Why Feed Farm Fresh Food to Your Dogs?
Many people are aware of the health benefits of eating farm fresh foods when compared to foods purchased in chain grocery stores. But what about our dogs? We believe farm fresh food is a better way to feed them as well.
What’s So Important about Farm Fresh Foods?
- Most produce travels up to 1500 miles before it reaches the local grocery store, which means that it loses a great deal of its nutrients by the time you buy it.
- Locally grown, farm fresh fruits and vegetables are picked at their peak, so they look and taste better and are naturally more nutritious. Because of the short time between the farm and buyer, more of the nutrients are preserved.
- Locally raised livestock are pasture raised and grass fed, providing a more nutrient rich meat product. Most local farmers have working relationships with the local processing facility so they can guarantee quality, unlike livestock processed in the much larger industrial facilities.
- You know exactly where your food comes from, how it’s produced or harvested, and what’s in it.
- Buying locally is more environmentally friendly because it requires less fossil fuels to transport, generating less greenhouse gas emissions.
- Buying from local farmers supports local families and builds community.
What are the Options for Feeding your Dog?
There are so many food choices out there for dogs, ranging from bargain basement kibble brands to higher quality raw and cooked meals. We know that many people are either not aware or not in a position to feed a high quality diet, so they buy cheap kibble brands from big box or other types of grocery stores. What they don’t realize is the disservice they are doing to their dogs.
Most low quality kibble brands are full of fillers and other processed foods that dogs can’t digest. This means they aren’t getting the nutrients they need to maintain health. Often dogs who are fed these diets develop health and weight problems as they age.
High quality raw or cooked meals are in our opinion the best option if you want to feed your dog well, don’t have the time or energy to make their food, and don’t have access to farm fresh foods. These products most often use USDA inspected, human grade meats (although some may not, and there’s no way to tell) and vegetables.
The primary issue with many of these foods is that the meats, while human grade, come from factory farmed animals who spend their lives in stressful and unhealthy living conditions , and the fruits and vegetables are sourced from large scale farms that often use a variety of chemicals to eliminate bugs and disease. While many dog food brands claim to be organic, it’s hard to tell if the company doesn’t reveal exactly where their ingredients come from. Also, the way the food is processed may affect the nutrients in the food.
A New Mindset – Locally Sourced, Farm Fresh Food for Dogs!
If you care about where you get the food you eat, and shop local for yourself, you’re likely someone who will care about where your dog’s food comes from. At Canine Harvest, all of our ingredients are sourced from farms in Western North Carolina. We are completely transparent about where we source our ingredients. We list our farms on our website. We continue to look for new local ingredients to develop new products. Our mission is happy, healthy dogs who thrive. We believe that farm fresh local food is one of the best ways to achieve this mission.