home on the organic farm, where the chickens roam
Author:
Saffron Hystad
Publication:
The Voice
Publication Date:
March 13, 2008
Grocery stores confuse, but don’t crack under the pressure of choosing eggs
With so many different names for eggs, it’s understandable that the regular consumer gets confused.
Free-range eggs are produced on farms where the chickens have access to the outdoors. Free-run eggs however, are laid by chickens enclosed in a large area with no outside access. Born-free eggs are laid by chickens that were hatched in an open area, but may be enclosed for the entirety of their lives in a cage.
The Certfied Organics Association of British Columbia, has strict regulations that organic farms must follow when producing organic eggs. From acceptable feed to controlled space requirements, the COABC keeps a tight watch over organic egg producers by meeting with farmers and inspecting individual farms.
Organic farmers certified by the COABC face harder restrictions than uncertified egg producers.
“There are no regulations on labelling uncertified eggs,” said Leanne McConnachie, Director of Farm Animals for Vancouver. “There is no independent audit for the farms claiming to sell free-range eggs.”
Alyson Crisholm owns Glen Valley Farms, a co-operative certified organic farm on Bradner Road in Abottsford. She belongs to a group of organic egg producers and produces organic free-range eggs.
“[The farm] didn’t have to go through the process that takes several years,” Crisholm said. “We just had to get the [chickens] approved for organic status by using organically approved feed for one year, and meeting the space requirements for the flock.”
With the groups, the COABC creates a community feel. “And a small community it is,” she joked.
Both Crisholm and McConnachie are interested in organic foods because it takes the welfare of animals into account.
“The organic association considers the social aspect of the birds,” said Crisholm.
Crisholm said that uncertified egg producers use what have come to be known as “battery cages,” where farmers may put as many chickens as they can in a confined area. In these cages, chickens are placed “to get the most amount of meat per square inch.” Essentially, uncertified producers, according to Crisholm, put as many chickens as they can in a small area to get as many eggs as possible.
While uncertified egg producers don’t always label their eggs free-range while living in cages, there isn’t any regulation to stop them. “The labeling is up to the marketing whim of the producers,” said McConnachie. “The industry needs to come to the table.”
Crisholm emphasized the importance of being an informed consumer.
“If you don’t read the fine print, you don’t know what you’re buying. You get all distracted by this picture of a happy little chicken,” she said.
Crisholm also said that it’s easier for the farmers to just keep chickens indoors.
“It keeps the prices of feed down because they aren’t using up so much energy to keep warm or searching for food,” she said.
“It’s also a common misconception that free-range eggs use dyes to get the yolks so yellow,” said Crisholm. “It is a happy chicken. It’s a happy egg.”
