SRF BLOG

Dinner Party Conversation Starters: Share the SRF Story Snake River Farms steaks were meant to be shared. Impress your guests with more than the incredibly delicious meat on their plates by tossing out a few details about our history and values while you cook. Whether you’re gathered around the backyard grill or in the kitchen, these five talking points will spark conversation that elevates any dinner party to a special occasion.   What is America Wagyu Beef? The word ‘Wagyu’ is Japanese for ‘Japanese cow.’ Only cattle that are 100% pure-bred in Japan can be called by this name. Though it is now illegal to export Wagyu from Japan, it was legal for a while in the 1970s and ‘80s. Robert Rebholtz Sr., founder of Snake River Farms, was one of the first to import Japanese cattle to the U.S., where he bred them with American cattle and created an entirely new breed: American Wagyu. These cross-bred animals produce exceptional American Wagyu beef that combines the buttery marbling of Japanese Wagyu and the rich, robust flavor Americans are used to.    What Does Ranch to Table Mean? Beyond creating a whole new breed of cattle, Snake River Farms is shaking up the cattle ranching industry by controlling the entire chain of production, from our ranch to your table. Almost every beef producer out there works with a patchwork of independent feed suppliers, ranchers, transporters, processors and distributors. Snake River Farms does it all in-house — from breeding and tracking genetics to nurturing cattle through optimal development to humanely processing them at our own facility to packaging the beef safely for delivery. That means quality control and documentation at every step.    How Does SRF Make the Beef Industry Better for the Planet? Snake River Farms was sustainable before sustainability was trendy. Doing right by our neighbors, our animals and the planet is good business and good stewardship. Specific practices that protect and preserve resources for the future include:    Rotational grazing programs that protect vegetation regrowth Local feed sourcing within 150 miles of our cattle locations Cattle waste recycling into nutrient-rich fertilizer for neighboring farms Reducing water waste by 40% per pound of beef Capturing biogas to power the SRF processing plant, which displaces 20% of natural gas needs   What Do Celebs Say About American Wagyu? Hugh Acheson knows his way around a kitchen — and a steak. He can help anyone cook the perfect steak with his surprisingly simple Steakhouse Method. When he’s not judging contestants on “Top Chef” or designing menus for his Georgia restaurants, the James Beard Award winning chef has this to say about Snake River Farms American Wagyu beef: “It’s just stunningly beautiful American beef.” Wolfgang Puck, an established and respected chef, holds SRF American Wagyu in high regard as well. It’s his opinion that if he had to decide between eating the best Japanese Wagyu and American Wagyu, he would "choose the New York steak from Snake River Farms every time." And there’s more to enjoy than delectable American Wagyu at Snake River Farms! On the “Today Show,” Al Roker called SRF Kurobuta ham “the most delicious piece of meat you will ever eat in your life.”   Why Choose SRF Beef for this Occasion? Snake River Farms American Wagyu beef is the best you’ll ever taste. Period. To put it in perspective: The poshest steak most restaurants serve is graded as USDA Prime. All SRF beef grades above USDA Prime, meaning it has more marbling, richer flavor and better texture. This isn’t just a meal — it’s an experience you’ll remember and talk about for years. Whether you’re trying a new recipe or simply grilling your American Wagyu steaks, celebrate this moment of shared indulgence with gusto.    

How is Snake River Farms Different from Other Online Sources of American Wagyu?  You’ve got a lot of choices for buying steaks online. When you’re searching for the best source of high quality beef delivered to your home, Snake River Farms should be at the top of the list. How is Snake River Farms American Wagyu beef different from other online sources of American Wagyu? It all comes down to three things: fearless innovation, in-house excellence and forward-thinking sustainability.   Pioneering Better Beef We didn’t set out to reinvent the beef industry. When our founder, Robert Rebholtz, Sr., saw the opportunity to import Japanese Wagyu cattle for crossbreeding with our domestic stock in the 1980s, he was simply following his instincts of working toward the highest levels of quality and excellence. The result was an entirely new breed of cattle that produces the deep flavor and sublime marbling of American Wagyu beef. Taking that ground-breaking risk put us on our continuing journey of innovation and genetic mastery through precise refinement. Our family members were pioneers of the land, and we’re proud to pioneer a future of delivering the best possible beef to American families.   Modeling Excellence from Ranch to Table Cattle ranching is in our DNA. And like all people who make a living off the land, we have the deepest respect for our animals, property and neighbors. We never take the easy way out because we know that being a pioneer means doing things the right way, even when it’s harder. In 2003, we purchased our processing facility in Toppenish, Washington — which means we control the entire supply chain from our ranch to your plate. That’s an unusual situation in this industry, and we’re proud to model an entirely in-house practice that ensures excellence at every level. Our breadth of experience and degree of control sets us apart from other sources of American Wagyu beef and is key to delivering the unique quality you expect from Snake River Farms.   Doing the Right Thing for the Right Reasons We were sustainable before sustainability was cool. Our down-to-earth commonsense approach to keeping our land and animals healthy has led us to choose practices that are now considered trendy. But we don’t do them for the buzzwords. We do them because it’s the right thing to do. Preserving resources for future generations and implementing sustainability through every step of the beef lifecycle is good business — and good stewardship. Snake River Farms sustainable practices include:   Rotational grazing programs to promote healthy rangelands Sourcing a majority of our cattle feed within 150 miles of each feeding location Composting to recycle cattle waste into nutrient-rich fertilizer for area farmers Upgrading equipment to treat and re-introduce 96% of the water we use Reducing wastewater by 40% per pound of beef at AB Washington Beef Capturing biogas to power our processing plant, which displaces 20% of our natural gas needs You have a lot of choices for buying American Wagyu steaks and other cuts of beef. When it comes to serving your family the highest quality beef with the best flavor, choose Snake River Farms American Wagyu beef. And when you want to make the right choice with beef that’s sustainably raised, humanely processed and delivered to your door in excellent condition, choose Snake River Farms for our commitment to a better meal and a better industry.