"Ted's Montana Grill" NOT Using Montana Beef

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A letter to the editor published in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle last month (June 2008), pointed out that Ted Turner's restaurant's, DO NOT USE MONTANA BEEF. I was a bit surprised, especially since "Ted" not only owns a large Montana ranch, but also has chosen to capitalize on the State of Montana.
I spoke to a local restaurant owner here in the Gallatin Valley/County. I asked him if he had read this letter. He said he had. He also said FEW restaurants and grocery chains in Montana can afford to purchase Montana Beef, as the prices are sky high. Montana Cattle Growers have found it more profitable to export their beef.

So, for the most part the beef we're getting at restaurants and grocery stores is not from our own state. You must inquire at your local market, or restaurant if you want to know where the beef they are using comes from.
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posted on Thu, Jul 03, 2008 12:51 PM
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Networking bysouthward6 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
Interesting you bring this up. NPR has been running a show in the evenings where some women are interviewed about the challenge in using Montana grown/produced food in the school lunch program. I don't have more details, but you might be able to listen online.

Part of the discussion that I found most interesting was about the lack of processing and distribution capacity for Montana food within Montana. I think it is true for other ag products, but I have heard this specifically about beef before, too. That is to say, most processing is done at huge centralized centers where it costs less per "unit." This all ends up as the "commodity" beef that comes from who knows where. So to get beef that you "know" is from Montana, or anywhere specific, you have to go the specialty/mom and pop route which costs more. This is true of many of our ag products, which we mostly ship out to be processed and re-sold to us at a premium.

When the gov talks about value-added agriculture that is code for doing the processing, packaging and reselling in-state to keep more of that $ here. Apparently this part of the system is still not well-developed in Montana (i.e. the easiest way to get LOCAL flour and cooking oil, for restaurants, is through Sysco!) Beyond just helping out the producers I strongly feel this is something we need to work on if only to be less dependent on the rest of the country for our needs.

Also you are right on that we should be requesting locally-grown whenever possible. Our demand might be just the incentive needed for crafty people to invest in delivering MT food we can actually afford to eat. Ted's has the national presence and $ that they could be innovators in that market. Maybe with enough demand from us they will steer that way. It would be a good payback for us letting them use the name!
Why are we IMPORTING and EXPORTING Products We Grow/Raise In Montana? Beef/Potatoes byberrymountain6 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse)
I have heard the same about "processing plants." Imagine if one plant could supply/process the beef just for "Ted's Montana Grill" nationwide. I think there are a total of 54 restaurant's he has now opened, and unashamedly exploited the name and reputation of the State of Montana for his own financial benefit.

The impression I received from the restaurant owner I spoke with, was that Montana Ranchers are finding a windfall (which is fine) exporting and shipping their beef out of state, and much of it out of the country. So even if they wanted some of their beef to end up in Montana, they'd charge a hefty fee for it as they're not going to lower the prices for Montanan's.

Most restaurant owners couldn't pay the price without raising the price of items served on their menus, as it would still be significantly more expensive than the imported beef, from out of state, most are using.

I think it is a shame...that we are typically not getting Montana Beef.

As far as produce: I have been buying locally grown potatoes (Manhattan) at WalMart. This past week I noticed that we are now only offered IDAHO potatoes, (which are very good) at WalMart. The price was raised 25% at WalMart as SHIPPING is expensive.

So, we're now importing our potatoes, no longer offered local potatoes? I can't go to the Farmer's Market every single time I need a vegetable. So, reasonably I have to shop at the chain stores.

If anyone knows of any store which specifically sells Montana potatoes/beef, let me know. Thanks

Dang! I really like your idea of a "company" that delivers Montana grown/raised food for us!
RE: Networking byPooterman6 months ago (1 votes) (report abuse)
"Also you are right on that we should be requesting locally-grown whenever possible."

