A lot of news media recently have been asking about how to identify the Country of Origin for the products we find at the grocery store, like meat.  And, with the World’s Longest Barbecue just around the corner I think it would be helpful to know how to easily identify Canadian Beef and understand why it’s important to ensure the beef you are buying for your weekend barbecue, Monday night steak salad or the beef dish you order in a restaurant is Canadian.

Why Canadian Beef?  By choosing Canadian Beef, you are supporting your neighbours and Canada’s economy.  Canadian Beef is the single largest source of farm cash receipts, totaling $6.6 billion in 2008.  Canadian Beef, as part of the Canadian cattle industry, contributes approximately $25 billion annually to the Canadian economy.  In addition, the meat processing industry is Canada’s third largest manufacturing industry (ranking behind motor vehicles and petroleum) employing over 27,000 Canadians.

With 86,000 beef producers in Canada, and beef produced in every province, eating locally raised beef is as easy as making sure it’s Canadian.  Each of Canada’s 86,000 beef producers serve as stewards of the land, dedicating their lives to ensuring both the land and cattle are raised and maintained in the healthiest way possible.

But how do you know if the beef you are buying is Canadian?

There are a few ways to identify Canadian Beef:

If you see this Canadian Beef logo on packages of beef in grocery stores or see it listed beside beef dishes on menus in your favourite restaurant, it’s Canadian Beef.

If the beef has a branded name, like Ontario Corn Fed or Original Alberta Beef, listing the province of origin within the name, it’s Canadian Beef. The origin of branded beef is usually verified by a third party agency.
If your local butcher or meat shop can tell you exactly what farm or processing plant they purchase their beef from (and it’s in Canada), it’s Canadian Beef.

If you see the official Canada Grade Name clearly printed on the beef package, it’s Canadian Beef.  To be ‘official’ the Canada Grade name must be noted as “Canada AAA” or “Canada AA” etc.  It must be shown in these words with or without the maple leaf.

If you are unsure or do not see any identifying logos or names, simply ask if it’s Canadian.

I always make sure the beef our family eats is Canadian.  Do you always ensure the beef you are buying is Canadian? How do you do that? Why do you feel it’s important to choose Canadian beef?