Community Update

  Nine million pounds of beef were recalled by a Northern California plant last week.  Earlier this year, reports of a possible "bacon shortage" spread as news that Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea has been spreading through piglets since last spring, killing millions. 
  It has become clear that the safety of meat pouring out of industrial farms is questionable at best.  In an attempt to keep the meat safe, the agriculture giants have resorted to pumping animals full of antibiotics and hormones (which make their way into the meat we eat), irradiation of meat, and ammonia baths to kill bacteria.  If all of this sounds extreme and unappealing to you, you're not alone.  Americans, more and more, are searching for safer foods, and transparency in our food system.  Farmers' Markets are one of the fastest growing segments in retail food sales.  Restaurants and shops dealing exclusively in products acquired from local, small farms are popping up in major metropolitan areas all over the country.
  Since the closing of Concord Prime, and the West Concord Supermarket, citizens of Concord have few options for finding safe, local, pasture-raised meats.  Jonathan Post wants to change that.  He has designs on opening a full-service butcher shop in West Concord. 
  As the opening sous chef at 80 Thoreau, Jonathan moved to Concord and immediately fell in love with the area.  "Concord has it all," says Jonathan, "there are great restaurants, art galleries, boutique shops, and specialty food stores.  Until recently, we had a fantastic butcher shop, too, but since M. F. Dulock moved his business to Somerville there's a big hole to fill for local consumers."
  Jonathan is currently raising capital for his venture through the crowdfunding website Indiegogo.  "We have about thirty days left in our crowdfunding campaign, and a long way to reach our goal, but I'm confident we can get there."
  To learn more about his campaign, or to contact Jonathan, you may visit his Indiegogo page at http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-butcher-of-west-concord