The Pyramid Just Got Flipped! 🥩 🔄
Hello friends,
April is in full swing here in Chester, and the pastures are hanging in there although the hot weather and worsening drought this past week has put some strain on them.
But while we’ve been busy moving the herd each day, something massive has been shifting in the world of nutrition. If you’ve been following the news lately, you might have seen that the federal government finally did something many of us thought we’d never see: they flipped the food pyramid.
A “Gift” for Real Food Believers
For decades, we were told to build our diets on a foundation of grains and carbohydrates, while viewing animal proteins and fats with a side-eye. But the new 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines have turned that old model on its head—literally.
The new “inverted” pyramid now places high-quality animal proteins, full-fat dairy, and whole foods at the top of the priority list. It’s a move toward recognizing what you, our savvy customers, have known for a long time: Real, nutrient-dense animal protein is the pinnacle of human nutrition. You can read the official announcement from the USDA on this “historic reset” here.
Insights from a Friend of the Farm
Joel Salatin recently called this a “gift” in his latest column. As many of you know, Joel is a long-time friend of Watson Farms—he even spent a day here back in April 2020 helping us navigate our transition out of the turkey business. In his latest article for The Stockman Grass Farmer, he wrote:
“The new inverted pyramid placing animal protein on top represents not only a return to historic normalcy but a renewed narrative of affirmation and acceptance to a demonized segment of American agriculture. All sectors of the livestock industry stand to benefit, but pastured livestock producers even more.”
While some of you may have written off government guidelines years ago (and we don’t blame you!), this shift is a massive win for awareness. It brings the conversation back to real food and away from the ultra-processed “fake meats” that have been pushed so hard recently.
Seeing Through the “Ultra-Processed” Fog
The new guidelines also take a hard stand against Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs). This is huge. It means the “fake meats” and lab-grown alternatives that were the darlings of Wall Street just a few years ago are being recognized for what they are: highly processed science experiments.
As Joel pointed out, these companies are hemorrhaging money because, at the end of the day, people want real food. They want meat that comes from a farm, not a bioreactor.
Why the “Pastured” Part Matters More Than Ever
While the government is finally catching up to the importance of meat, they haven’t quite reached the level of nuance that we live by every day. The guidelines don’t yet officially differentiate between a feedlot steer and a 100% grass-finished Watson Farms steer.
But science is filling in those gaps. The Bionutrient Institute has been doing incredible work on their Treaty on the Definition of Nutrient Density. Their research shows that the nutritional profile of beef can vary significantly depending on how the animal was raised. The key? Plant diversity.
The more types of grasses and forbs our animals eat, the more complex and healthy their meat becomes. That’s why we work so hard to manage our pastures for diversity—because a “salad bar” for our cows means better health for your family.
🐔 Coming Soon: Fresh Chicken on the Horizon
We know many of you have been patiently waiting for some of your favorite pastured chicken cuts to return to the store. We have some great news: our first chicken processing day of the season is scheduled for Tuesday the 21st! If all goes well, we’ll be able to restock several chicken favorites that have been out of stock for a while. Be sure to keep a close eye on Kelly’s Midweek Update email, which hits your inbox every Wednesday. That’s where we’ll make the official announcement regarding the chicken restock!
Product Spotlight
To celebrate this “return to normalcy,” we want to make it easy for you to stock your freezer with the very best. Whether you’re following a Keto, Paleo, or just a “Real Food” lifestyle, we’ve got you covered.
Featured This Week: The Grilling Bundle
Spring is here, and there’s no better way to enjoy the world’s finest protein than over a fire. This bundle is packed with our 100% grass-fed beef and pastured pork favorites—perfect for those first cookouts of the season. It’s the ultimate way to put the “top of the pyramid” right onto your dinner plate.
To top it off, you’re getting a great deal at only $149, which is more than 5% below retail.
We are so grateful to have a community of customers who didn’t wait for a government chart to tell them what’s healthy. Thank you for trusting us to be your farmers.
Stay healthy,
Matt Watson
Check out this ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review from Emma:
“We are beyond grateful that we came across Watson Farms a couple years ago. We’ve been a loyal supporter of their fresh, grass-fed and finished beef ever since. We also enjoy ordering their pork and chicken products and stocking up on beef sticks and honey from their farm store. The transparency they provide in their process and their personal customer service is refreshing and appreciated. We will continue to be loyal customers to Watson Farms for years to come.”
We would greatly appreciate it if you would be kind enough to leave us a review. It helps first-time customers purchase with confidence.
Shipping Timeline and Store Hours
UPS Orders (all orders ship with insulation and dry ice):
UPS orders normally ship out on Mondays – Wednesdays.
Tracking: As usual, you will receive an automated email with a tracking link as soon as your order leaves the farm.
Farm Pickup (Always Free!):
If you are local, Farm Pickup is often the fastest way to get your products. Please wait until you receive an email stating that your order is Ready for Pickup (typically 1 business day after your order is placed) before heading over.
Farm Store & Pickup Hours:
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 10:00am – 6:00pm
- Saturday: 10:00am – 2:00pm
- Wednesday & Sunday: Closed
Farm Store Address: 713 Colony Road, Chester, SC 29706
Tell a Friend!
It’s now easier than ever to Give $15 and Get $15 through our Referral Program. We don’t spend a lot of money of advertising, but rather we focus on producing products that people love and are willing to tell others about. So we depend on word of mouth to find new customers and ultimately to heal more land.
So in an effort to streamline this process we have made it easier to tell others (via email, Facebook, or Twitter) about Watson Farms. And it’s all automated on the backend, so you don’t have to rely on us to issue the store credits manually. Just head over to our Referrals Page and start sharing!
