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Educating Consumers According to Welch, one of the most rewarding aspects of the res taurant and cattle businesses is their mission to provide transparency and educational opportunities for consumers. “When it comes to food, everyone has an opinion. We’re providing a grasp of the product, which is lo cal and sustainable, and we can tell people which animal every burger comes from,” Welch says. One platform used to share this information is the text message service promoted on Graze Burgers’ website. Welch says the restaurant receives frequent inquiries about the food products, processing facilities and management practices involved in their integrated business, including the following questions: How are the animals raised? Are there hormones included in the beef? Where is your beef processed? “People want to know what they are eating,” Welch explains. “There is a big educational process at work, and that is huge in the industry today.” Quality People, Quality Products Like any cattleman, Welch believes in the power of integrity and respect, and he remembers to uphold these values in the business environment. “I believe you have to take care of people. You have to respect them and give them transparency, and most of all, you have to put out a quality prod uct,” Welch says. The white-collar businessman and cattleman, who enjoys puzzles and creating solutions, dedicates much of his time to working with customers and building relationships within his community. As the family continues to raise beef and pork products for local con sumers, farm stands and restaurants, one philosophy continues to guide their day-to-day business and lives: “Great Grass, Happy Animals. Great People, Great Food.” Joshua Welch and J.W. Beef are able to showcase a small portion of the livestock industry to New England residents. With the words “locally sourced, responsibly raised” written on the Graze Burgers website, Welch provides an outlet for educating oth ers on all things American Aberdeen and beef products. TL

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they are able to stimulate the local economy by conducting business with resident butchers, farmer’s mar ket partners like Stone Acres Farm and community members – notably including Graze Burgers’ contributor with a traditional German hot dog recipe. Welch is able to achieve this com munity business through operational success and growth. “The herd is growing and we’re doing a better job of optimizing yield with primal cuts and selling them in different ways at restaurants and farm stands,” Welch says.

For Welch, offering this information for consumers is key in educating cus tomers and increasing business. “There is a lot of affluence and interest in food and healthy eating in New England,” Welch says. “There’s a big part of altruism and educating people that plays a role and showing customers a better product for the same price.” Not only does J.W. Beef provide American Aberdeen beef products at the family-owned restaurants, but

Joshua Welch owns and operates two restaurants, Bridge and Graze Burger, both in Westerly, R.I., with full transparency of food origin - grass fed, American Aberdeen beef.

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