Pete and Gerry’s
| Rating |  |
| Farm/Brand Headquarters | Monroe, NH |
| Website | www.peteandgerrys.com |
| Market Area | Northeast |
| Total Score | 1915 |
Pete and Gerry’s is an example of a large-scale producer that is moving away from the industrial model of egg production, committed instead to increasing both indoor and outdoor access for its birds. At its New Hampshire location, the company has attached winter gardens (like a screened-in porch for chickens) to all its organic buildings, and increased vegetated outdoor space as well.
They write: Pete and Gerry’s Organic Eggs is a family owned and operated farm and processor of organic eggs, located in Northern New Hampshire, near the White Mountain National Forest. Pete and Gerry’s was the first egg farm in the country to be recognized by Humane Farm Animal Care’s Certified Humane program. Along with producing eggs at the family farm in Monroe, NH, Pete and Gerry’s has been able to grow by partnering with nearly 20 other family farms throughout the Northeast. Pete and Gerry’s is also actively pursuing and supporting new partnerships with local New England based farmers who would like to produce eggs with us.
| Criteria | Points | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL (possible score is 2600) | 1915 | 4-Egg Rating | Excellent |
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 owned, produces own eggs & buys from other farmers |
|
Flocks of 500 birds or fewer receive the most points based on Animal Welfare Approved standards.
Average Flock Size | 40 | 2,800-23,000 bird flock |
|
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) | 60 | Certified Humane, B Corp |
|
Points determined by integrity of the brand’s organic certifier.
Organic Certifier | 85 | New Hampshire Dept. of Ag, PCO, GOA, OEFFA, ICO |
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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 | 80 | markets both organic& cage free |
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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 | 50 | 1.2 sq ft per bird minimum |
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Farms with perches, scratching areas and deep litter or year round pasture receive the most points. Indoor Enrichments | 80 | perches, dust baths, scratching areas, not year-round pasture access |
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Farms that freshen litter weekly receive the most points. Litter Management | 80 | litter freshened often but not year-round pasture acces |
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Farms that ensure birds have ample access to outdoors during daylight hours receive the most points.
Natural Light | 80 | some natural light via windows |
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Farms that ensure 108 square feet per bird or more outdoors receive the most points.
Outdoor Space per Bird | 40 | avg 2-5 sq ft/hen |
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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 | 40 | one door for every 1,001-3,000 hens |
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Farms that ensure birds have access to feed, water and shade outdoors receive the most points. Outdoor Enrichments | 80 | shade, water outdoors |
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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 | 70 | confined seasonally in winter |
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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 | 60 | fixed house with non-rotated pasture |
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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 | 80 | sell most of manure off farm, starting a composting program |
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Farms that never force molting receive the most points. Forced Molting | 100 | no forced molting |
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Farms that never trim or tip beaks receive the most points.
Beak Trimming | 70 | beaks have to be trimmed in first 10 days of life |
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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 | 60 | 80 week average |
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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 | 100 | sold live for food, eggs |
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Farms where the death loss rate of hens is less than 3% annually receive the most points.
Death Loss Rate | 100 | less than 2% |
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Farms that breed and incubate their own chicks, or raise their own pullets, receive the most points.
Pullets | 60 | purchase both chicks and ready to lay pullets |
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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 | 40 | around 16 weeks |
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Farms where all feed is produced on the farm receive the most points.
Feed Produced on Farm | 50 | No feed is produced on farm but birds acquire some of their dietary needs from pasture/vegetation |
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Farms where 100% of the feed is grown in the US or Canada receive the most points.
US Grown Feed | 70 | We actively work to secure US grown feed but can't be 100% certain |
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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 | Yes | soy in feed ration |
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Farms that do not feed synthetic amino acids receive the most points. Synthetic Amino Acids | 70 | No more than 2 lbs per ton |
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Farms that participated in Cornucopia’s research providing full transparency receive the most points.
Disclosure Rate | 100 | full disclosure |
