Konos building 480,000-hen organic egg farm in Michigan

Construction is progressing well at an organic egg farm near Otsego, Michigan. The farm will be operated by Konos Inc., a distributor of Vande Bunte Eggs.
The egg farm will house 480,000 hens and will be located on five parcels of land. The project is valued at $8.2 million.
"Everything is on track," Konos Vice President of Operations Rob Knecht told MLive. "We are in the building and construction process, continuing to partner with the various municipalities that require different permits and want to do everything we can to be a great neighbor to the people of Otsego."
The farm project has had its opponents, with several township residents objecting to the proposed farms at an Otsego Township Planning Commission meeting held in December 2014. However, Knecht has reassured critics that the company intends to do everything possible to minimize odors, insects and wildlife at the organic egg farm and has promised that it will conform to all USDA organic standards as well as any state standards.
According to the company’s website, Vande Bunte Eggs – a subsidiary of Konos --  is a family owned and operated Michigan egg producer that supplies farm-fresh eggs to markets all around the world.

UK organic poultry, egg producers can expect stronger market

U.K. consumer demand for organic chicken increased in 2014, creating a mood of increasing confidence among producers in what is now a more stable market, says organic food and farming charity The Soil Association.
According to the Soil Association Organic Market Report 2015, U.K. organic poultry production last year remained at similar levels to 2013. However, this was because additional demand for organic poultry meat was met by a surplus supply of birds, produced as a planned contingency, rather than by increased production.
Consequently,  a smaller proportion of organic birds were sold as free range, or through the wholesale market.
Growing conditions were favorable for organic poultry production last year, enabling birds to be consistently produced up to a live weight of 2.4 kg. Feed prices, however, remained challenging, but had eased by around 5 percent from January 2014 levels by the end of year.


Organic egg production
Sales of organic eggs in the U.K. increased by 15.8 percent in 2014, and now account for 6 percent of all egg sales. Demand was particularly strong in the second half of the year, with sales in December up by 20.4 percent on December 2013.
Although production has picked up in response to demand, it needs to increase further to ensure good availability on shelf throughout 2015, The Soil Association says.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) statistics show that 474,000 cases of organic eggs were produced in the first nine months of 2014 - a 2.5 percent increase on the same period in 2013.
To meet consumer demand, a sharp increase in production will be required in 2015, but a number of producers have dropped out of organic production in the past three years because of lower demand, the prospect of increased costs associated with new European Union standards.
Yet based on data collected in December last year and January 2015, The Soil Association reports that 76 of wholesalers surveyed, 67 percent of retailers and 63 percent of organic businesses anticipate increased organic sales in 2015, and that the outlook for organic food is more positive than it has been for many years.
Predictions from the multiple retailers, however, are varied, partly reflecting the mixed year these outlets have had. Price pressure reducing the broader market’s focus on premium food is a key factor, but a conscious reprioritization of organic is also evident among some retailers.


Strong intent to buy more organic poultry products
Dairy remains the strongest organic sector in the U.K., but a survey of supermarket consumers found that 54.8 percent intended to buy more organic fruit and vegetables, while 33.8 percent said that they would buy would buy more organic chicken, with the same number expressing an intention to buy more organic eggs.
The top five reasons cited by consumers for buying organic food were: no pesticides, better taste, better for the environment, better for animal welfare, and perceived health benefits.
Overall, the UK food market contracted by 1 percent last year. Sales of organic food, however, grew by 4 percent to be worth GBP1.86 billion (US$2.87 billion). The strongest growth in organic purchases was through online shopping, box schemes and independent retailers. 

