|
Company Name
|
Rating
|
Location
|
Market Area
|
Total Score
|
Egg Rating
|
“5-egg” rating (2001-2200): “Exemplary”—Beyond Organic
Producers in this top tier manage diverse, small- to medium-scale family farms. They raise their hens in mobile housing on
well-managed and ample pasture or in fixed housing with intensively managed rotated pasture. They sell eggs locally or re-
gionally under their farm’s brand name, mostly through farmer’s markets, food cooperatives and/or independently owned
natural and grocery stores and sometimes through larger chains like Whole Foods.
|
Lazy 69 Ranch
by Lazy 69 Ranch
|
5 |
Round Mountain, CA |
California |
2175 |
|
Neversink Farm
by Neversink Farm
|
5 |
Claryville, NY |
Upstate New York |
2170 |
|
WAG Eggs
by WAG Eggs
|
5 |
Champoeg, OR |
Portland, OR |
2165 |
|
Bee Heaven Farm
by Bee Haven Farm
|
5 |
Homestead, FL |
Miami-Dade, Broward and the Keys |
2160 |
|
Coon Creek
by Coon Creek
|
5 |
Mondovi, WI |
Wisconsin |
2160 |
|
Kingbird Farm
by Kingbird Farm
|
5 |
Berkshire, NY |
New York State |
2160 |
|
Krause Farm
by Krause Farm
|
5 |
Engadine, Michigan |
Michigan |
2160 |
|
Stony Brook Valley Farm
by Stony Brook
|
5 |
Granby, MA |
Massachusetts |
2160 |
|
Organic Pastures
by Organic Pastures Dairy, Co.
|
5 |
Fresno, CA |
Northern California |
2155 |
|
Cleary Family Farm
by Cleary Family Farm
|
5 |
Plainfield, VT |
Vermont |
2150 |
|
Common Good Farm
by Common Good Farm
|
5 |
Raymond, Nebraska |
Nebraska |
2150 |
|
Green Hills Harvest
by Green Hills Harvest
|
5 |
Purdin, MO |
Columbia, MO and Iowa City, IA |
2150 |
|
Highfields Farm
by Highfields Farm
|
5 |
|
Vermont |
2150 |
|
Misty Meadows Farm
by Misty Meadows Farm
|
5 |
Everson, WA |
Washington |
2170 |
|
Old Friends Farm
by Old Friends Farm
|
5 |
Amherst, MA |
Massachusetts |
2150 |
|
One Drop Farm
by One Drop Farm
|
5 |
Cornville, ME |
Maine |
2150 |
|
River Berry Farm
by River Berry Farm
|
5 |
Fairfax, VT |
Vermont |
2150 |
|
Trout Lake Abbey
by Trout Lake Abbey
|
5 |
Trout Lake, WA |
Washington |
2150 |
|
Windy Ridge Natural Farms
by Windy Ridge Natural Farms
|
5 |
Alfred, NY |
Upstate New York |
2150 |
|
Alexandre Kids
by Alexandre EcoDairy
|
5 |
Crescent City, CA |
Northern California |
2140 |
|
Doolittle Farm
by Doolittle Farm
|
5 |
VT |
Middlebury, VT Farmers' Market |
2140 |
|
World's Best Eggs
by World's Best Eggs
|
5 |
Eglin, TX |
Texas (Whole Foods Market), occasionally Southwest and Rocky Mountain region Whole Foods Markets |
2140 |
|
Amsterdam Organics
by Amsterdam Organics
|
5 |
Winton, CA |
California |
2135 |
|
Village Farm
by Village Farm
|
5 |
Freedom, ME |
Maine |
2135 |
|
Burroughs Family Farms Eggs
by Burroughs
|
5 |
Denair, CA |
California |
2125 |
|
Mission Mountain
by Mission Mountain Organic Farm
|
5 |
Ronan, MT |
Montana |
2120 |
|
PNS Farms
by PNS Farms
|
5 |
Miami, FL |
Florida |
2120 |
|
First Frost Farm
by First Frost Farm
|
5 |
Nibley, Utah |
Utah |
2110 |
|
Skagit River Ranch
