KNOW YOUR FOOD: ESCAPE THE GREENWASHED GROCERY GAME

At 2 Coots Ranch, we believe that real food freedom starts with truth—and unfortunately, you’re not going to find much of it in the grocery store aisle.

As farmers committed to regenerative, transparent practices, we want to help you cut through the noise of marketing buzzwords and empty labels. Because when it comes to feeding your family and reclaiming food sovereignty, the fine print matters.

Here’s the hard truth: a lot of “green” food labels are designed to make you feel good, not feed you better.

COMMON GROCERY STORE GREENWASHING TERMS (AND WHAT THEY DON’T MEAN)

“Natural”
Means nothing. The term isn’t regulated by the USDA. A factory-farmed chicken raised on GMO feed can still wear this label.

“Cage-Free”
Sounds nice, right? But it doesn’t mean those birds had access to pasture—or even saw the sun. Most are packed into giant warehouses.

“Vegetarian-Fed”
This one’s a head-scratcher: chickens are omnivores—they’re meant to eat bugs, worms, and all kinds of critters. 'Vegetarian-fed' sounds nice, but it’s not natural. It usually just means a diet heavy in corn and soy… and that’s No Bueno!

“Pasture-Raised”
Sometimes legit—but sometimes a loophole. Unless you know the farm, you can’t know how much access to pasture animals really had.

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR FARMER (AND OUR ANSWERS AT 2 COOTS)

Q: What do your animals eat?

At 2 Coots, our animals eat what they’re meant to—fresh grass, forage, and hay in the winter. No grain, no soy, no shortcuts. Our poultry is fed a high-quality, corn- and soy-free feed that supports their natural omnivorous diet and keeps them healthy the way nature intended.

Q: How often are they moved to fresh pasture?

We move our animals regularly through our pastures to mimic natural grazing and regenerate the land.

Q: Do you use any antibiotics or hormones?

Nope. Our herds and flocks are raised with holistic care to support natural immunity—never with synthetic drugs or growth hormones. Antibiotics are used only in rare, life-saving situations. If that ever happens, the animal is treated, separated from the herd, and never sent for processing.

Q: Can I visit the farm?

Yes. Come see it for yourself. What you see is what you get. Feel free to ask us any questions and be sure to shop at our Farm Market!

BE YOUR OWN LABEL DETECTIVE: A FEW TIPS

✅ Read past the front label. Always flip the package over and look at the fine print—ingredients and sourcing matter more than slogans.

✅ Ask where it came from. Not just what country—but what kind of farm. If they can’t tell you, it’s not transparent.

✅ Trust your gut—and your farmer. Real food should make sense. If something feels off, it probably is.

INDEPENDENCE STARTS WITH YOUR PLATE

The freedom to feed your family food that’s clean, honest, and nourishing shouldn’t be a luxury. It should be a right. That’s what we’re working toward at 2 Coots Ranch—by farming regeneratively, locally, and with open gates.

And whether you shop from us, your local farmer, or grow your own—we hope this empowers you to take back control over your food.

Here’s to food freedom and knowing exactly what’s on your plate!
– The 2 Coots