Arkansas Egg Company’s Swaffar named to organic standards board

Ashley Swaffar of Arkansas Egg Company has been appointed by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). Swaffar’s appointment has drawn the applause of the Organic Egg Farmers of America (OEFA), which believes Swaffar, with her broad expertise and deep commitment to organic food production, will serve the organic sector well in her new role. 
“OEFA looks forward to the experience and leadership Swaffar will bring to the board. She has extensive knowledge of organic practices in poultry and crop production and is truly dedicated to the advancement and growth of organic agriculture. Swaffar’s broad and in-depth expertise will ensure that she will do an excellent job representing the interests of organic livestock and poultry operations and farmers alike,” said John Brunnquell, Secretary of OEFA and President of Egg Innovations, LLC.
As director of special projects for Arkansas Egg Company, Swaffar has been involved in all aspects of organic egg production, including organic certification, managing operations, and plant food safety audits. Swaffar, who is based in Fayetteville, Arkansas, holds a Bachelor's Degree in Poultry Science from the University of Arkansas and serves as the current President of OEFA.
Arkansas Egg Company owns and manages a diversified egg operation producing free range, organic and pastured eggs and are committed to ensuring that their organic birds have access to healthy pasture and are allowed to roam freely. Arkansas Egg Company also owns and operates the only dedicated organic feed mill in Arkansas.
David Bruce, Vice President of OEFA and Director of Organic Eggs, Meat and Produce at Organic Valley applauds USDA’s decision, remarking that “Ashley’s pasture-based organic egg production offers a great example of a farm that embodies the definition of organic farming, as a system that fosters cycling of resources and promotes ecological balance.”
NOSB was created through the Organic Foods Production Act in the 1990 Farm Bill. The board is charged with the task of assisting the Secretary of Agriculture in developing standards for substances to be used in organic production. The 15-member Board is comprised of four farmers, three conservationists, three consumer representatives, two processors, one retailer, one scientist, and one certifying agent. Swaffar will fill one of the open producer seats and was one of four new members that will serve a five-year term beginning on January 24, 2015, working to develop policies and standards for substances used in organic production.

Possible Salmonella contamination leads to egg recall

Sixdog Investments LLC is voluntarily recalling some cases of its certified organic eggs, because of the potential they are contaminated with Salmonella. This voluntary field action was initiated because of routine testing results, and not because of illness to date from consumption.
The recalled eggs were distributed in Colorado, although some eggs may have gone to Idaho, Kansas, New Mexico and Utah through retail outlets.
The eggs are packed in dozen and half-dozen packages. The products in question will have a packing date of 93, 94, 97, or 98; an expiration date of “051814,” “051914,” “052214” or “052314”; they will also include a location code of 1 or 3. This information is on the package, located on a white sticker on the end of each carton.
The company is confident that any and all products sent out with any other packing codes or expiration dates are fully safe for consumption.
Routine testing, initiated by Sixdog Investments, revealed that the finished products from certain barns could potentially contain the bacteria, according to a news release from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The company immediately ceased production in these areas, and began taking action to rectify the situation.
Consumers who have purchased these Sixdog Investment eggs may return the eggs to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Denmark organic egg, pork purchases surge

Eggs and meat have led a surge in purchases of organic foods in Denmark during 2013, says the Danish Agriculture & Food Council, Landbrug & Fødevarer. According to 2013 data from Statistics Denmark, there was a 6 percent annual increase in sales by Danish supermarkets of organically produced food, due principally to rises in demand of 24 percent for organic eggs and 17 percent for organic meat.
In 2012, total sales of all organic foods in Denmark had risen by only 0.5 percent.
In value, the 2013 sales of such products through supermarkets and other multiple retailers amounted to DKK5.8 billion (US$1.08 billion). Organics accounted for 8 percent of this total, compared with a 7.6 percent market share in 2012.
Kirsten Lund Jensen, head of the organic section at Danish Agriculture & Food, noted how the decision by more consumers to buy organic eggs in Denmark agreed with the conclusions of a council-sponsored study completed earlier this year. The study had examined attitudes towards the purchase and consumption of eggs. It found that Danes were starting to put other factors above price when they went shopping for eggs and indicated that they would be prepared to pay a small extra premium for organic foods.
A similar trend has been seen in the purchasing of pork, with increased numbers of Danish shoppers actively choosing organic pork. Previously, she added, only a small core of specific consumers chose to buy organic pork.
Lund Jensen also described signs that a downward national trend in sales of organic milk over recent years had been reversed in 2013.

