Mountain Beef, long-time providers of grass-fed beef to Bainbridge Island, sent an email this week announcing the sign-up for fall deliveries. As always, established customers get priority, new customers are added if there is sufficient supply after all orders from previous customers have been filled.

Hello family and friends,

It is that time of year again...the season to place your Mountain Beef order for fall delivery.  We understand that you might look in your freezer and say, "What!  We have an abundance of beef, surely we have enough to last us another year!"  Do keep in mind that we don't deliver until the fall.  It is a lengthly process on our end to be certain we have enough butcher steers available, put them on lush wild grasses, find them again in the summer, get them round up and to town for the slaughter and butchering process.  The earlier we get a commitment from you, the more sane this process is for us.  We can get a head count of the number of animals we need to have ready by this fall and establish a mutual commitment at the same time.

It is this simple.  Decide how much beef you want and send your deposit check accordingly.  If you need advice on the quantity to order, we can help.

2008 PRICES:

• WHOLE STEER  $3.40 per pound hanging weight

• HALF STEER  $3.55 per pound hanging weight

• QUARTER STEER  $3.65 per pound hanging weight

Mail your check or money order, written to Mountain Beef, to:

 Mountain Beef

68340 Warnock Rd.

Lostine, OR 97857

DEPOSIT AMOUNTS:

• WHOLE STEER  $600

• HALF STEER  $300

• QUARTER STEER  $150

Later we will be in touch with you about your custom cutting and wrapping order.

 Mark is at the ranch full-time.  The boys and I join him every two weeks for a 2 week stay.  We'll be away from home March 17-30.  If you have questions please contact me before or after those dates if you want an immediate response.

 As always, we give our repeat customers a month to place their orders before approaching new customers.  After April 13 we will be in contact with new customers.  Thanks to all of you wonderful Mountain Beef consumers that are putting your friends, family and neighbors in contact with us.  We have had a lot of new interest this year.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!  You continue to be our best advertising.

 We are considering making extra cuts available.  These cuts would be in addition to the halves and whole steers purchased in the fall.  Example, you are buying a half of a beef and want some additional roasts, steaks, burger, stew meat, ribs, etc.  Is this something you think you would be interested in?

We are thinking we won't make this available to those buying quarters.  This idea might promote purchasing quarters with additional cuts, making more work for our butcher.  Quarters are the most time consuming to cut for the butcher.  Also, when buying a quarter one has less cut choices, because the butcher has to split the front and hind of the steer equally.  Exasperating the situation is the fact that the quarter is such a small amount of meat.

 Because of the way we raise our animals, we must continue with bulk sales.  Too, with bulk sales we are able to offer an affordable product.  We will continue to grow Mountain Beef in the most natural way possible and that is in an environment where cattle graze year-round.  Again, the extra cuts would happen in conjunction with the usual fall delivery.  Please give us feedback so we can decide how to proceed.

Thank you for sending your deposit!  If you need more time to make your payment, let us know and we'll reserve the meat for you until you can send the check. We look forward to hearing from you!

Amy and Mark Ramsden

Mountain Beef

(541) 569-2450

 68340 Warnock Rd.

Lostine, OR  97857