We are proudly Customer Certified and Customer Inspected.
We have moved Beyond Organic and Beyond Certified Humane.
We will never seek “USDA Organic Certification” for two reasons.
1.) Our farm practices far exceed the USDA certification requirements; and
2.) The USDA “Organic” certification has lost most of its credibility in favor lobbyist money. For examples, currently permitted toxins in “Organic” food include:
1.) Ethylene
2.) Synthetic DHA
3.) Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate
4.) Carrageenan
5.) Hydrogen peroxide
6.) Oils, including petroleum
7.) approximately 30 pesticides
8.) amonia
In the meantime, Lysein and Selenium, naturally occurring compounds necessary for livestock to have healthy immune systems, is not permitted in certified organic supplements or feed. Animals that eat foods without these essential nutrients will get sick and will require pharmaceutical intervention to keep them alive long enough to make it to your local grocery store shelf… Never forget…. you are what you eat…
Learn more about the severe shortfalls in Certified Organics HERE.
There is only one true certification - Customer Certification. While the source of the meat and produce found in your grocery store is hidden behind blacked-out windows and barbed wire industrial farm factories, Ridgemeade is open 24/7, 365 (if you really feel like stopping by at 1:00am on December 24th you can . . . but please don’t). So come on by and inspect our farm for yourself. If you like our foods, come back and buy more, and tell your friends along the way!
We are 100% transparent 100% of the time. Our practices consistently exceed those required by organic certification.
We are dedicated to Regenerative Agriculture which uses 100% natural methods, minimizes off-farm inputs and petroleum use, and maximizes on-farm dynamic sustainability and nature-mimicking methods. We use no chemicals or fertilizers. The result is truly sustainable, unparalleled food quality with exemplary nutrient density and flavor. We don’t need a fancy USDA Organic Label for that. In fact, that label would lower our standard. Visit our farm and see for yourself.
Once you see how your food is raised at Ridgemeade Farm then maybe, just maybe, you’ll never see grocery store “food” in the same way again.
Want to learn more? Check out these links:
What is Regenerative Agriculture?
Beyond Certified Humane
Certified Humane® is a third-party, paid, animal welfare certification managed by Humane Farm Animal Care, a nonprofit organization. It purports to ensure that farm animals are raised under humane conditions from birth through slaughter. To earn the label, farms must meet rigorous standards that prohibit cages and crates, require gentle handling, and provide animals with clean water, nutritious feed, and space to express natural behaviors.
Ridgemeade Farm so far exceeds these standards that to get Certified is unnecessary, not to mention unduly costly and time-consuming.
Even better - we provide here the published standards of “Certified Humane and content that we far exceed their rigor. You can review the requirements HERE and schedule an in-person tour of our farm at any time by clicking HERE.
Core requirements that we exceed:
Here are the key Certified Humane® requirements for sheep, based on their published standards:
🐑 Feed & Water
Sheep must have free access to wholesome, nutritious feed appropriate for their age and condition.
Diets must not include animal by-products, growth hormones, or sub-therapeutic antibiotics.
Clean, fresh water must be available at all times.
Feed and water systems must be maintained to prevent contamination and ensure accessibility.
🏠 Housing & Environment
Sheep must be protected from extreme weather, with access to shelter in winter and shade in summer.
Indoor and outdoor areas must provide comfortable lying space with dry bedding.
Ventilation must maintain air quality and prevent heat stress.
Space allowances must support natural movement and social behaviors.
🧠 Behavior & Welfare
Sheep must be able to express natural behaviors, such as grazing, lying down, and socializing.
Painful procedures (e.g., castration, tail docking) must be minimized and require pain management.
Lambs must not be weaned before 6 weeks unless medically necessary.
🚚 Handling & Transport
Handling must be calm and low-stress, avoiding electric prods or rough treatment.
Transport vehicles must be clean, ventilated, and appropriately stocked.
Slaughter facilities must follow humane guidelines, including stunning before slaughter.
📋 Record Keeping & Oversight
Farms must maintain records on feed, health treatments, housing conditions, and animal movements.