by Skagit River Ranch
|
5 |
Sedro Woolley, WA |
Washington |
2110 |
|
Mosel Eggs
by Mosel Eggs
|
5 |
Page, NE |
Nebraska |
2100 |
|
Turtle Ledge Farm
by Turtle Ledge Farm
|
5 |
Hampton, CT |
Connecticut |
2100 |
|
Dreamfarm
by Dreamfarm
|
5 |
Cross Plains, WI |
southwest Wisconsin |
2095 |
|
Vital Farms
by Vital Farms
|
5 |
Austin, TX |
Whole Foods Markets nationwide |
2095 |
|
Morning Sun Farm
by Morning Sun Farm
|
5 |
West Alexandria, OH |
Ohio |
2090 |
|
Shenandoah Family Farms
by Shenandoah Family Farms
|
5 |
Dayton, VA |
Virginia |
2080 |
|
St. John Family Farm
by St. John Family Farm
|
5 |
Orland, CA |
Northern California |
2070 |
|
Happy Town Farm
by Happy Town Farm
|
5 |
ME |
Maine |
2050 |
|
Green Pastures Poultry
by Green Pastures
|
5 |
Cashton, WI |
Wisconsin |
2025 |
|
Phoenix Egg Farm
by Phoenix Egg Farm
|
5 |
Portland, OR |
Oregon |
2025 |
|
Handsome Brook Farm
by Handsome Brook Farm
|
5 |
Franklin, NY |
New York State |
2020 |
|
Schultz Eggs
by Schultz
|
5 |
Owatonna, MN |
Upper Midwest |
2015 |
|
Whispering Spruce
by Whispering Spruce
|
5 |
LaFarge, WI |
|
2015 |
|
“4-egg” rating (1801-2000): “Excellent”—Organic Promoting Outdoor Access
Producers in this category provide ample outdoor space and make an effort to encourage their birds to go outside. They
provide an excellent outdoor environment, often either rotated pasture or well-managed outdoor runs, with an adequate
number of popholes/doors for the chickens to reach the outdoors.
|
Hi Q Organic
by Day Creek Farms, Inc.
|
4 |
Sedro Woolley, WA |
Washington State |
1920 |
|
Misera Family Farm
by Misera Family Farm
|
4 |
Butler, PA |
Pennsylvania |
1890 |
|
New Century
by New Century
|
4 |
Shullsburg, WI |
Wisconsin |
1890 |
|
B Dabler
by B Dabler
|
4 |
Greencastle, PA |
Pennsylvania |
1880 |
|
Milo's Organic
by Milo's Poultry Farms
|
4 |
Bonduel, WI |
Wisconsin |
1845 |
|
Stiebrs Farms
by Stiebrs Farms
|
4 |
Yelm, WA |
West |
1835 |
|
“3-egg” rating (1501-1800): “Very Good”—Organic, Complying with Minimum USDA Standards
Brands with a three-egg rating are very good choices. Eggs from brands in this category either come from family-scale farms
that provide outdoor runs for their chickens, or from larger-scale farms where meaningful outdoor space is either currently
granted or under construction. All producers in this category appear committed to meeting organic standards for minimum
outdoor space for laying hens.
|
Farmers' Hen House
by Farmers' Hen House
|
3 |
Kalona, IA |
Midwest and Southwest |
1800 |
|
Giving Nature
by Giving Nature Foods
|
3 |
Holicong, PA |
Mid-Atlantic, Northeast |
1783 |
|
Wilcox Farms
by Wilcox Farms
|
3 |
Roy, WA |
Western U.S. |
1765 |
|
Green Field Farms
by Green Field Farms Coop
|
3 |
Fredericksburg, OH |
Ohio |
1760 |
|
Clover Organic Farms
by Clover Stornetta
|
3 |
Petaluma, CA |
West Coast |
1645 |
|
Organic Valley
by CROPP
|
3 |
LaFarge, WI |
nationwide |
1620 |
|
Nature's Yoke
by Westfield Egg Farm, Inc.
