Chipotle Parterns wtih Salatin Family's Polyface Farms

   I tend to be skeptical when I see food that's advertised with phrases such as  "100% natural" or "exactly the way nature intended." That's because the word "natural" is often abused and overextended to include methods of producing (and distributing) food that are anything but natural.  Examples that come to mind include produce that is grown with industrial fertilizer and products from animals who live in inhumane conditions at factory farms where they are mutilated (their tails and beaks removed) and forced to eat foods that cause them digestive problems while they live literally in their own waste -- which becomes a major pollutant instead of being used as a natural fertilizer.

  When I think about an “ultimate standard” for natural agriculture, I usually think of Polyface Farms. Polyface was discussed extensively in Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma,  a book that inspired major changes in the way I think about food. 

   I learned via Greg Knaddison's post on Chipotlog (see file photo) that burrito chain Chipotle is partnering with Polyface Farms to exclusively use Polyface pork at the Chipotle store in Charlottesville, Virginia.

   Chipotle seeks to provide "food with integrity" and their approach involves incrementally increasing the amount of organic or natural foods that they purchase. As the Chipotle chain grows, the market for natural food increases along with Chipotle's ability to stock the chain with a greater percentage of natural ingredients.

  Partnering with Polyface is great step in that direction. It reflects considerable thought on the part of Chipotle and is likely to promote brand awareness of Chipotle as a “natural” food supporter.

Congratulations to the Salatin family and Chipotle.

And no, Chipotle is not owned by McDonalds!