“Fresh, Healthy and Delicious!” That is what one of our new customers said about our offerings. It apparently struck the customer that the combination of all three is not a common occurrence. It basically requires living near a sustainable farm that delivers its produce the same day it is harvested. And freshness is key. Once harvested, vegetables begin to lose their nutrients, slowly at first, then more rapidly. Customers often tell us how beautiful our vegetables are and that they have “more flavor” and “just last and last.” That’s very true when comparing Gran Roca freshness to what is available from other food retailers.
Do you know when the chicken you bought from the store was butchered? How about how old the eggs you bought, or the milk you bought? Our commitment to fresh animal products simply can’t be matched by big food retailers, where multi-day transportation and warehouses control the flow of their products.
Have you noticed that the same crops are often planted in the same place in Ecuador year after year? And then the farmers insist they’re “organic.” Um, sorry, nope. Repeat planting is, in itself, is a violation of the organic statutes. Crops must be rotated and, of course, the use of harmful chemicals is banned. And I can’t even tell you how many farms I’ve visited that claim they don’t use harmful chemicals on their crops…well except until their crop is threatened. Then it’s a trip to an Ag store and a chemical remedy is quickly applied. Hmmm.
For animals, to avoid antibiotics and hormones, they need to be rotated on pasture, yet almost all chickens, ducks, turkeys and even pigs are raised in houses or cages. The smell…I don’t think I need to finish that sentence. But you got to know those houses and cages are not a healthy environment. It seems not uncommon to hear about people going to the hospital with food poisoning. Of course, all of our animals are raised on pasture on our land and butchered on our farm in our commercial kitchen to North American standards…no antibiotics, no hormones, no kidding. Be thankful that you are not consuming animals that are raised and slaughtered in the horrendous conditions that occur the world over.
To make an order using our on-line store for any of our products, please subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter. It’s easy. Go to granroca.net and click the Newsletter tab, fill in your email and press subscribe. Newsletters are sent out on Saturday mornings for Cuenca order delivery or pick-up on Monday afternoons. Farm Pick-Ups can be made on Tuesday and Friday afternoons. All the information you need to make and receive an order can be found in the Newsletter.
Gran Roca has received many GringoPost awards over the past 4 years.
Deliveries: Are made to your personal address.
Pick-Ups in Cuenca: 2-4 PM, next Monday, November 1st, Smokehouse on Colonel Talbot 8-66 across from Parque San Sebastian
Rob Gray: info@granroca.net