I would love to buy more local products, but until the local economy supports me supporting it, then I am only able to support the local product on a limited basis. This is a dirty little game, the tighter the squeeze on the family, the more that have to shop at the "wal-marts" of the world which in turn causes more to have to start shopping at the "wal-marts" of the world. It's a nasty little circle.
RE: Networking bybozogirl6 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse)
Pooterman: I would say it's a nasty little circle only because of how people react when they get squeezed. Instead of decreasing our quality of life we want to keep it the same with cheaper products.

It's a life style choice, you can still support local but it takes more time and you have to buy less. More time because you have to search out products from multiple vendors (stores, farmer's markets, farmers, friends/family) and it costs more so you definitely have to buy less.

And why do you say the local economy needs to support you so you can support it? Don't you draw your paycheck from the Chronicle which gets money from local business ads and local citizens? Not to be rude - just curious.
RE: Networking bysouthward6 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse)
Amen to that. Probably the same nasty little circle that took away glass recycling here. Not enough people/density/demand to make private local processing facilities profitable, and fewer of us are in a place to pony up more in taxes just for that warm fuzzy feeling.

Town and Country usually has local/MT potatoes, eggs, flour (Wheat MT, 3forks), and cooking oil (Montola, Culbertson) at prices you won't totally choke on. The flour and cooking oil (natural white and safflower, respectively) are the best you can buy anywhere and the price is the same as comparable national items. Local eggs go over and under the national price which makes me wonder when the cost of gas will make them the cheaper choice for good. Probably when they are $3 a dozen.

Disclaimer: I don't work for the flour people or the oil people, but they are two great examples of strong local brands that are fairly easy to get, compete on price and kill on quality, so I talk them up when I can. Just the kind of thing we need more of. Not to mention they are both great stewards of Montana ag land. They are both online & you can Google them to read about their practices.
RE: Networking byPooterman6 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse)
"And why do you say the local economy needs to support you so you can support it? Don't you draw your paycheck from the Chronicle which gets money from local business ads and local citizens? Not to be rude - just curious."

When you shun the "box stores" and other foreign products you are doing the same thing in regards to local citizens. The folks that work at Wal-Mart are local, same with home depot and lowes, and what about the business man/woman who sells products shipped from non-U.S. warehouses/manufacturing plants? Are they not local residents employing local residents? We are dealing with two different aspects, the act of buying a local product and the act of buying from a local vendor. I would love to do both all the time but I have a family to support and expenses to pay - there is a major price difference between products and vendors.
Albertsons... bymitchelmauschen6 months ago (1 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
in Belgrade sells Cole's potatoes. They are farmed south of Manhattan....and they're delish!
Perfect. Albertsons? Do I have to drive to Belgrade? byberrymountain6 months ago (3 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
Ted ought to change the name of his eateries to "Ted's Crummy Meat Grill."
RE: Perfect. Albertsons? Do I have to drive to Belgrade? bymitchelmauschen6 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse)
Nope, no need to drive to Belgrade; Albertsons in Bozeman will carry them from time-to-time as well...time-to-time, that's the kicker....sigh....
Local Beef with a discount! bysouthward6 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
I had heard Montana Specialty Meats (4 corners) sourced local beef, but here's the full deal from www.eatwild.com/products/montana.html

Meat Montana, an online source for 100% natural, grass-fed angus beef. Local ranchers have been raising cattle and preserving open space in the greater Yellowstone area for over a century. David and Arlene Germann and Sons operate a grass-fed beef cattle ranch in McAllister, Montana. Their website offers grass-fed beef delivered anywhere in the U.S.

Their beef is also available at their retail store, Montana Specialty Meat and Sausage Company, in Bozeman, MT. Browse the selection on our website and call for free shipping within Montana. Bozeman residents are eligible for free delivery and discount prices.

Meat Montana, 2622 W Main Street, Bozeman MT 59718.
(406) 587-5994. E-mail: shane@meatmontana.com.
Website: http://www.meatmontana.com.
RE: Local Beef with a discount! bybozogirl6 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse)
Montana Specialty Meat and Sausage Company use to be by Bridger Ridge Ice Cream across from the Mall. It is no longer there, you are mixing up two different businesses. There is a meat shop out in 4 corners but it isn't Montana Specialty Meat and Sausage Company, it is Big Sky Premium Meats.
RE: Local Beef with a discount! byberrymountain6 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse)
Southward: Let me know what shops provide local vegetables and meat. (Confirm on meat. Maybe there is more than one at 4 Corners)

Montana Wheat bread is easy to find almost anywhere. I did find however that it does not freeze well which is a big disappointment.

