Lee Farms – Kent, NY
Lee Farms is located one mile from Lake Ontario in the town of Kent, New York. Robert VanWuyckhuyse and his wife, CindyLou Lee, bought the farm in 1983. They decided to use CindyLou’s family name for the farm since Robert’s…
Big Ag’s Gifts for 2012
As the year comes to an end it’s become a tradition of mine to write a note of gratitude to Big Ag for the many ‘gifts’ they’ve given us throughout the year that we didn’t really want, need or – in some cases – didn’t even know about. Here’s my top 10 for 2012...
#10 – Undermining Organic With Industrial Practices
Many people are putting their faith in the “certified organic” label as an easy way to support farming systems that care about animal welfare, our health and the health of the planet. But the popularity of organic food is attracting industrial-scale operators who are exploiting the organic regulations for their own short-term gains. In October, news broke that a large-scale “organic” egg producer was being sued for making misleading marketing claims about the welfare of its chickens. Judy's Family Farm Organic Eggs’ cartons feature images of hens roaming on green fields, while the carton explains the hens are “raised in wide open spaces in Sonoma Valley, where they are free to ‘roam, scratch, and play’.” Yet it’s alleged that the birds are kept in covered sheds with no outdoor access, misleading consumers. Sadly, this isn’t an isolated incident...
Wagon Wheel Ranch – Watkinsville, GA
Fred Liebl of Wagon Wheel Ranch has been farming since 1970. Although he wasn’t raised on a farm, his grandparents were farmers in New York state where he grew up and worked on a neighbor’s dairy farm. Fred’s work with…
Serenity Acres Farm – Pinetta, FL
Julia and Wayne Shewchuk have owned and operated Serenity Acres Farm in Pinetta, situated in the rolling terrain of north Florida, since 2008. One third of the farm’s 60 acres is still in southern hardwood forest and the rest is…
Hawthorne Valley Farm – Ghent, NY
Hawthorne Valley Farm was established in 1972 and is a diversified farm producing high quality, Biodynamic and sustainable foods while offering farm-based education opportunities for children and adults. The team at Hawthorne Valley Farm manages herds of Certified Animal Welfare…
South Chestnut Farm – Pittsboro, NC
Roger Harris started South Chestnut Farm in Chatham County, North Carolina, in the early 2000s on land that had been in his family for at least four generations. Inspired by stories of successful small farms from across the country, he…
James Ranch Artisan Cheese – Durango, CO
Dan and Becca James raise Certified Animal Welfare Approved by A Greener World (AGW) Jersey-cross dairy cattle at James Ranch, 10 miles north of Durango, Colorado. Dan was raised on his family’s ranch and returned with his wife, Becca, over…
Panelists Offer Insights Into the Future of Farming
On May 4 Animal Welfare Approved hosted an expert panel of writers, farmers and representatives of sustainable livestock production. Entitled, “Green Pastures, Bright Future: Taking the Meat We Eat Out of the Factory and Putting it Back on the Farm," the discussion centered on the need for truly sustainable livestock farming that takes into account animal welfare and the health of our environment - and ourselves. Panelists included investigative journalist and author of Animal Factory David Kirby; author of the bestselling Righteous Porkchop Nicolette Hahn Niman; chicken farmer and whistle-blower in the Oscar-nominated documentary “Food, Inc.” Carole Morison; and rancher, veterinarian and president of the American Grassfed Association, Dr. Patricia Whisnant.
Le Biscornu — Rimouski, Quebec
Natalie Chartier and Justin Audet purchased Le Biscornu farm in October 2004. The 350-acre farm is situated about five miles south of Rimouski, in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region of Quebec, and provides pasture and hay for their flock of purebred Icelandic…
Tell Us Why You Are Thankful for Family Farmers
We at Animal Welfare Approved are privileged to work with some of the most amazing farmers in the world. They are leading the transition back to pasture-based farming, and pioneering a new agriculture that seeks to heal our planet while providing healthy, nutritious food to all.
This year, as you prepare for a holiday that celebrates the bountiful harvest farmers have provided, we ask you to take a moment to thank a family farmer for the good food that nourishes you. Join us in celebrating National Farm-City Week by using the comments section of this blog to tell us about the farms that will fill your Thanksgiving table this holiday season and throughout the year, and why they matter to you.
Take a moment to write a few words of thanks to your neighbor farmers, farmers from your farmer’s market, your CSA provider, and any family farmer you appreciate.
The Logical Line in the Middle: Animal Welfare
A recent article in The Gothernburg Times caught my eye, Animal welfare activists threaten nation's agriculture. Excuse me? Drawing largely on the platform of the industry-supported Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska (A-FAN), the author presents us with…
Tom Farm – Magnolia, NC
Cicero Dobson raises Certified Animal Welfare Approved by A Greener World (AGW) and Certified Non-GMO by AGW pigs at Tom Farm, near Magnolia, North Carolina. Pigs at Tom Farm are raised outdoors, on pasture or range, where they are free…
