Why Pay More for Organic Farm Eggs?

Over the past decade, there has been a mad dash in the grocery stores for “organic” foods, and chicken eggs are at the top of this list. One reason is because so many people are more focused on the long-term health benefits of eating “clean” (better-known as organic) food. Another reason is farming ethically and the treatment of egg-producing hens, but just as important are appearance and TASTE of these eggs. Is there a difference between organic, free-range/free roaming, pasture-raised chicken eggs, and those produced in HUGE buildings? What about where hens are confined and limited to controlled, cramped, indoor environments, not to mention feeds that are full of antibiotics, and in many cases, synthetics of one kind or another? Is there truly a difference? In a word; YES!

When buying free-range organic eggs, it is difficult to see a difference in the egg shell, other than thickness, but the magic is when you crack a FARM-FRESH, free-range/free-roaming/pasture-raised, organic egg open, and compare it side-by-side with a conventionally produced “factory” egg. What you will find is a distinct color variation. The conventional egg will be the usual muted yellow yolk with a semi-clear egg white. Nothing new here, but when you place it in a bowl right next to a farm-fresh free-range egg, it is here you will begin to see a difference. The farm-fresh organic egg will show a much deeper, rich, golden-yellow colored yolk, and slightly clearer egg white. It is important to note this is only the beginning of what separates these two eggs. Another huge advantage is the age of each of these two eggs. Commercial eggs can be as much as 8 weeks old by the time they land in your refrigerator. There is also a reason for why you don't see grocery store eggs out on a shelf, and ONLY in a refrigerated display case. This has to do with the governmental regulations that require all commercial eggs go through a “cleaning process” When this happens, the protective membrane covering the outside of the egg is removed, thus making it necessary to refrigerate these eggs. This also shortens their shelf-life once they are placed in your refrigerator. Unlike commercial eggs, local farm-raised eggs are NOT washed, thus keeping this protective membrane from the mother-hen's body in place on the eggshell, extending the shelf-life of these eggs by as much as an additional 8 weeks beyond what you can count on from commercially-produced eggs. Once thrown into the frying pan, you will continue to see a more-appealing color and fluffiness to our egg as it continues to cook, but color is just color, what matters is taste, right? Of course! Be prepared to have your taste buds thank you for the treat, once they get their first forkful. Besides the obvious (the ability to mingle outdoors with other hens, scratching their way through the expansive farm property during the day, seeking out leaves, fruits, table scraps from the previous night's salad, bugs and other morsels to eat) being handled in a loving way by our family and staff (yes, these birds are petted quite frequently, and are treated similarly to any other domesticated pet like a dog or cat) has proven to not only increase egg production, but also produce a better egg. Doubt this claim? Just do the side-by-side comparison to see AND taste for yourself!

But... If Only Were So Easy!

Walking into your favorite grocery store does not make the acquisition of farm-fresh organic eggs easy. The reason for this has much to do with labeling on egg cartons. This can make for a bewildering experience for most shoppers, because there are so many terms. A quick search on either the FDA or USDA websites is a daunting challenge just to find simple facts and advice. What you will find is lengthy, confusing and often with loose definitions.
While egg labels can be helpful and effective, some tell you what the hens were fed and others tell you a bit about their environment, while still, others tell you how humanely they were raised. But what about the things YOU really need to know; such as what to look for? Things like what Registered dietitian Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS, RD, LD, explains regarding “what the most common labels mean — and don’t mean”.

USDA labels are useful, but...

EXAMPLE: Organic: This only means hens received organic feed and may or might not have been raised in cages. When you eat organic eggs, all you know is the hens’ feed-supply did not contain animal by-products, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, most pesticides, and other unsavory ingredients. While this is very important, it is not the only thing to consider when in search of the BEST egg available. Although antibiotics are not always used in the egg industry, due to a regulatory loophole, it’s possible that “organic eggs” from such suppliers could come from hens that are given antibiotics on a regular basis. This action is performed to minimize the risk of infections or viruses spreading throughout a large, confined flock of up to 1M hens that see very little or ANY time outside, as opposed to free range/free roaming micro-flocks of less than 100 hens. Although growth hormones are banned in poultry, antibiotics are not, and this is something that separates large, commercial egg producers from local farms. It’s worth checking into when buying from and supporting local farms to know how the farmer takes care of their flock. Also, an organic label says nothing about whether or not, the hens are raised with humane treatment. What defines “humane” treatment? Well, for one thing, hens’ outdoor access should be multiple hours each day, not limited to just a couple hours, or COMPLETELY eliminated from their daily ritual. Chickens are VERY social animals and need more than just exercise to remain healthy, they need mental stimulation as well. The way chickens get mental stimulation is when they are outside with each-other, challenging one another in games of skill, usually centered around who finds and gets to keep the coveted prize of a grape, broccoli floret or garden-variety worm, and this adds to the similarity between Free-range or free-roaming, pasture-raised whereby the hens producing the eggs were either raised outdoors or given significant outdoor access. In each of these cases, the hens are almost certainly never placed in cages AT ALL. In addition to eating grains as the base of their diet, these hens can forage for wild plants and insects virtually all day long. But the outdoor area and how often the hens can access it is not addressed anywhere in most commercial labeling. “Cage-free” is not analogous to “free-range.” It simply means the hens are not bound within cages and have unlimited access to food and water. Overcrowded barns and “poultry houses” don’t give hens the room necessary to forage for plants and insects. The new USDA egg label, “barn-roaming,” may better describe hens which are confined to barns verses those which are out in nature all day. The hens which live in crowded quarters may not budge when a farmer opens the doors once a day. And unlike local organic farms that cater to all the needs of their chickens, not just their nutritional dietary needs, socialization is equally beneficial when it comes to producing the best egg possible. Again, this is something you will see very little information on when attempting to select eggs in a grocery store. Pasture-raised: This means that the chickens can hunt on their own for larvae and grubs to eat, in addition to any plant life that tastes good to them. Since they hunt for this type of food, their eggs contain more healthy omega-3 fat compared to other chickens. Plus, the egg yolks are a dark yellow-orange color because they contain lutein, an antioxidant nutrient that’s also found in sweet potatoes and carrots.

What if there were an option of having all your eggs, microgreens and other organic items delivered to your door from one farmer? Easy you say? The answer... just order from US!