Tendergrass Farm (Rocky Mount, VA) is a family owned and operated farm that raises and sells free grazing beef, pork and poultry. Tendergrass classifies their meat as "beyond organic" due to the methods they use. No animal at Tendergrass Farms is vaccinated or given antibiotics. Additionally, none of their grazing pastures is ever treated with chemical fertilizers or pesticides.

Tendergrass Farm takes great pride in producing the highest quality grass fed meat. Beef, in particular, is rarely grass fed in the United States. Commercially produced beef is fed a blend of grains that changes the actual chemical composition of the beef. I won't go into great detail about grass vs. grain fed beef, but you can read about it here if you're interested.

Tendergrass Farm's new website and online store make obtaining quality pastured meat products easier than ever. I used their website to order six pounds of pork spare ribs and a 14 oz grass fed flat iron steak. Ordering meat is quick and easy. One feature that I really like is "Express Checkout." This allows new customers to check out quickly using either a credit card or Paypal without having to set up an account.

I placed my order on Friday morning. I got a shipping notification on Monday and the package was delivered promptly on Wednesday morning. The meat was tightly packed in a styrofoam cooler with dry ice. The ribs were divided into half racks with each half being vacuum packed. The steak was vacuum sealed and labeled as well.
The steak was calling my name so I decided to thaw it for Thursday's dinner. The first thing I noticed about the meat was the color. For those that don't know, this (above) is what beef is supposed to look like. The bright red steaks you see at your local supermarket may look pretty, but fresh cut beef isn't naturally bright red.

I brushed the steak with a bit of oil and seasoned it with Knox Spice Cracked Pepper Dry Rub. The steak hit a hot grill for a few minutes on each side. I then pulled it off to rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing it.

Flat iron steak is one of my favorite cuts. It's lean and tender, but still has plenty of bold beef flavor. I served the steak with mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables. Cooked medium rare, the steak was juicy and flavorful.