Cage Free Eggs – a bit of Acorn news

Eggs from the farmers markets or a friend/family have a different color yolk and different consistency white than eggs from the grocery store–even the ones labeled “cage free.” 

Why? 

If you look up the USDA definition for cage free it states the hens cannot live in a cage but can be housed in a building with limited access to an outside area (5 minutes a day minimum). The hens aren’t necessarily encouraged or forced to go outside. In my head, I assumed cage free meant the chickens were outside during the day running around eating bugs and other things they can scavenge. There is another group that has a definition much like my assumption. The group is Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC). Lesson learned!   

There is another difference between store bought eggs and farm fresh eggs and that is how fresh they are (when the hen laid the egg). By law, an egg producer has 30 days to get the eggs after they are laid to put them in a carton with the date on it, then can sell the eggs for 30 days after the date on the carton. Another lesson! 

To try a fresh egg from a hen that has been outside eating and running around, go to a farmers market and ask the farmer their farm animal care practices and when it was laid. 

Acorn Farmers’ Market & Cafe will be at 327 W. Main St in Manchester next spring. We have a new PO Box – PO Box 432. Acorn will be a non-profit food store selling food from local producers – including eggs! If you’d like to help this store open on time, donations would be greatly appreciated. Mail donation or donate via PayPal at www.acornfarmersmarketcafe.org.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.