Bethesda Farms
| Rating |  |
| Farm/Brand Headquarters | Raiford, FL |
| Website | None/Unknown |
| Market Area | Publix & Whole Foods |
| Total Score | 1390 |
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.
| Criteria | Points | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 100 | Family business/non-profit |
|
Flocks of 500 birds or fewer receive the most points based on Animal Welfare Approved standards.
Average Flock Size | 100 | Investigation shows flock sizes are likely small. |
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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) | 0 | Unable to confirm |
|
Points determined by integrity of the brand’s organic certifier.
Organic Certifier | 100 | NICS |
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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 | 100 | investigation shows apparent commitment to organics but not transparent in answering our questions |
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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 | 100 | feed and water, mobile housing |
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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 | Birds appear to have legitimate access to the outdoors, providing natural lighting |
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Farms that ensure 108 square feet per bird or more outdoors receive the most points.
Outdoor Space per Bird | 100 | Mobile housing on pasture and ample space per bird outdoors |
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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 | sufficient outdoor access |
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Farms that ensure birds have access to feed, water and shade outdoors receive the most points. Outdoor Enrichments | 100 | |
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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 | year-round outdoor access |
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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 | 100 | small producer with legitimate outdoor access |
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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 | 0 | Unable to confirm |
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Farms that never force molting receive the most points. Forced Molting | 0 | Unable to confirm |
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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 | Some outdoor access for pullets |
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Farms where all feed is produced on the farm receive the most points.
Feed Produced on Farm | 50 | Farm has organic grain mill; investigation shows at least some feed produced on-farm. |
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Farms where 100% of the feed is grown in the US or Canada receive the most points.
US Grown Feed | 100 | US grown feed |
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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 | 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 | 0 | This brand did not participate in our survey, but some information was found by our investigators. |