|
3 |
New Holland, PA |
Northeast |
1605 |
|
Egg Innovations
by Egg Innovations
|
3 |
Port Washington, WI |
Midwest |
1585 |
|
Pete & Gerry's
by Pete & Gerry's
|
3 |
Monroe, NH |
East Coast |
1580 |
|
Born Free
by Born Free Eggs LLC/Radlo Foods
|
3 |
Watertown, MA |
New England and Southern states |
1525 |
|
“2-egg” rating (1201-1500): “Fair” —Some Questions Remain Concerning Compliance with Federal Standards
These are either industrial-scale operations or others with outstanding questions or concerns regarding their compliance
with USDA regulations. One of the primary features that distinguish these organizations from the ethically challenged brands
below is their willingness to share with their customers (and Cornucopia researchers) some of the details as to how their
chickens are cared for and how their eggs are actually produced.
|
Sauder's
by Sauder Inc.
|
2 |
Lititz, PA |
Mid-Atlantic |
1440 |
|
The Country Hen
by The Country Hen
|
2 |
Hubbardston, MA |
nationwide |
1340 |
|
“1-egg” rating (0-1200): “ethically deficient - industrial organics/no meaningful outdoor access and/or none were open enough to participate.”
Brands with a “1-egg” rating are generally produced on industrial-scale egg operations that grant no meaningful outdoor ac-
cess. “Outdoor access” on these operations generally means a covered concrete porch that is barely accessible to the chick-
ens. Means of egress from the buildings are intentionally small to discourage birds from going outside, and make it possible
for only a small percentage of birds to have “access” to the outdoors. No producers in this category were willing to participate
in The Cornucopia Institute’s project, and none shared their production practices with Cornucopia researchers. This is disturb-
ing to many organic consumers, since transparency has always been viewed as a hallmark of the organic food movement.
|
4-Grain
by Cal-Maine
|
1 |
Jackson, MS |
29 states nationwide |
0 |
|
Abbotsford
by Abbotsford Egg Products
|
1 |
|
|
0 |
|
Barnstar Family Farms
by Barnstar Family Farms
|
1 |
CA |
Nationwide |
0 |
|
Big Island Poultry
by Big Island Poultry
|
1 |
HI |
Hawaii |
0 |
|
Bob LaPlace
by Bob LaPlace
|
1 |
OR |
Oregon |
0 |
|
Canoe Creek
by Canoe Creek
|
1 |
IA |
Decorah, IA |
0 |
|
Chino Valley Ranchers
by Chino Valley Ranchers
|
1 |
Arcadia, CA |
30 states, especially in the West, South and Midwest |
0 |
|
Circle JD Ranch
by Circle JD Ranch
|
1 |
WI |
Viroqua, WI |
0 |
|
Clark Summit Farm
by Clark Summit Farm
|
1 |
CA |
Bay Area, CA |
0 |
|
Eggland's Best
by Eggland's Best
|
1 |
Jeffersonville, PA |
nationwide |
0 |
|
Eggology
by Eggology
|
1 |
Canoga Park, CA |
|
0 |
|
Eight Mile Creek Farm
by Eight Mile Creek Farm
|
1 |
NY |
Schenectady, NY Farmers’ Market, Catskill, NY Farmers’ Market, Honest Weight Food Cooperative - Albany, NY, and Niskyauna Consumers Cooperative - Niskayuna, NY |
0 |
|
Farmer's Harvest
by CCF Brands
|
1 |
Rogers, AR |
South, Midwest |
0 |
|
Flying Dutchman Farm (Crown 'O Maine Cooperative)
by Flying Dutchman Farm (Crown 'O Maine Cooperative)
|
1 |
IL |
Maine and Massachusetts |
0 |
|
Garden Valley
by Farmer's Organic Food International
|
1 |
Blair, WI |
|
0 |
|
Giroux Poultry Farm
by Giroux Poultry Farm
|
1 |
Chazy, NY |
|
0 |
|
Glaum Egg Ranch
by Glaum Egg Ranch
|
1 |
Aptos, CA |