How about a "Post" Southward, about where to get meat and vegetables, locally grown. I also think we should all set an example buying only locally grown potatoes! Why? Because it is a huge waste of energy to ship potatoes from out of state, only to have a retailer charge us extra for importing what we don't need. We have potatoes for Pete's sake. What is going on with retailers???
Local Veggies & Meat... bybozogirl6 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse)
Check this site out for what restaurants use local products - http://www.northrock.org/

Shop at the Co-op to get local vegetables and meat on a regular basis - http://www.bozo.coop/ - become a member and read their newsletter to learn about local veggies and meat.

Go the the various Farmer's Markets in the Valley to get local products:
Tuesdays - Bogart Park: 5-8pm
Wednesdays - Livingston: 4:30-7:30pm & Manhattan 4:30-7:30pm
Fridays - Livingston: 7:30-10am
Saturdays - Gallatin Fair Grounds: 9am-12pm
RE: Local Beef with a discount! bysouthward6 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse)
Whoops. My bad. Sub-gripe: Too many local businesses named Gallatin Valley this, Montana Custom that. . . sheesh!
RE: Local Beef with a discount! byberrymountain6 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse)
No big deal. Sure like the name of all markets that sell Montana Beef, here in the Bozeman area.
RE: Local Beef with a discount! bySnowflake6 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse)
The Meat Shoppe, near downtown Bozeman, said this to my husband and I when we inquired as to whether their meat was antibiotic/steroid free:

"It's organic at the time of slaughter"-unquote

Ummmm, so it's fed all the bad stuff and 30 days out or so, before slaughter, it isn't given those things and can be called organic at that point?

IMO, their response hints at the fact that my interpretation of their statement is true.
Thanks Bozogirl byberrymountain6 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
Thanks. I went to the site, it is very good. The site was HONEST enough to state that the following restaturant's use at least one/1 product produced/grown in the State of Montana. Let's face it, that would NOT be hard to do.

But, it's a start. Sure like to know "what" these restaurants use... I cut and pasted the list:

Montana Farm to Restaurant 2007 Participants:

2nd Street Bistro - Livingston
18 Miles to the Border - Bozeman
Adagio Trattoria- Livingston
The Bay - Bozeman
By Word of Mouth – Big Sky
Cateye Café - Bozeman
Chico Hot Springs Resort - Pray
College Street Cafe & Grill - Bozeman
Community Co-op - Bozeman
Emerson Grill - Bozeman
John Bozeman's Bistro - Bozeman
Livingston Memorial Hospital - Livingston
Montana Ale Works - Bozeman
Norris Hot Spring - Norris
Northern Pacific Beanery - Livingston
Nova Café - Bozeman
Oak Street Natural Market - Bozeman
Pine Creek Cafe and Lodge - Livingston
Wilsall Bar & Cafe - Wilsall
RE: Thanks Bozogirl bybozogirl6 months ago (4 votes) (report abuse)
This summer if you see the Farm to Restaurant poster in a Restaurant's window ask them what they are using. Many times it will be in one of their specials and they would love to tell you what products and what farm it came from.

It's also fun to attend an all local dinner, the Harvest Celebration is Oct 3rd at Chico ($75/person) put on by the Corp. for the Northern Rockies. And I'm pretty sure the Co-op does some too.

The more you ask where your food comes from the sooner this "issue" will change...the retailers and restaurants will only change when they see that it is in their best interest to - so as soon as their clients make them. They will never be able to shift their buying based on price alone.
I will do that. byberrymountain6 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
THX
Montana Beef? Whats that that? bySnowflake6 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
We purchased beef more than a few times from the Madison Valley Beef somethingorother and couldn't stomach it, plain and simple. It was tough and tasteless. I hope you guys in Gallatin Co. are getting better stuff.

