SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT: Ground Meat Trends + Technology - July 2023 - 12

GROUND MEAT BLENDS
is that a more family-style approach would be
like a highly seasoned ground beef meatball
program. I think some of the more paleo-centric
types will probably make burgers out of it
because that's their preference, but it's pretty
versatile. "
other nutrients. The addition of these nutrientrich
ingredients to their regeneratively raised
100% grassfed ground beef creates a flavor that
is both rich and satisfying.
Hickory Nut Gap's nutrient-dense custom
blend of grass-fed ground beef, liver
and heart offers at least 20% more protein
per serving (compared to the company's
existing 80/20 blend), which can
satisfy the special needs of Keto, Paleo
and Carnivore diets.
Beef heart and livers made the most
sense as the organ meats to include in
Vital Blend due to the availability of those
cuts, Ager said. But organ meat blends also
align with the industry initiative to get the most
from each beef carcass.
" Part of the meat business is carcass balance
and utilization, " he said. " It's always helpful to
have some ways to market those products for a
good price. "
" We are a whole carcass program, so we manage
our supply chain directly with farmers, " Ager
said. " We're not like a CPG brand buying raw
material and packing it. We're actually a meat
company that has to manage the utilization. So,
products like Vital Blend allow us to manage
that really well. We don't export any products, so
this is just an opportunity to incorporate more of
our own production into a retail product. "
Hearts and livers also are more manageable
and not too overwhelming for consumers.
" We didn't want to get too many weird things in
there that are uncomfortable [for consumers], " Ager
added. " Liver and heart are fairly normal to eat. "
Ager said natural food stores are expressing
interest in Vital Blend. He suggests the blend can
be incorporated into classic meals like spaghetti
and meatballs.
" You don't notice the flavor too much, and you
get the health benefits, " he said. " My expectation
12
2023 GROUND MEAT TRENDS + TECHNOLOGY MEAT+POULTRY
My
expectation is
that a more
family style
approach
would be
like a highly
seasoned
ground beef
meatball
program. "
Jamie Ager
EPIC ENTRY
Consumers today want to know where their foods
come from and how their foods affect their health
and the health of the planet. The 2023 Power of
Meat study confirmed that personal health, animal
welfare, concern for the planet and social responsibility
affect the food and meat choices of many
American meat shoppers.
" When buying meat/poultry, 62% are looking
for products that are better for their health,
and about one-third consider animal welfare,
the planet and social responsibility, "
according to the study. And when
it comes to healthy choices, consumers
are focused on leanness and portion
control.
Tapping into this trend more than
a decade ago was Austin, Texas-based
Epic Provisions which started by offering
meat snacks sourced from sustainably
raised, grass-fed beef, bison, pork and poultry.
After selling Epic Provisions to General Mills
in 2016, Katie Forest and Taylor Collins, founders
of Epic Provisions, partnered with Robby
Sansom to form Force of Nature Meats.
Located in Dripping Springs, Texas, Force of
Nature Meats utilizes regenerative agriculture
practices to maintain ecosystems and fight climate
change. The company partners with farms
to raise grass-fed, grass-finished pork, venison,
beef, bison and elk. Force of Nature also produces
wild boar meat that is sourced from animals
that are trapped by ranchers.
In
addition
to
specialty
grounds
featuring
beef, bison, elk, wild boar and venison, the
company's Ancestral Blend is a combination of
ground beef or bison with 7% liver and 3% heart,
according to the company's website. The product
is available from leading retailers such as
Whole Foods, Kroger, Sprouts and various others.
Force of Nature developed the Ancestral
Blend to appeal to consumers interested in the
nutritional benefits of organ meats but who
lacked knowledge or confidence to cook it. To
encourage consumption, the company provides
online recipes like the Korean ancestral beef and
rice bowl and bison ancestral meatballs.
Erica Shaffer, Sosland Publishing Company
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT: Ground Meat Trends + Technology - July 2023

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