West Coast |
0 |
|
Herbruck Poultry Ranch
by Herbruck Poultry Ranch
|
1 |
MI |
Nationwide |
0 |
|
Hillanddale Farms
by Hillanddale Farms
|
1 |
PA |
Eastern half of US |
0 |
|
Horizon Organic
by White Wave/Dean Foods
|
1 |
Broomfield, CO |
nationwide |
0 |
|
Hotz Farms
by Hotz Farms
|
1 |
IA |
IA |
0 |
|
Judy's Family Farm
by Petaluma Farms
|
1 |
Petaluma, CA |
West Coast |
0 |
|
Land O'Lakes
by Land O'Lakes
|
1 |
|
nationwide |
0 |
|
Nest Fresh Eggs
by Nest Fresh Eggs
|
1 |
Denver, CO |
Western states |
0 |
|
Oakdell
by Oakdell
|
1 |
Lewiston, UT |
Western states |
0 |
|
Organic Acres
by Organic Acres
|
1 |
IN |
IN |
0 |
|
Persimmon Pond
by Persimmon Pond
|
1 |
MD |
MD |
0 |
|
Pine Belt Eggs
by Pine Belt Eggs
|
1 |
NJ |
Nationwide |
0 |
|
Reading Creek Ranch
by Reading Creek Ranch
|
1 |
CA |
Weaverville, CA |
0 |
|
Redhill Farms
by Redhill Farms
|
1 |
CA |
San Francisco Bay Area |
0 |
|
Sparboe
by Sparboe
|
1 |
|
|
0 |
|
Tree of Life
by Tree of Life
|
1 |
FL |
select Canada and US |
0 |
|
Vega Farms
by Vega Farms
|
1 |
CA |
Davis, CA area |
0 |
|
Private Label
Private‐label, or store‐brand, eggs rated with one egg are sold by grocers or
distributors who have the obvious desire of wanting to grow their presence in the
organic marketplace. Unfortunately, there is an inherent limitation in private‐label
organic products: organic consumers tend to want to know where their food is
coming from and how it is produced, and private‐label products are anonymous by
their very nature. Our research indicates that the vast majority of organic eggs for private label brands
are produced on industrial farms that house hundreds of thousands of birds and do
not grant the birds meaningful outdoor access.
|
365 Organic
by Whole Foods
|
1 |
Austin, TX |
nationwide |
80 |
|
Archer Farms
by Archer Farms
|
1 |
MN |
Target nationwide |
0 |
|
Cadia
by Nature's Best
|
1 |
CA |
nationwide |
0 |
|
Central Market
by H-E-B Grocery Company
|
1 |
San Antonio, TX |
|
0 |
|
Country Creek
by Walmart
|
1 |
AR |
Walmart nationwide |
0 |
|
Crack a Smile
by Sam's Club
|
1 |
CA |
Sam's Club Nationwide |
0 |
|
Full Circle
by Full Circle
|
1 |
|
|
0 |
|
Full Circle
by Topco
|
1 |
|
|
0 |
|
Great Value
by Walmart
|
1 |
|
|
0 |
|
Green Way
by A&P
|
1 |
|
|
0 |
|
Kirkland Signature
by Costco
|
1 |
Seattle, WA |
nationwide |
0 |
|
Lucerne Foods
by Lucerne Foods
|
1 |
CA |
nationwide |
0 |
|
Lunds
by Lunds
|
1 |
MA |
Lunds stores nationwide |
0 |
|
Meijer Organics
by Meijer
|
1 |
|
|
0 |
|
Natural Directions
by Natural Directions
|
1 |
OR |
nationwide |
0 |
|
Natural Selections
by Kroger
|
1 |
OH |
nationwide |
0 |
|
Naturally Preferred
by Kroger
|
1 |
OH |
nationwide |
0 |
|
Nature's Basket
by Giant/Eagle/Market Distric
|
1 |
PA |
Giant stores nationwide |
0 |
|
Nature's Place
by Delhaize
|
1 |
|
|
0 |
|
Nature's Promise
by Giant, Stop 'n Shop, Ahold USA
|
1 |
|
|
0 |
|
O Organic
by Safeway
|
1 |
|
|
0 |
|
Price Chopper Naturals
by Price Chopper
|
1 |
|
|
0 |
|
Publix
by Publix
|
1 |
FL |
Publix stores nationwide |
0 |
|
Roundy's Organics
by Roundy's
|
1 |
|
|
0 |
|
Trader Joe's
by Trader Joe's
|
1 |
|
nationwide |
0 |
|
United Egg Producers
by United Egg Producers
|
1 |
GA |
nationwide |
0 |
|
Wegman's
by Wegman's
|
1 |
NY |
Wegman's stores nationwide |
0 |
|
Wild Harvest
by Supervalu/Shaws
|
1 |
|
|
0 |
|
