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Bob and Kim Braun raise Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW laying hens on pasture at Pigeon River Farm, which is set on the southern branch of the Pigeon River in Waupaca County, Wisconsin. “We’re blessed to have some of…
Here at AWA, we’ve been thinking a lot about this special holiday and how we may have more in common with our ancestors than we think. Upon arriving in America, the early pilgrims ate what was locally available (granted, they didn’t have an alternative!). This happened to be animals that ranged and foraged in the woods and pastures, eating a diet specific to their natural needs and free from non-therapeutic antibiotics or added hormones. Sounds like a Certified AWA farm, doesn’t it? Meat, dairy, and eggs from animals raised outdoors on pasture or range is better for you, better for farmers, and better for the planet all great reasons to give thanks.
Veronica comes from a long line of farmers in Buena Vista, New Mexico. About 60 years ago, factors began pulling the family away from the farm and forcing them to sell off the larger pieces of their land. After moving…
Melissa Driscoll raises Certified Animal Welfare Approved by A Greener World (AGW) laying hens on pasture at Seven Songs Organic Farm in Kenyon, Minnesota. Melissa developed an interest in sustainable farming at an early age. She sold garden vegetables alongside her mother…
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…
I’m sorry to say it, but news that a large-scale “organic” egg producer is being sued for making misleading marketing claims about the welfare of its chickens comes as no real surprise. To be honest, I’m more shocked that it’s taken this long to make the headlines. Several news agencies are reporting that the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) has filed a class-action lawsuit against Judy's Family Farm Organic Eggs and Petaluma Egg Farm for allegedly violating California's consumer protection laws. Judy's Family Farm Organic Eggs cartons feature images of hens roaming on an expansive green field, while the carton wording states that the hens are “raised in wide open spaces in Sonoma Valley, where they are free to ‘roam, scratch, and play’.” However, the ALDF claim that the organic hens at Judy’s Family Farm “are crammed in covered sheds with no outdoor access. Implying their hens are free-range when they are not provides an unfair advantage over actual free-range egg producers, and also cheats consumers.” The complaint? The packaging used by these egg producers leads consumers to mistakenly believe the eggs come from free-range hens. From what I know about the farm in question, I couldn’t agree more.
Dear Friends, As the year comes to an end, it’s a tradition of mine to write a note of gratitude to our friends, farmers and ranchers, consumers, advocates, donors, and everyone else who has helped give the future of sustainable farming room to grow and flourish. And what a year it has been! Animal Welfare Approved has yet again experienced a fantastic year of growth and innovation, driven by the ever-increasing demand for healthy, environmentally friendly and high-welfare products. Here are some highlights of significant milestones we have achieved over the last year. None of this could have been achieved without your continued support.
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…
Owned and operated by the Newhall family (Bradley, Lisha, Greg and Laurie), Windy N Ranch in Ellensburg, Washington raises Certified Animal Welfare Approved by A Greener World (AGW) cattle, pigs, meat sheep, meat goats, and chickens for meat and eggs. With five separate…
Kimberly and Brian Harry raise Certified Animal Welfare Approved by A Greener World (AGW) laying hens, laying ducks, pigs and Certified Grassfed by AGW beef cattle at Minka Farm in Efland, North Carolina. Located in Orange County, the farm was…
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…
Gail Cooley, with the help of her husband, Mike, raises Certified Animal Welfare Approved by A Greener World (AGW) traditional breed turkeys, laying hens and laying ducks at Patient Wait Farms in upstate South Carolina. Set on 20 acres of…
