Clover Sonoma
| Rating |  |
| Farm/Brand Headquarters | Petaluma, CA |
| Website | www.cloversonoma.com |
| Market Area | West Coast |
| Total Score | 1265 |
Clover Sonoma Farms purchases its eggs from a local, family-owned layer facility with over 100 years of experience in the industry. Because of the close proximity to our egg producers we are able to work with them on a daily basis to ensure that we are receiving the best quality eggs on the market. All of Clover’s organic eggs come from four different breeds of hens: Hy-line, Lohman, Bovan and H & N. The hens are fed a diet of organic feed which consist of grains and minerals. No hormones or chemicals are ever added to the hen’s diet. The hens live in an environment that is suitable to their species, allowing them access to the outdoors and the ability to roost at night.
| Criteria | Points | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL (possible score is 2600) | 1265 | 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 | 70 | family farm owned business with contracts with other farmers |
|
Flocks of 500 birds or fewer receive the most points based on Animal Welfare Approved standards.
Average Flock Size | 0 | not disclosed |
|
Single henhouses receive the most points.
Single or Double Henhouses | 100 | single |
|
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 | |
|
Points determined by integrity of the brand’s organic certifier.
Organic Certifier | 75 | QAI |
|
Farms that are 100% certified organic receive the most points, farms/brands that are split conventional and organic receive fewer points.
Commitment to Organics | 20 | splt operation with organic and cages conventional hens on same property |
|
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 | 50 | 1.2 sq ft/henÊ |
|
Farms with perches, scratching areas and deep litter or year round pasture receive the most points. Indoor Enrichments | 100 | perches, deep litter, scratching areas |
|
Farms that freshen litter weekly receive the most points. Litter Management | 0 | not disclosed |
|
Farms that ensure birds have ample access to outdoors during daylight hours receive the most points.
Natural Light | 90 | abundant natural light in henhouses |
|
Farms that ensure 108 square feet per bird or more outdoors receive the most points.
Outdoor Space per Bird | 20 | 1.2 sq ft/hen |
|
Farms that ensure birds are in mobile housing or 1 large door per 75 birds receive the most points.
Popholes/Exit to the Outdoors | 40 | one door per 1,000-2,000 birds |
|
Farms that ensure birds have access to feed, water and shade outdoors receive the most points. Outdoor Enrichments | 0 | none |
|
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 except during inclement weather |
|
Farms that use mobile housing rotated on pasture every 1-2 days or weekly receive the most points.
Outdoor Management System | 60 | fixed houses with non-rotated outdoor space |
|
Farms that recycle chicken manure on the farm, using it for fertilizer, without causing nutrient pollution, receive the most points.
Manure Handling System | 80 | sold off farm |
|
Farms that never force molting receive the most points. Forced Molting | 100 | no forced molting |
|
Farms that never trim or tip beaks receive the most points.
Beak Trimming | 80 | tipped on day one of life |
|
Farms where hens live an average of 3+ years or 1.6-3 years receive the most points.
Laying Hen Lifespan | 80 | 1.6 years |
|
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 | not disclosed |
|
Farms where the death loss rate of hens is less than 3% annually receive the most points.
Death Loss Rate | 0 | not disclosed |
|
Farms that breed and incubate their own chicks, or raise their own pullets, receive the most points.
Pullets | 60 | company raised own pullets, distributes to farmers |
|
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 | 0 | not disclosed |
|
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 some pasture |
|
Farms where 100% of the feed is grown in the US or Canada receive the most points.
US Grown Feed | 0 | not disclosed |
|
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 |
|
Farms that do not feed synthetic amino acids receive the most points. Synthetic Amino Acids | 70 | No more than 2 lbs per ton |
|
Farms that participated in Cornucopia’s research providing full transparency receive the most points.
Disclosure Rate | 30 | did not complete new survey, responses from old survey, no photos or producer list |
