What’s Really in Your Burger? Mike Callicrate Exposes the “Food Cartel”

Are you sure you know what’s in your beef, pork, and hamburgers? Today we sit down with rancher, entrepreneur, and food-system advocate Mike Callicrate (Ranch Foods Direct) to unpack how a handful of multinational corporations shape what lands on your plate—and what we can do about it.

In this episode:

How “food cartels” capture the supply chain and starve out small ranchers

Why ultra-cheap ground beef often depends on imported trim, waste fat, and “pink slime” (lean finely textured beef) treated to suppress bacteria—while labels still mislead consumers with “Product of USA” claims

How predatory pricing pushes local processors out of restaurants, schools, and institutions—and why that matters for quality, transparency, and your health

The COVID wake-up call: small plants kept meat on the shelves but later got undercut

Regenerative alternatives: multi-species farms, local slaughter, fewer miles, better animal welfare, healthier soils, and real flavor

Schools & “Healthy Meals for All”: why funding and rules matter if you actually want healthy food on kids’ plates

Practical steps to support resilient local food and keep dollars in your community

About Mike Callicrate & Ranch Foods Direct
Mike is a longtime family-farm advocate who built a ranch-to-retail model to bypass the middlemen and deliver transparent, high-quality meats. If you’re near Colorado Springs, visit:
• 4635 Town Center Dr — fabrication/retail & kitchen (broth, chili, tallow)
• 1228 E. Fillmore — retail + El Chapín + smash burger concept (fries cooked in beef tallow)

What we support prospers. What we feed grows. Choose supply chains that respect animals, workers, land, and your health.

If you enjoyed this conversation, like, share, and subscribe. Then tell us in the comments: What’s one change you’ll make in how you buy food this month?

“We’ve trained consumers to be price shoppers—and it’s a fool’s game.”

“A handful of packers control ~85% of the beef market.”

“Ultra-cheap ground beef blends imported trim, waste fat—and ‘pink slime.’”

“‘Product of USA’ can be slapped on meat processed here from overseas.”

“Small plants kept shelves full during COVID—then got priced out.”

“What we support prospers. What we feed grows.”

The podcast dives into the world of farming, featuring a discussion on the challenges faced by small farms and cattle ranchers. They explore topics such as beef production and the impact of the meat industry on family business operations. The conversation also touches on animal welfare, providing a comprehensive view of contemporary farming issues.