Thursday 25 September 2014

Meet Enright Cattle Co.

Don and Chris Langevin
Kara and Darold Enright
and baby Evelyn, Corben and Bear

    For years now the media, doctors and nutritionists have been encouraging us to read food labels.  How much fat, how much salt, how much fibre, all very important things to know.  In other words they are suggesting that we think about what we put into our mouths.  We take all this time to read and calculate our packaged foods, but how much thought do you put into the meat you select for your family?  Do you know where it comes from?  What it's been fed?  How it's raised?  Me neither, and now that I am in the know, that scares me a little.  I know that our foods are being protected for us by the government, but it still leaves me feeling very ignorant about the food that I am feeding to my young children.


     In times past everyone knew where their food came from.  No one ever had to pay more for "organic", I'm pretty sure that the word "organic" didn't even exist.  If you wanted to survive in this hard country you grew your own food or were wealthy enough to buy it from a neighbour.  You always knew where your food came from.  No pesticides were used, because they didn't exist.  Today the majority of us are far removed from our food sources.  We have no idea where the food that we put into our bodies for fuel and cell nourishment comes from.  We have no idea even what country it comes from.  It is crazy just how much of a disconnect we have.   Family farms are no longer sustainable, many young farmers need to work a full time job and have a full time job as a farmer, or they have to give up their family farm that has been in their families for countless generations, to support their families.  That is a sad commentary about the amount of importance we put upon the growers and producers of our food.  As you drive closer to the larger cities you will notice that in the last few years thousands of acres of beautiful fertile land has been plowed under to make way for townhouses and malls.  That sends a very disturbing message about the importance we put on where we get our food from.


    The Our Backyard From Farm to Feast has allowed me a great honour.  I have been able to speak to the farmers who produce food locally.  I have been so blown away by their love of what they do, by their passion.  It has forever changed the way I look at my food and where it comes from.  It has also changed the way I will be purchasing my food.  I truly feel very privileged to have been able to see this.


    If you travel up Hunt Road here in Tweed you will come to Enright Cattle Co.  It is well kept, but unassuming.  I knocked on the door of the house and was greeted by this little blond lady.  She was quiet, but oh my the passion and love for what she does just poured out of her.  She has changed the way that I will forever look at my meat sources again!


    Enright Cattle Co is a family run business.  I use the word "business" instead of "farm", because it is indeed a business.  They operate on the supply and demand system.  Enright Cattle has no employees, only family members, even five year old Corben helps (and Baby Evelyn goes along for the ride).  I was blown away by the process in which they raise their cattle.  Kara and Darold Enright are third generation farmers.  That means that through each generation they have learned a lot about being stewards of the land.


    The cattle begin their life at Enright Cattle Co.   Here they are bred and raised by Kara and Darold until they are the correct weaning weight.  Each cow/ calf has an ear tag that will track them for their entire journey.  It tells Who they are, what weight they have been at each age, if they've been sick and needed antibiotics, the amount of information is just amazing.


    The cattle are fed food that has been raised on Darold and Kara's 175 acres of workable farmland or from Kara's parent's Don and Chris Langevin's 500 acre farm.  They work with a nutritionist to ensure that the cattle are receiving their optimal nutrition.  From this nutritionist the cattle receive a mineral / vitamin pack that has been specifically tailored to their nutritional needs.  The animals are never given growth hormones and only receive antibiotics when prescribed for sickness by a veterinarian.  It seems to me that these cattle are better cared for than many people are.


    Kara took me out to see the cattle that were grazing in the pasture.  I made the classic rookie mistake of wearing flip flops out into a cow pasture.  My feet smelled very earthy (that's code for I stood in cow poop) when I had finished.  When the cattle heard Kara, they all came running.  This to me is proof of how well treated these animals are, I was very impressed.  They all stood very tranquil, munching away on the green grass, completely unconcerned that we were there.


    The next step on the Enright Cattle Co journey is to Langevin Farms just a short drive away.  After the male's and non-replacement female cattle are at weaning weight they take a journey over to Langevin Farms to finish being raised.  Langevin Farm is owned by Kara's parents Don and Chris.


    The almost last stop on the Enright Cattle Co. journey is to Palmateer's Abattoir.  Bob Palmateer dry ages the beef.  It stays in a cooler where it dry ages for 21 days.  Dry aging changes the flavour and texture of the meat.  It also increases the tenderness.  This is just one more attention to detail.


    Enright Cattle Co. take amazing care of their animals and this extra care could explain why their beef is so widely sought after from Ottawa to Toronto.  25 - 30 restaurants currently buy their meat from Enright's.  Chances are that delicious steak that you have been raving about that you had for your dinner at that fine restaurant, it was probably raised here in Tweed.


    Enright Cattle Co.'s meat is not just available in restaurants, you can order it, and they will deliver it to you.  Where does that still happen?  Where can you find that kind of attention to detail in this day and age?  Still need more convincing?  Come to Tweed this Sunday, September 28 and try some.  The Our Backyard From Farm To Feast will be taking place.


    Chef Stev George from Olivea in Kingston (he uses Enright Cattle Co.'s beef) will be preparing Enright Cattle Co.'s beef for tastings.  I am personally very excited to get to try it. 


    I left the farm feeling great.  I had met people who loved what they did, they were passionate.  This is meat I would feel passionate about cooking and feeding to my children.  It seems like we are living in a world where attention to quality is trumped by attention to the bottom line.  It was so refreshing to meet people who did not feel that way.  I will be becoming an Enright Cattle Co. customer.  I like the idea of feeding my family food that I know how it has been raised.

Langevin Farms


   If you would like to learn more about Enright Cattle Co.  or would like to
 purchase some for your restaurant or family, please click the link below.



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