you would like to be contacted when we have our live animal sale.

Poultry:

What makes your eggs so good?
What is an egg mobile?
What do the chickens eat?
How can chickens benefit the environment?
Why should I buy a broiler raised on pasture?
What is a stewing hen?

What makes your eggs so good?: Eggs from Chaffin Family Orchards are gathered daily and kept refrigerated. Unlike most eggs, which may take weeks to get to the store, our eggs are delivered within seven days of laying. Fresh Eggs stand up in the pan and have a wonderful taste. Eggs from poultry on pasture have a deep yellow yolk and excellent texture. These eggs will provide more lift to baked goods. The whites have a fabulous integrity that holds up well when whipped and stay together for poaching. Cookies baked with our eggs have a wonderful rich flavor and cakes can rise up to 30% higher. Many studies show increased nutrition available in eggs from poultry consuming green grasses. Eggs from poultry on pasture have been shown to contain more Omega 3’s as well as more Conjugated Lineolic Acid (CLA). See www.Eatwild.com for more information.
What is an egg mobile?: An egg mobile is a moveable chicken coop which allows the chickens a place to roost for the evening and a place to lay their eggs in the morning. The rest of the time they spend roaming the pastures eating bugs and tender greens. The egg mobile is on wheels and moved once a week to continually provide them with fresh greens and new supplies of bugs. Our chickens do not visit the same piece of ground more than once a year. This insures maximum consumption of green forages, seeds, and bugs increasing the healthful qualities of your eggs.
What do the chickens eat?: In addition to fresh forage and tasty bugs our hens are also offered organic grains and supplements in a buffet style feeding system that allows them to balance their own diets with the forage and feed available in each area they are moved to. Automatic water founts also assure plenty of clean fresh water is always available.
How can chickens benefit the environment?: Our chickens are very environmentally friendly. The birds work in our orchards to remove pests the natural way. They also spread their organic manure on our fields to nourish the trees. This manure is spread evenly and worked into the soil by the birds. The spreading rate is natural so there is no damaging runoff from the land. The birds also sanitize our pastures of parasites removing the need to worm and fly spray our cattle, sheep, and goats. This promotes health for the animals and feeds the chickens at the same time. The hens are particularly talented at cleaning around the bases of trees, which is the best area for bugs. They also enjoy playing and roosting in the trees.
Why should I buy a broiler raised on pasture?: Eating chicken raised on pasture is an out of this world experience. When birds are raised outdoors in an environment where they feel comfortable while happily finding fresh bugs and tasty new plants to munch on they grow to produce only the finest quality meat. Our birds usually weigh 5 or more pounds and yield a very large quantity of tasty tender meat. One bird can easily feed seven or more people. These birds are raised in a unique and healthy way to produce only the best and most healthful chicken you can buy. If you have never tasted the meat of a pasture raised broiler, try one you won’t be disappointed. The stock that is made from the bones and skin of these chickens has an amazing clarity. No need to skim anything off the top. There is no brown foam to skim!
What is a stewing hen?: Stewing hens are a tradition that has gone by the wayside in most households. Stewing Chickens are birds that were bred to be layers that are now too old for laying eggs or they are roosters we have raised on pasture. These birds are older in age than our broilers and not bred specifically for meat production. Slow cooking stewing hens yields a modest amount of firm dark meat and they make phenomenal soups and stews. The broth from these birds is flavorful and dark. If you are looking for a good old-fashioned soup or stew like your grandma used to make, start with a stewing hen.

Orchard:

How many different types of fruit do you produce?
What do you do to manage your orchards?
Why does your produce taste so good?
What is brix?
What is Extra Virgin Olive Oil?
What are fresh olives?

