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July 2007 “You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness." |
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All-American summer celebrations
Add the right touch to your festivities. Celebrate America's Independence Day holiday with guaranteed born and raised USA beef, as well as U.S.-produced pork, poultry, lamb, eggs, cheeses, milk and much more! Ranch Foods Direct is proud to support U.S. farmers and ranchers. CLICK HERE to visit our on-line store and shop the July specials. |
Creating Cuban fireworks
Latin flavors, tradition and history come alive at Cubanacan, the new local restaurant that dishes up authentic Cuban cuisine. The food and décor is Cuban, but the undertaking is enterprising in a manner thoroughly American. The comfortable but tasteful atmosphere provides an appealing backdrop for a variety of new and unusual dishes. |
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Even better, this family enterprise sources all of its beef from Ranch Foods Direct. “It's more tender, and my wife is all about the health stuff,” says owner Irvin Rey. “She graduated with a degree in nutrition and dietetics.” CLICK HERE to find out more. |
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Making the connection
Custom processing is an important part of business operations for Ranch Foods Direct. Farmers and ranchers who want to market their meat directly to consumers or harvest their own animals need a place where they can have their livestock processed in small numbers with exceptional care and customer service. |
Meat industry veteran John May manages the custom processing services at Ranch Foods Direct. One satisfied customer, Dale Lasater, recently hosted a field day at his ranch about 50 miles east of the Springs. Dale is a beef industry visionary who raises and sells his own line of grass-finished beef. CLICK HERE to learn more. |
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| Did you know? …Today, the average American eats 278 more pounds of food than in 1970. |
Rodeo Daze
Ranch Foods Direct will grill mouthwatering burgers during the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo July 11-15. This extravaganza is one of the biggest events of the year in Colorado Springs. Stop by their booth and lasso up a sizzling Callicrate Beef burger while taking in the performances. CLICK HERE for more info on Colorado Springs' big summer rodeo. |
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Corralling stories of great American ranch families
Back in June 2005, we introduced readers of this newsletter to local photographer Jim Keen, who furnished several Ranch Foods Direct locations with awe-inspiring photos of daily ranch life. His stunning photographs have now been collected together in a glossy coffee table book, Great Ranches of the West, which is hot off the press early this month. |
| Not only are the photographs spectacular but the stories of historic ranching families throughout the West - including a couple of them from right here in Colorado - are beautifully told. Keep this item in mind for future gift-giving; it's easy to wrap and will inspire and educate readers young and old. Copies will be available for purchase this month at Ranch Foods Direct. Jim is also planning a series of local book signings to coincide with the Pikes Peak or Bust rodeo, including an open studio at his home. To learn more about the project, CLICK HERE. | |
| Did you know… If you feel like you're busier than ever, well, statistics appear to back you up. Between 1973 and 2000, the annual workload of the average U.S. employee increased by 199 hours, or about five 40-hour weeks. |
Food for thought: Great summer reading
A year ago I was running around town visiting community gardens with the young woman who organizes them, when at one point she placed into my palm a red-and-white kidney bean-shaped seed. It was unusual, smooth and gleaming, a small gem. I still have it on my dresser in the same place where I keep a few pieces of jewelry. |
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I was reminded of it when I picked up a copy of Barbara Kingsolver's new book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life. In a delightful coincidence, the cover art shows a child's cupped hands holding more of these same beans. Sure enough, on the inside jacket cover, a note of explanation reads: “In the front cover photograph by Steven L. Hopp, Lily is holding Christmas lima beans, an heirloom variety included in the Slow Food of USA Ark of Taste.” CLICK HERE for more on three great books to read this summer. |
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Recipe box: Savor local flavor
As many popular writers prove, eating local is worth making the extra effort. Do your own experiment by eating more food from local sources. And remember: you can enjoy fresh locally grown produce - direct from local farmers - coming this summer at Ranch Foods Direct. CLICK HERE for a summer recipe that combines those great leafy greens in abundant supply at the Colorado Farm and Art Market (CLICK HERE) with a naturally tender dinner steak from Ranch Foods Direct. |
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Putting America first
“Love of country is an elemental virtue, like love of home.” - Theodore Roosevelt Domestic farmers, ranchers and manufacturers are being forced out of business by cheap imports from foreign countries, with China responsible for a big chunk of America's rising trade imbalance (not to mention the world's pollution). California Congressman and presidential candidate Duncan Hunter, left, is one of many who are concerned and hope to remedy the situation through future legislation. |
| Already this year, Chinese imports are surging ahead of year-ago figures, even after the incidence of imported melamine-tainted pet food products poisoned animals nationwide and led to closer inspection and more awareness of the potential dangers of Chinese products. In an unprecedented move, farmers and manufacturers are coming together to study the issue and promote trade policies that will reduce the detrimental effects of globalization. Following a meeting last fall in Colorado Springs, the group recently held its second organizational conference in Ames, Iowa, a state potentially key to the outcome of the 2008 presidential election. Mike Callicrate, owner of Ranch Foods Direct, has been instrumental in bringing together this unusual coalition to push for a moratorium on trade agreements, more inspection of imported food and punitive measures to bring China's currency rates in line with their real market value. To learn more about the Coalition for a Prosperous America and related trade issues, CLICK HERE. | |
“There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America.”- Former President Bill Clinton |
 ... Your local source of natural beef, poultry, buffalo, pork, lamb, eggs, wild seafood, deli meats and cheeses, meals and more! Member, Peak to Plains Alliance
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Store and Meat Plant Mike Callicrate, Owner Please note: You can subscribe to the RFD newsletter or sign up for the birthday club at the Ranch Foods Direct website www.ranchfoodsdirect.com or in our stores. This newsletter is published by: Candace Krebs Writing, Editing, Photography, Design - Candace Krebs is a freelance writer and communications specialist. Contact her at [email protected]. Website design and web page newsletter design by Computer Images, [email protected] - www.graphicandwebdesign.com |