UK organic egg production contracts as consumer demand rises

Organic egg production in the U.K. fell by 8.2 percent during the first three quarters of 2013 compared with the same period in 2012, despite a high degree of consumer acceptance. 
Organic eggs accounted for 5.3 percent of all supermarket egg sales in 2013 - second only to yogurt in terms of market penetration among fresh food categories, reports organic food and farming charity the Soil Association.
More producers left organic production through the year, skeptical about future prospects in the face of rising costs and tightening standards, so raising the prospect of supply shortages. A significant factor in the drop in production has been the tightening of EU organic standards, with some producers choosing to drop out of organic production rather than incur higher costs. 
Supply shortages are beginning to appear in the U.K. market for organic eggs as consumer demand is continuing to rise. 

Warehouse Shell Sales celebrates 75 years in business

A predominant name in Oyster Shell calcium, Warehouse Shell Sales, is celebrating 75 years in the poultry business at a time when their product is experiencing a resurgence of use. Warehouse Shell Sales is the manufacturer and distributor of the Coastal Shell supplement
"We feel very fortunate that the trend towards organic and natural products has resulted in a resurgence of Coastal Brand Shell use," said Gary Lund, president and the fourth owner since the company opened in 1939.  "Oyster Shell has always been the standard way to produce a better shell and healthier chicken, but only recently has the true added value of Oyster Shell been recognized over other calcium approaches."
Nutritionists had identified that oyster shell remains in the gizzard and is processed by the hen over time as compared to lime which is immediately eliminated.  The result is that with Shell, the hen uses less supplement and the ammonia build up in the hen house is much less according to research.  It's especially valuable in floor hens where free ranging hens consume only what they need.  Using Shell has shown to produce five or more saleable eggs per bird according to another study due to a stronger egg shell for less breakage.
"Our organic Shell product meets the growing trend for the consumer who wishes to eat healthy eggs and chickens from 'Organic' and 'All Natural' producers. We have also created a consumer based marketing program that allows our customers to leverage the use of our organic Shell in their feed to help them sell more eggs while producing more customer good will and loyalty," added Lund.
"If the enthusiasm keeps going, there is no reason to think that we will not be around in another 75 years," he said.

German farms suspected of falsely labeling eggs as organic

Authorities are investigating the possibility that about 150 farms in northern Germany falsely claimed their eggs were from free-range chickens.
Prosecutors in the city of Oldenburg suspect the farms sold the eggs as organic or free-range when they didn't truly meet the labeling requirements. Regulations require a minimum of four square meters of space for each animal for a poultry farm to be able to sell its products as "free range." It has now emerged that several farmers kept more animals than permitted, selling the eggs for a higher price than they otherwise could because of the free-range status.
A spokesman for the country's consumer protection ministry told sources on February 25 that if suspicions are confirmed it would constitute a "large-scale fraud."

Etihad Airways invests in organic eggs

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has purchased 200 hens to be raised free-range at Abu Dhabi Organics Farms.
The purchase is part of the airline’s commitment to offer customers the finest and freshest products, according to the company, and eggs from the hens will be used in Etihad Airways’ Diamond First Class dishes. “Etihad Airways is immensely proud of the range of its fresh in-flight produce, and the addition of eggs from our won free-range hens gives an indication of what we strive for," said Lee Shave, the company’s vice president of guest experience.

US organic layers produce 25.8 million eggs weekly

A U.S. layer flock of an estimated 5 million hens produces roughly 71,701 30-dozen cases of organic eggs (25.8 million individual eggs) each week, according to a new weekly report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The estimated lay rate of the hens is 73.8%, according to the report. For the week of June 27, 9,600 30-dozen cases of organic large eggs were in U.S. stocks, while 7,700 30-dozen cases of ungraded eggs were in stock.
Organic poultry slaughtered under federal inspection in the week ending June 25 reached 451.06 million head of chicken (at an average live weight of 5.82 pounds) and 6.53 million head of turkey (at an average live weight of 24.57 pounds). These numbers are up slightly from the previous week but remain significantly lower than the peak week ending May 28.

UK egg packer buys out free range, organic egg business

UK-based egg packer Stonegate Ltd. has bought out Farmhouse Freedom Eggs Ltd., a company specializing in free-range and organic eggs.
According to both companies, the acquisition of Farmhouse, which will continue to operate as a stand-alone company, will expand their business dealings in Wales. “Our Welsh customer base is extremely important to us and this merger will enable us to strengthen our Welsh producer base and offer additional support to our farmers,” said Gerry Tuffs, co-founder and managing director of Farmhouse.
Stonegate had previously invested £5 million (US$8.3 million) into its Swansea, Wales facility.

