Natural Grocers Regenerative Pasture-Raised

Rating
Farm/Brand HeadquartersLakewood, CO
Websitehttps://www.naturalgrocers.com/our-story
Market AreaWestern US
Total Score1305

While a store brand, Natural Grocers is one of a the few store brands that was fully transparent with Cornucopia’s investigators. Their eggs are supplied by a trusted brand who was also fully transparent with Cornucopia.

CriteriaPointsComment
TOTAL (possible score is 1700) 1305
4-egg
Brands that have close daily control over their egg production receive the most points.
Ownership Structure
80Multiple farms supply this brand but the brand was transparent about each contract farm supplier
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
90Brand sources from farms that only produce organic eggs (the supplier produces both conventional and organic eggs)
Additional certifications, depending on the credibility of the label, can demonstrate a commitment beyond the organic standards.
Other Labels and Standards
100Soil Regen (Regenerative Verified) and transitioning to Regenified, American Humane Certified (AHC); Non-GMO Project Verified, CA SEFS Compliant, Certified by Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC), United Egg Producers(UEP
Smaller flock sizes (the number of laying hens per housing structure) offer better animal welfare conditions.
Flock Size(s)
45The suppliers for this brand have barn(s) with flocks of 20k birds
The best housing offers space for natural behaviors and legitimate access to the outdoors through adequate exits.
Hen Housing and Exit Areas
60Fixed housing barns with a mix of aviary and floor housing styles; large number of popholes that are big enough to encourage hens exiting (both sides of barn)
Adequate indoor spacing reduces stress and disease. With less crowding, birds can stretch their wings and more easily perform other natural behaviors.
Indoor Spacing
201.2 square feet allotted per hen
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
100108 square feet brand standard per hen (total over lifetime as layer)
High quality outdoor access includes vegetation, soil, and ample opportunities to forage year-round.
Quality of Outdoor Access
85Access to lush green pastures enriched with varied vegetation or artificial coverage. Brand suppliers maintain 90% vegetation with natural ground cover.
Birds that are introduced to the outdoors early are more accustomed to spending time outdoors without fear or stress.
Outdoor Access Timing
60Typical age is 18-20 weeks; outdoor access is year-round
Year-round access to perches, scratching areas, deep litter, novel foodstuffs, and dust bathing contribute to quality of life.
Enrichments
100Enrichments provided indoors and outdoors, in addition to outdoor vegetation
Chickens use their beaks to interact with the world. Authentic organic farmers account for this behavior, eschewing beak trimming.
Alterations
75Hens are beak-tipped but moving toward less beak-tipping; induced molting is not allowed
Raising chicks on farm or buying them from certified organic hatcheries shows dedication to organic production from start to finish.
Chicks and Pullets
75Brand has pullet farms that they supply; efforts made to have high animal welfare during transitions
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
80Death rate below 10%; spent hens are sold live for food
Brands that closely monitor and manage health of soil, native species, and water quality receive the most points.
Environmental Impacts
80Regenerative practices (currently Soil Regen; transitioning to Regenified), feed impact is environmentally sound; manure is utilized in environmentally safe manners
Feed Sourcing75Brand supplier owns feed mill with locally sourced feed; purity of grain is determined at the mill before it is received
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
80Excellent animal welfare benchmark with high-quality attention paid to natural behaviors, most hens are beak-trimmed but the brand is starting to do field trials with non-beak tipped flocks
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
100Full and open transparency
Brands do not receive points, but this information is offered for people with soy and/or gluten allergies.
Soy free and/or gluten free?
Gluten but not soy free
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)
QCS (Quality Certification Services) and OnMark Certification Services