Bethesda Farms
| Rating |  |
| Farm/Brand Headquarters | Raiford, FL |
| Website | https://www.facebook.com/BethesdaFarm/ |
| Market Area | FL |
| Total Score | 1080 |
Bethesda Farms is potentially a Publix and Whole Foods local supplier.
This brand did not participate in Cornucopia’s survey or participate in Cornucopia’s investigation. While some information was found about this brand’s practices, we could not confirm everything.
If you are a customer of this brand, we encourage you contact the brand owners and ask them to participate fully in Cornucopia’s research. We always want the most accurate and up-to-date information on our scorecards, and consumers play an important role by demanding transparency from their food suppliers.
| Criteria | Points | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL (possible score is 1700) | 1080 | 4-egg |
Brands that have close daily control over their egg production receive the most points. Ownership Structure | 100 | Single farm |
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Brands that only produce organic products make the biggest investments — in time and money — in systems that benefit us all. Eggs sourced from a single operation receive the most points. Eggs of unclear origins and/or with poor oversight receives the fewest points. Commitment to Organic Label | 75 | Appears committed, but did not participate in investigation |
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Additional certifications, depending on the credibility of the label, can demonstrate a commitment beyond the organic standards. Other Labels and Standards | 40 | Non-GMO Project |
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Smaller flock sizes (the number of laying hens per housing structure) offer better animal welfare conditions. Flock Size(s) | 100 | Flock sizes appear small |
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The best housing offers space for natural behaviors and legitimate access to the outdoors through adequate exits. Hen Housing and Exit Areas | 100 | Investigation shows small mobile shelters, hens are all able to exit |
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Adequate indoor spacing reduces stress and disease. With less crowding, birds can stretch their wings and more easily perform other natural behaviors. Indoor Spacing | 75 | Investigation shows hens have ample room to perform natural behaviors, but actually square footage per hen cannot be confirmed |
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High scoring brands provide enough space to allow each hen to fully utilize their outdoor area, and to perform instinctive behaviors without harming the environment. Outdoor Spacing | 75 | Investigation shows hens have ample room to perform natural behaviors, but actually square footage per hen cannot be confirmed |
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High quality outdoor access includes vegetation, soil, and ample opportunities to forage year-round. Quality of Outdoor Access | 90 | Diversified farm, chickens rotated on high quality pasture |
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Birds that are introduced to the outdoors early are more accustomed to spending time outdoors without fear or stress. Outdoor Access Timing | 50 | Unknown |
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Year-round access to perches, scratching areas, deep litter, novel foodstuffs, and dust bathing contribute to quality of life. Enrichments | 75 | Enrichments are provided along with legitimate outdoor access |
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Chickens use their beaks to interact with the world. Authentic organic farmers account for this behavior, eschewing beak trimming. Alterations | 50 | Beaks appear tipped; unknown molting practices |
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Raising chicks on farm or buying them from certified organic hatcheries shows dedication to organic production from start to finish. Chicks and Pullets | 0 | Unknown sourcing |
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Brands that have low rates of deaths and utilize their spent hens for human consumption or similar score the highest. Deaths, Culls, and Spent Hens | 0 | Unknown |
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Brands that closely monitor and manage health of soil, native species, and water quality receive the most points. Environmental Impacts | 50 | Appears to maintain a certain standard of environmental sustainability |
| Feed Sourcing | 75 | Feed sourcing is local, with some likely being produced on-farm, but exact source unconfirmed |
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Brands that score well here go above and beyond to ensure the highest animal welfare, taking into consideration their hens’ safety and cleanliness, natural behavior, and stress levels. Animal Welfare | 50 | Meets good animal welfare benchmark, unconfirmed |
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Cornucopia believes you have a right to transparency. Top brands share information with Cornucopia via a survey and cooperate with our own independent investigations. Transparency | 75 | Did not participate in survey but investigation confirmed some information |
| Soy free and/or gluten free? (non-scoring) | Some eggs may be soy free, check label | |
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Brands do not receive points, but are invited to submit the name of their Accredited Organic Certifier (suppliers may have different certifiers). Organic Certifier (non-scoring) | Unknown | |
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Extra credit is offered for various practices that go above-and-beyond in some form. Extra Credit | 0 | None |
