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Bethesda Farms

Rating
Farm/Brand HeadquartersRaiford, FL
WebsiteNone/Unknown
Market AreaPublix & Whole Foods
Total Score1390

As a non-profit company, Bethesda Farm states that it dedicates all profits from the sale of eggs to the communities in which it is a part. In local schools, they say they build “community microfarms” that give students the chance to plant, care for and harvest fresh fruits and vegetables. Bethesda Farm states that they support the Northeast Florida STEM2 Hub that fosters equitable access to STEM Education (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math/Medicine). Proceeds from Publix in northeast Florida are dedicated to this mission.

CriteriaPointsComment
TOTAL (possible score is 2600)
1390
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		100Family business/non-profit
Flocks of 500 birds or fewer receive the most points based on Animal Welfare Approved standards.
Average Flock Size		100Investigation shows flock sizes are likely small.
Single henhouses receive the most points.
Single or Double Henhouses		100Single
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)		0Unable to confirm
Points determined by integrity of the brand’s organic certifier.
Organic Certifier		100NICS
Farms that are 100% certified organic receive the most points, farms/brands that are split conventional and organic receive fewer points.
Commitment to Organics		100investigation shows apparent commitment to organics but not transparent in answering our questions
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		0Unable to confirm
Farms with perches, scratching areas and deep litter or year round pasture receive the most points.
Indoor Enrichments		100feed and water, mobile housing
Farms that freshen litter weekly receive the most points.
Litter Management		0Unable to confirm
Farms that ensure birds have ample access to outdoors during daylight hours receive the most points.
Natural Light		100Birds appear to have legitimate access to the outdoors, providing natural lighting
Farms that ensure 108 square feet per bird or more outdoors receive the most points.
Outdoor Space per Bird		100Mobile housing on pasture and ample space per bird outdoors
Farms that ensure birds are in mobile housing or 1 large door per 75 birds receive the most points.
Popholes/Exit to the Outdoors		100sufficient outdoor access
Farms that ensure birds have access to feed, water and shade outdoors receive the most points.
Outdoor Enrichments		100
Farms that can ensure outdoor access year round or those that only confine birds during inclement weather receive the most points.
Outdoor Space Exemptions		90year-round outdoor access
Farms that use mobile housing rotated on pasture every 1-2 days or weekly receive the most points.
Outdoor Management System		100small producer with legitimate outdoor access
Farms that recycle chicken manure on the farm, using it for fertilizer, without causing nutrient pollution, receive the most points.
Manure Handling System		0Unable to confirm
Farms that never force molting receive the most points.
Forced Molting		0Unable to confirm
Farms that never trim or tip beaks receive the most points.
Beak Trimming		0Unable to confirm
Farms where hens live an average of 3+ years or 1.6-3 years receive the most points.
Laying Hen Lifespan		0Unable to confirm
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		0Unable to confirm
Farms where the death loss rate of hens is less than 3% annually receive the most points.
Death Loss Rate		0Unable to confirm
Farms that breed and incubate their own chicks, or raise their own pullets, receive the most points.
Pullets		0Unable to confirm
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		50Some outdoor access for pullets
Farms where all feed is produced on the farm receive the most points.
Feed Produced on Farm		50Farm has organic grain mill; investigation shows at least some feed produced on-farm.
Farms where 100% of the feed is grown in the US or Canada receive the most points.
US Grown Feed		100US grown feed
No points are given for this but the information may be useful to certain consumers looking to avoid soy.
Soy in Feed		Soy free
Farms that do not feed synthetic amino acids receive the most points.
Synthetic Amino Acids		0Unable to confirm
Farms that participated in Cornucopia’s research providing full transparency receive the most points.
Disclosure Rate		0This brand did not participate in our survey, but some information was found by our investigators.

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