HUDSON, NY – On Oct. 1, the first Animal Welfare Approved Restaurant, Grazin', in Hudson, NY, is set to open for business. As a result, Grazin' will become the first restaurant in the US using only Animal Welfare Approved meat, eggs and dairy products. Restaurants can only earn the distinction of being an "Animal Welfare Approved Restaurant" if all meat, dairy and egg products are from Animal Welfare Approved farms.

The owners and operators of both Grazin' Angus Acres farm in Ghent, NY, and the new Grazin' restaurant are Dan Gibson and his family. When Grazin' opens its doors, customers will consume locally sourced and sustainably produced meals. Signature menu items at the classic 1950s-style stainless steel diner on Warren Street will include eight different burgers; all made using local Grazin' Angus Acres' 100 percent grass fed and finished Black Angus beef served with hand-cut organic fries, plus a range of homemade organic ice creams and house-made organic sodas from an old fashioned fountain.


"For some time now, I have dreamed about opening a truly sustainable restaurant which serves tasty, nutritious meals using only high-welfare, sustainably produced meat and other ingredients," Gibson said. "Grazin' is that restaurant. As we only use local suppliers, most of our ingredients will have travelled less than 11 miles from farm to plate, minimizing the carbon footprint of every meal."

Grazin's authentic "Farm to Table - Direct" menu features fresh beef, pork and eggs from Grazin' Angus Acres and fresh milk and pork from Milk Thistle Farm in Ghent, NY, as well as cheeses from Hawthorne Valley Farm in Ghent, NY, Consider Bardwell Farm in West Pawlet, Vt., and Finger Lakes Dexter Creamery in King Ferry, NY – all of which are certified by Animal Welfare Approved. Other ingredients are also sourced from local farms and suppliers, wherever possible.

"Grazin' is an exciting new gastronomic experience for the conscientious consumer who wants a delicious, high quality dining experience that won't literally cost the Earth,” said Andrew Gunther, program director at Animal Welfare Approved. “While growing numbers of restaurants across the US are choosing to serve menu items using Animal Welfare Approved products, we have been particularly impressed by the commitment of Grazin' Angus Acres and the other local farms involved to ensuring that all the meat, eggs and dairy products served at Grazin' are Animal Welfare Approved."

Animal Welfare Approved is a national nonprofit organization that audits, certifies and supports farmers raising their animals according to the highest welfare standards, outdoors on pasture or range. Its Online Directory of AWA farms, restaurants and products enables consumers to search for AWA farms, restaurants and products by zip code, keywords, products and type of establishment.