Study reveals method to verify organic eggs

The presence of a synthetic carotenoid confirms that the egg is not organic.

Studies conducted at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, a leading agriculture school in Western Europe, have led to a method to distinguish between organic eggs and generic eggs.
According to the information released, high-pressure liquid chromatography is used to examine the composition of xanthophyll pigments in the yolk of eggs. It is a universal practice in Holland and Germany to incorporate synthetic carotenoids in feed to produce a deeply pigmented yolk. These synthetic compounds are forbidden in organic diets. The presence of a synthetic carotenoid confirms that the egg is not organic, irrespective of claimed status.
Pigmenting agents containing xanthophylls are derived from marigold petals and are “natural,” although a solvent extraction process is used and renders these additives unacceptable according to NOP rules. Accordingly, supplementary pigment for organic eggs in the U.S. is derived from alfalfa.

IRI report: majority of Americans purchase traditional eggs

Source: United Egg Producers

A recently released Information Resources Inc. (IRI) report reveals that the overwhelming majority of American consumers continue to buy traditionally produced eggs.
According to the report, Americans purchase 19.8 billion (96%) traditional eggs annually. In comparison, 619 million (3%) eggs purchased are cage-free and 227 million (1%) are organic free range. Perhaps as a result of these numbers, cage-free and organic eggs have dropped in retail price, with cage-free coming in at $2.50 per dozen (down 14% from a year ago) and organic free range decreasing to $2.64 per dozen (33% less than a year ago). In contrast, traditional egg retail prices are up 8% to $1.02 per dozen.
According to the International Egg Commission, 85% of eggs are produced in traditional cages.

Cornucopia Institute reviews organic egg production

The Cornucopia Institute, based in Wisconsin, has issued a report Scrambled Eggs: Separating Factory Farm Egg Production From Authentic Organic Culture. The major issue raised in the report relates to outside access by flocks. Many existing producers of organic eggs restrict their flocks to the interior of houses, since they do not have sufficient pasture space or, in some cases, have no provision for outside access.
Economic and practical considerations have led to the concentration of organic egg production among a relatively small number of efficient producers using aviaries and “sun porches,” as in the European Union. Some of these complexes can house up to 500,000 hens. These volumes are required to satisfy the current demand of supermarket chains that require consistency of supply, large volumes, stable prices and SQF certification.
When the original National Organic Program (NOP) requirements for egg production were developed, it was not envisaged that large producers would commoditize organic eggs. The current move to increasing outside access is effectively “moving the goal posts.” There is no scientific evidence that access to pasture in any way improves the nutritional value of eggs.
It is also accepted that outside access may increase the risk of exposure to diseases, such as avian influenza and Newcastle disease which may be carried by migratory and free living birds. Flocks allowed outside access have higher susceptibility to parasites and bacterial infections including salmonellosis, pasteurellosis and erysipalis.
If the NOP adopts the 1.5- to 2.5-square-foot standard for outside access the production of eggs under the organic program will be seriously curtailed, resulting in extreme increases in retail prices to levels estimated to exceed $6 per dozen. This will effectively limit purchases to a small segment of consumers.
The demand for organic eggs will be filled by a new category of product which is fed according to the current Organic Rule, following guidelines for stocking density and other management requirements. This product would not be eligible to carry the U.S. Department of Agriculture-NOP Organic Seal but would retail at the current $4 per dozen.

Dioxin contamination hits organic egg farms in Germany, Netherlands

Nineteen organic egg farms in Germany and eight in the Netherlands have had the sale of their eggs embargoed due to dioxin contamination. Sales from the farms have been suspended for at least a week.
The contamination is thought to be the result of contaminated corn from the Ukraine used in feed. The grain is reported to have been processed in organic poultry feed by a number of companies.
Dioxin contamination of eggs hit the German headlines back in 2005, with calls for greater controls on free-range production, which may result in eggs with higher dioxin levels than those from caged birds.
Neither details of the level of dioxin contamination on the farms, or how the feed may have become contaminated are known. Investigations are ongoing.