Apricot Lane Farms
| Rating |  |
| Farm/Brand Headquarters | Moorpark, CA |
| Website | None/Unknown |
| Market Area | California |
| Total Score | 1100 |
Though this brand has not yet participated in Cornucopia’s survey, our investigation show that this is likely an authentic pasture-based farm with legitimate outdoor access. We encourage customers of this brand to ask that they participate fully to provide further transparency.
Apricot Lane Farms is also being investigated right now as they may not hold a certificate for eggs, though the rest of their diversified farm appears to be certified organic.
| Criteria | Points | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL (possible score is 2600) | 1100 | 3-Egg Rating | Very Good |
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 | Single family farm |
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Flocks of 500 birds or fewer receive the most points based on Animal Welfare Approved standards.
Average Flock Size | 100 | Small flock sizes |
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Single henhouses receive the most points.
Single or Double Henhouses | 100 | Mobile housing/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) | 50 | May also be certified bio-dynamic |
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Points determined by integrity of the brand’s organic certifier.
Organic Certifier | 75 | CCOF |
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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 | 0 | Appears commited to organic principles |
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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 | 0 | Unable to confirm |
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Farms with perches, scratching areas and deep litter or year round pasture receive the most points. Indoor Enrichments | 0 | Unable to confirm |
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Farms that freshen litter weekly receive the most points. Litter Management | 0 | Unable to confirm |
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Farms that ensure birds have ample access to outdoors during daylight hours receive the most points.
Natural Light | 100 | Good natural light (legitimate outdoor access) |
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Farms that ensure 108 square feet per bird or more outdoors receive the most points.
Outdoor Space per Bird | 100 | Legitimate outdoor access |
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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 | Mobile coops allow every bird to access outdoors |
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Farms that ensure birds have access to feed, water and shade outdoors receive the most points. Outdoor Enrichments | 100 | Investigation shows (legitimate outdoor access |
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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 | 0 | Unable to confirm |
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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 | 50 | Likely biodynamic practices |
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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 | 50 | Likely biodynamic practices |
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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 | 0 | Unable to confirm |
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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 | 0 | Unable to confirm |
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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 | 0 | Unable to confirm |
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Farms where the death loss rate of hens is less than 3% annually receive the most points.
Death Loss Rate | 0 | Unable to confirm |
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Farms that breed and incubate their own chicks, or raise their own pullets, receive the most points.
Pullets | 0 | Unable to confirm |
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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 | 50 | Likely early |
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Farms where all feed is produced on the farm receive the most points.
Feed Produced on Farm | 0 | Unable to confirm |
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Farms where 100% of the feed is grown in the US or Canada receive the most points.
US Grown Feed | 0 | Unable to confirm |
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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 | 0 | Soy free |
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Farms that do not feed synthetic amino acids receive the most points. Synthetic Amino Acids | 0 | Unable to confirm |
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Farms that participated in Cornucopia’s research providing full transparency receive the most points.
Disclosure Rate | 25 | Did not participate, transparent with consumers |
