Apple Creek
| Rating |  |
| Farm/Brand Headquarters | Bowdoinham, ME |
| Website | www.applecreekfarm.wordpress.com |
| Market Area | Maine |
| Total Score | 2330 |
Apple Creek Farm, LLC is a MOFGA certified organic farm located in Bowdoinham Maine. The farm was established by the Galle family in 1985 and is now run by the second-generation. Jake Galle and Abby Sadauckas co-own and operate the farm utilizing a variety of sustainable farming practices, including multi-species grazing. The farm produces certified organic, grass-fed beef, lamb and goat, as well as pasture-raised, certified organic poultry (broilers, geese and turkeys) and free-range certified organic eggs. Other livestock products include: hay, wool, cashmere, sheep and goat skins. Apple Creek Farm products are sold locally in Brunswick year-round at both farmers markets and local food retailers.
| Criteria | Points | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL (possible score is 2600) | 2330 | 5-Egg Rating | Top Rated |
Family farms and farmer cooperatives that market their own eggs receive the most points. Corporations that do not produce any eggs receive the fewest points.
Ownership Structure | 100 | family farm, produces all of own eggs |
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Flocks of 500 birds or fewer receive the most points based on Animal Welfare Approved standards.
Average Flock Size | 100 | under 500 birds |
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Single henhouses receive the most points.
Single or Double Henhouses | 100 | single |
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Animal Welfare Approved and Biodynamic certifications receive the most bonus points. Producers are not penalized for not having additional certifications beyond organic.
Other Certifications (bonus points) | none | |
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Points determined by integrity of the brand’s organic certifier.
Organic Certifier | 100 | MOFGA |
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Farms that are 100% certified organic receive the most points, farms/brands that are split conventional and organic receive fewer points.
Commitment to Organics | 80 | markets both organic and conventional eggs |
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More than 1.8 square feet per bird receives the most points, less than 1.2 square feet receives the fewest.
Indoor Space per Bird | 60 | avg 3 sq ft/hen over year |
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Farms with perches, scratching areas and deep litter or year round pasture receive the most points. Indoor Enrichments | 100 | perches, dust baths, litter, pasture |
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Farms that freshen litter weekly receive the most points. Litter Management | 80 | freshened as needed |
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Farms that ensure birds have ample access to outdoors during daylight hours receive the most points.
Natural Light | 100 | birds have ample access to outdoors for natural light |
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Farms that ensure 108 square feet per bird or more outdoors receive the most points.
Outdoor Space per Bird | 100 | |
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Farms that ensure birds are in mobile housing or 1 large door per 75 birds receive the most points.
Popholes/Exit to the Outdoors | 100 | at least one door for every 75 hens |
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Farms that ensure birds have access to feed, water and shade outdoors receive the most points. Outdoor Enrichments | 100 | water, shade, feed |
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Farms that can ensure outdoor access year round or those that only confine birds during inclement weather receive the most points.
Outdoor Space Exemptions | 90 | outdoor access year-round except during the coldest temps |
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Farms that use mobile housing rotated on pasture every 1-2 days or weekly receive the most points.
Outdoor Management System | 90 | mobile housing moved weekly, fixed in winter |
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Farms that recycle chicken manure on the farm, using it for fertilizer, without causing nutrient pollution, receive the most points.
Manure Handling System | 100 | manure recycled on the farm |
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Farms that never force molting receive the most points. Forced Molting | 100 | no forced molting |
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Farms that never trim or tip beaks receive the most points.
Beak Trimming | 100 | no beak trimming |
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Farms where hens live an average of 3+ years or 1.6-3 years receive the most points.
Laying Hen Lifespan | 80 | 2.5-3 years old |
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Farms where spent hens die a natural death, are sold for meat, or are processed and sold for human consumption, receive the most points.
Use of Spent Hens | 100 | most sold live as backyard birds, some processed by family for stewing hens |
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Farms where the death loss rate of hens is less than 3% annually receive the most points.
Death Loss Rate | 80 | 3-5% annually |
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Farms that breed and incubate their own chicks, or raise their own pullets, receive the most points.
Pullets | 80 | raises own pullets from chicks |
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Farms that allow pullets access to the outdoors within the first 6 weeks of life, or within 6-10 weeks, receive the most points.
Pullet Access to Outdoors | 100 | by 2nd week of life |
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Farms where all feed is produced on the farm receive the most points.
Feed Produced on Farm | 50 | no feed produced on farm but access to pasture |
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Farms where 100% of the feed is grown in the US or Canada receive the most points.
US Grown Feed | 70 | actively work to secure US grown feed but can't be certain |
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No points are given for this but the information may be useful to certain consumers looking to avoid soy. Soy in Feed | Yes | soy in feed ration |
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Farms that do not feed synthetic amino acids receive the most points. Synthetic Amino Acids | 70 | No more than 2 lbs per ton |
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Farms that participated in Cornucopia’s research providing full transparency receive the most points.
Disclosure Rate | 100 | full disclosure |
