Bushman Family Farms opens new poultry processing facility for organic, specialty markets

Bushman Family Farms has opened a new live-kill poultry processing facility in Charles City, Iowa.
The company will produce organic and antibiotic-free chicken for specialty markets. While the new facility currently employs 90 people and produces 100,000 chickens per week, those numbers are expected to grow to 182 employees and 300,000 chickens per week by 2012.
A grand-opening ceremony will be held in mid-December.

Public vote for new EU organic symbol

The European Commission is inviting members of the public to vote from among three finalists for a new European Union organic logo. The deadline for voting is January 30, 2010, and votes can be cast online.
The winning logo will be required on all prepackaged organic products from EU member states.

Canada, US agree on organic standards

An equivalency agreement has been signed between Canada and the U.S. confirming reciprocity of organic certification. Canadian Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Kathleen Merrigan, an advocate of organic agriculture, stated, "Production of organic foods is a vibrant growth opportunity for American agriculture and by agreeing on a common set of organic principles with Canada we are expanding market opportunities for our producers to sell their product abroad."
She added, "Today's agreement between the world's two largest organic trading partners is an important first step toward global harmonization of organic standards."
This statement has underlying implications for U.S. egg producers since harmonization would impose unrealistic EU standards on egg production in the U.S., specifically with respect to space allowance and outside access by flocks. Further information can be obtained from the Web site of the National Organic Program.

Hain Celestial Group ramps up kosher poultry products

The Hain Celestial Group Inc., owner of Hain Pure Protein (HPP) a natural, kosher and organic broiler and turkey producer, recently converted its Plainville, N.Y. facility to kosher production. HPP has introduced the Kosher Valley brand for marketing its kosher poultry products which are produced from vegetarian-fed, antibiotic-free birds.
The company also reported a loss of $41.2 million for the third quarter ended March 31, 2009 on sales of $267.7 million. The net loss was driven by the company taking an estimated after-tax non-cash impairment charge of $48.4 million against goodwill and intangible assets related to the company's European and HPP reporting units. On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted net income was $12.5 million, or $0.31 per share, in the third quarter this year.
HPP reports that it is in the process of de-emphasizing sales of conventional turkey and chicken products while it focuses on antibiotic-free products to improve its mix of sales for future periods.