Regarding bison, we much prefer it over beef as we prefer all game meat over beef. The game meat me get around here is tasty but extremely expensive.

Personally, if Ted is promoting the use of Montana beef in his restaurants, he should do just that.

You reading this Ted?
Big Sky Premium Meats is the place to go for GV Meat that is 100 percent organic bybznmt597156 months ago (1 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
Absolutely salivating! Beef is raised just up the road in Gateway, is all natural (not shot with hormones and steroids) and the staff will cut and prepare an order to your wishes. Everytime I go in there I fall in love with something different. The meat is so tender and marbled, all my friends ask for it to be there holiday presents. It is absolutely amazing and is well worth a stop! I did today before a party at my place for the 4th and it made all the difference. I value supporting the local economy and think it is such a great bonus to get a product at the same time. (They are on the right side of the road, just past four corners on the way up to big sky.) 582-9191.
RE: Big Sky Premium Meats is the place to go for GV Meat that is 100 percent organic byberrymountain6 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse)
Thanks for staying on post, and THANKS for the information several are supplying, even the not so great opinions.

We purchased a half a beef from a organic beef producer that was advertised last year in the Chronicle. It was HORRIBLE, to the point we did not even believe it was beef. For years we lived on elk and deer. This "organic beef" from that particular grower, was horrible. We do believe that the meat was switched during processing, and even tried to find someone at MSU to do a DNA on the meat. No kidding, it was that bad.

Clarify: I am all for organic as one of my kids has severe allergies, and asthma. I believe it was this was a dishonest meat processor, not a dishonest beef producer.
Post Thread bycwrite6 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
This post has taken off in a direction nothing to do with Ted's MT Grill.
I ate there yesterday, the food was fine & the prices high.
As for the johnny-come-lately know-it-alls who say they are amazed MT
doesn't have a well-developed local food production/distribution network--
is that so surprising since it was a rural state until you got here.
Now you are demanding that it become like the places you left behind.
Well, it is, it will, just wait/see & watch it grow some more.
Bozeman is already beginning to have the same problems you left behind.
The streets are congested, property taxes & values are "(Big) sky" high,
the jail is too small, there aren't enough police on duty, the fire protection doesn't cover every ranchette in the forest, open land is disappearing, schools are crowding. Some people can't/don't see the forest for the trees!
PS - Ted's Idea bycwrite6 months ago (1 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
Ted had a good idea didn't he
and it looks like he's making it work.
Yeah, it is a good idea to exploit the name "Montana" byberrymountain6 months ago (1 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
Sure, that sounds like a great idea. I wonder why he didn't use the name of the state where he gets his beef?

CWRITE: I am 4th Generation to Gallatin Valley. 5th if you count the gggrandparents who were born in Ohio. I don't count those folks. You don't know my age, or the reason for our family being absent almost 20 years.

I saw the demise of states run over with illegal immigration and crime. We lived that, and do know quite a bit about it. Seems that while we were away from the State of Montana, "The Meth Project" was started. Montana is not immune to what is and has plagued other states for years... So, looks like Montanan's have buried their heads, and look what it has gotten them. Debt, massive drug problem, overcrowded schools, underpaid teachers, overcrowded jails.

Believe me, I have a right to my opinion, and this is my "home." I doubt Montana or Bozeman is your "home." My guess is, it's a place people like you come to, and destroy with your liberal "gimme gimme gimme" attitude. Your family did not help build this county or state, mine did.
Thanks For the Information byberrymountain6 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
That...is great information and thanks for helping to stay on topic!
re: bycowgirlmedic6 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
I haven't tried Teds and probably won't because of his liberal ways etc (another story), but does he use Montana grown buffalo?

Just curious since he doesn't use local beef. What about his vegetables etc...
RE: re: byBike Ryder6 months ago (0 votes) (report abuse)
He sells 'his' buffalo meat. He has some in this state and other states. So who knows if your getting bison from his herd in MT