Bilinski Sausage Manufacturing Co. (Schonwetter Enterprises)
| Rating |  |
| Farm/Brand Headquarters | Cohoes, NY |
| Products | Chicken, processed meat, sausage |
| Website | www.bilinski.com/products/organic-sausage/ |
| Market Area | Nationwide |
| Total Score | 1145 |
They write: “It’s Time To Re-Think Sausage: Put the old adages about “how the sausage gets made” out of your mind. Sausage can be healthier and still taste good. Ingredients can be something to show with pride. Bilinski’s is about sausage reimagined– made simply from whole ingredients, and responsibly raised chickens. These are sausages you can feel good about.
Our Mission: Helping To Build
A Better World, From the Ground Up
For Animals
by supporting farmers that are raising the bar for animal welfare.
For Our Future
by using ingredients that are raised and grown responsibly, with respect for the environment.
For Children
By making real food, in reasonable portions, that tastes great, while still being wholesome and nutritious.
For Community
By working to end hunger at home, and to bring high-quality proteins to kids and families.”
| Criteria | Points | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL (possible score is 1800) | 1145 | 4-Bird Rating | Excellent |
Family Farms and cooperatives receive the most points. Corporations and companies with poor or negligible farm oversight receive the fewest points. Ownership structure | 80 | Family owned business |
|
100% organic brands receive the most points. Split operations receive fewer with increased penalties for poor segregation at the processor and farm level. Dedication to Organic Production | 70 | Sells natural and organic products |
|
Farms that participated in Cornucopia’s research providing full transparency receive the most points. Transparency and Disclosure | 100 | Full transparency |
|
Points determined by integrity of the brand’s organic certifier. Organic Certifier | 75 | QAI |
|
To receive full points, flocks must number 500 birds or fewer (200 for turkeys). Flock size | 20 | 4,000+ birds per flock |
|
No more than 1.5 lbs of bird per square foot is required for full points. Stocking Density | 40 | Moderate stocking densities |
|
Mobile housing receives the highest number of points. Housing Style | 40 | Fixed housing with minimum outdoor access |
|
Heritage varieties receive the highest number of points. Strain and/or Breed and Slaughter Age | 50 | Slaughtered at 6-7 weeks |
|
Birds must spend 3/4ths or more of their lives outdoors for full points. Timing for Outdoor Access | 40 | >50% total lifespan outside |
|
Enrichments include but are not limited to shade structures, water, novel feedstuff (greens, mealworms, sprouted grains), and dust baths. Enrichments (outdoor and indoor) | 60 | |
|
Points awarded for labels that go above and beyond organic. Other Labels/Standards | 40 | GAP Step 3, Non-GMO Project Verified |
|
Maximum points given for high quality, rotated pasture. Non-rotated pasture adjacent to fixed housing with lower than 90% vegetative cover receives fewer points. Outdoor Management | 60 | Vegetated outdoor area |
|
100 points for on-farm production and/or milling of feed. Fewest points given to feed that cannot be verified as domestic and/or birds get poor or no supplementation from outdoor foraging. Feed Sourcing | 90 | Domestically sourced |
|
Methionine needs met by outdoor foraging receives 100 points. Synthetic supplementation receives 70 points. Synthetic Methionine | 60 | Maximum allowable used |
|
Under 5% cull and death rate required for full points. Cull/death Rate | 100 | Low cull and death rates |
|
Chicks and poults that are certified organic since hatching, or are hatched on-farm receive 100 points. Off-farm or conventional chicks and poults receive 70 points. Chick and Poult Sourcing | 70 | Purchase chicks/poults from conventional hatcheries (allowed practice in organic production) |
|
No physical alterations required for full points. Permitting beak tipping results in fewer points. Physical Alterations | 100 | No physical alterations performed |
|
Measures farm oversight. Farmer owned brands, or daily visits by management required for maximum points. Farm Support | 50 | Relies on 3rd party certification |
|
Non-scoring, category provided for information only. Slaughter Method (non-scoring) | ||
|
Non-scoring, category provided for information only. Soy Free Ration? (non-scoring) | Soy likely fed | |
|
Maximum transparency, sharing of the organic systems plan, and/or novel practices that sets the brand apart from the rest of the industry can result in extra credit points. Extra Credit | 0 | None |