How many different types of fruit do you produce?: We grow various varieties of mandarins, lemons, grapefruit, oranges, cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines, avocados, pomegranates, persimmons, and olives. Many of our varieties are old fashioned heritage or heirloom varieties. You can learn more about the effort being taken to preserve rare varieties at Slow Food (www.slowfoodusa.org/ark/index.html).
What do you do to manage your orchards?: We do our best to work hand-in-hand with mother nature. We do not use any herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, or any other similar treatments anywhere on our property. Instead we utilize symbiotic relationships between animals and plants to build a mutually beneficial result. We use cover crops and rotations of cattle, goats, sheep and chickens to control vegetation and fertilize the orchards organically. Goats are used to assist in brush removal and pruning rather than depending on conventional tillage and herbicides. Each animal species has to be managed slightly differently to produce optimum results but after years of trial and error we have developed a system that allows us to solve a multitude of problems that might plague conventional farmers. This helps to assure not only a sweet tasty fruit but a healthier system for you, the eater, as well.
Why does your produce taste so good?: Our fruit has superior flavor for a few reasons. Our location is prime for long growing seasons and our soils are rich in minerals contributing to the flavor of the fruits. Since our family has been farming these grounds since 1912 many of our fruit varieties come from trees that have reached their full maturity which leads to only the sweetest fruits. Most importantly though, we pick our fruit just prior to sale. We select only the ripest fruit to harvest and we handle our produce with the utmost care. We sell direct to the customer and we know that only the finest quality products will lead to repeat business.
What is brix?: Brix is a measurement determining the concentration of dissolved solids most of which are sucrose in a specific crop. It ultimately tells us how sweet either produce or pasture is on a measurable scale. We record this data to give us another feedback method to ensure that we are producing only the finest quality fruit year after year.
What is Extra Virgin Olive Oil?: “Extra-virgin olive oil comes from cold pressing of the olives, contains no more than 0.8% acidity, and is judged to have a superior taste. There can be no refined oil in extra-virgin olive oil” (wikipedia.org). Extra virgin is the highest quality grade of olive oil. Its delicate flavor and aroma lend themselves perfectly for dipping bread as well as adding to salad. However, the oil can be used as a substitute for other oils in recipes as it also works well for cooking. Olive oil is noted for its many health benefits. Learn more at www.Wikipedia.org.
What are fresh olives?: Some people enjoy curing their own olives at home. If this is you or something you think you would like to try let us know. We have four varieties to choose from; Manzanillo, Sevillano, Mission, and Barouni.

Shipping:

How do I order whole or half of an animal?
Why do whole and half’s sell out so quickly?
How do you ship your cuts of meat?

How do I order whole or half of an animal?: If ordering a whole or half animal a deposit is needed to hold your reservation. Animals can also be purchased directly from the farm as a live animal and we take them to the locker plant of your choice. You pay the farm for the animal and the locker plant for the harvest & cut/wrap. You pick the meat up from your chosen locker plant and take it home to the freezer. Our processors can walk you through your order to insure you get the cuts needed for your family size and meal planning needs. If you are interested in ordering whole or half beef, lamb or goat please Contact Us with any questions. All orders are subject to availability and meat will be reserved on a first come first serve basis.
Why do whole and half’s sell out so quickly?: We harvest our animals in synch with the grass cycle. Each year we raise the number of animals to market. Most years our whole and half orders sell out really quickly so get make sure to get your order in right away. Once we sell out we have to wait a whole year until we have ample green grass to properly finish the animals to maintain a superior product.
How do you ship your cuts of meat?: We ship our meat on Mondays and Wednesdays excluding all major holidays and days that UPS is not running. We ship in cardboard boxes lined with inflatable insulators and frozen gel packs. The insulators which are designed to ship food products come to us in a roll, which we then inflate for individual boxes on the ranch. This drastically reduces the amount of fuel used to ship them as well as space to store them in comparison to rigid foam boxes. In the same manner our gel packs come to us in flat sheets on a roll which we then soak in water and freeze on the ranch. We feel that taking these steps to reduce consumption of fossil-fuels is another step towards a sustainable future for all of us.

Feel free to Contact Us and ask other questions and you are welcome to come visit the ranch!

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