The USDA Organic label tells you how a product was produced, but it doesn’t automatically mean it’s healthier, safer, or better. Understanding what the label requires can help you make informed decisions about the beef you buy. In this article, we break down the standards behind organic beef and what the label does, and does not tell you.

Grass-fed and grain-fed beef aren’t as different as you might think. In fact, cattle raised under both systems typically spend most of their lives grazing on pasture—the biggest difference comes during the finishing stage. But what does each label really mean?

Most people have never stepped foot on a working farm or ranch, yet nearly every opinion about food starts somewhere. Social media, documentaries, advertisements, family traditions, and headlines all shape what we believe about agriculture. But very few people ever get to ask the farmer.