At the Farmers Market: Grass-fed Beef

Ardent market-goers are right on the money when they say that one can do one-stop shopping at the . Beyond fresh fruits and vegetables, one can find dairy products, fish, seafood, juice, tea, baked goods, olive oil and even dog treats.

Now add USDA-certified grass-fed Angus beef to the many interesting finds in Calabasas. Foot traffic was just non-stop last Saturday at the Novy Ranches stall so the Calabasas Patch looked into it.

Truth in advertising

Dr. Lowell Novy, a veterinarian, has been raising cattle in 1976. Born and raised in Kansas, Novy has been involved in ranching for most of his life.

While running Valley Veterinary Clinic, based in Simi Valley, Novy began looking into the healthier practice of grass feeding. He took a leap of faith and bought 6,000 acres in the Shasta Valley area of Northern California.

“We raise red and black Angus cattle exclusively,” said Debbie Bitterly, Novy’s daughter who tends to the Calabasas stall along with her husband Steve.

Angus beef’s excellent reputation for taste and tenderness is well-deserved, according to Bitterly.

In addition, all the cattle at the family ranch are born and raised entirely on the ranch, minimizing or eradicating the risk for mad cow disease. The grass-fed beef claim is not hype either as the cattle only eats pasture grass, hay and some salt-mineral supplements.

Beef beyond compare

The beef can be pre-ordered through the ranch's website and picked up at any of six farmers market locations including Calabasas.

“It’s a 80-20 mix with 80 percent of our customers walk-ins and 20 percent pre-ordering online,” said Bitterly. “I do suggest pre-ordering though if you have a specific cut or quantity in mind.”

Calabasas market-goers gravitate towards the rib-eye steaks, which are smooth, tender and flavorful. The New York steaks, known for their robust flavor, also sell well in Calabasas.

The equally flavorful ground beef, available in regular and extra lean are also sought after in this particular market.

For the “outside the box” shoppers and meat-lovers, Bitterly had a couple of suggestions. “The coulotte is like sirloin roast and a little less expensive, if you want to try something new,” she said.

“The bavette is similar to a flank steak and very tender too,” she said.

People are beginning to realize the many nutritional benefits of grass-fed beef, said Bitterly. Aside from being naturally leaner than grain-fed beef, grass-fed beef also contains more vitamin E, more omega-3 essential fatty acids and more beta-carotene.

Aside from prime steak, Novy Ranches also carries smoked sausages, pepperoni sticks and oxtail, among others.

Retail store opening soon

With summer almost over, and the grilling season along with it, Bitterly anticipates that business will start picking up again around the December holidays. “People usually like prime ribs for Christmas,” she said.

The family is also looking forward to the opening of their retail location in Simi Valley come Oct. 3, where customers can also pick up their pre-orders or browse the wider beef selection.

The Calabasas Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday at 23504 Calabasas Road, across the street from the Sagebrush Cantina.