WASHINGTON — American Humane Association, the country's first national humane organization and creator of the first and largest third-party farm animal welfare certification program, announced today that Handsome Brook Farm has met its rigorous farm animal welfare standards and achieved certification through the American Humane Certified™ program for pasture raised eggs. Handsome Brook Farm currently produces pasture raised eggs on farms in New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Maryland, Kentucky, and Virginia. Handsome Brook Farm Pasture Raised Eggs, in both organic and non-GMO options, are available through retailers at over 4,000 locations throughout the United States including Kroger, Publix, Sprouts, Whole Foods, Harris Teeter, Wegman's, and independent and natural retailers. Handsome Brook Farm is the only egg provider certified by American Humane Association that is 100 percent pasture raised.
"Animal welfare is at the core of what we do," said Betsy Babcock, who, along with her husband Bryan, founded Handsome Brook Farm. "It is undeniable that the marketplace is saturated with misleading labels. We want our customers to be assured that the quality of our eggs is derived from our hens' quality of life. American Humane Association certification provides that assurance to our customers. Handsome Brook Farm meets the American Humane Certified program's rigorous pasture standards requirement of 108 square feet of pasture per hen, as well as other science-based welfare standards such as protection from inclement weather and predators. Pasture raised eggs are a growing segment of the U.S. egg production systems."
American Humane Association's most recent survey shows overwhelming popular support for the humane treatment of farm animals. Its Humane Heartland™ Farm Animal Survey polled 5,900 Americans and more than nine in ten (94.9%) said they are "very concerned" about farm animal welfare, up from 89 percent in American Humane Association's 2013 study. More than three-quarters (75.7%) stated that they are very willing to pay more for humanely raised eggs, meat, and dairy products, up from 74 percent in 2013.
"The welfare of America's egg-laying hens is a top priority for millions of consumers," said Dr. Robin Ganzert, American Humane Association's president and CEO. "And pasture raised eggs are growing in popularity and one of three different egg production styles our American Humane Certified program certifies. We are pleased that Handsome Brook Farm has made the humane choice and achieved certification through our American Humane Certified program."
American Humane Association was founded around the issue of farm animal welfare in 1877 and has been at the forefront of improvements and protections for children, pets and farm animals for 139 years (see historic timeline). In 2000 American Humane Association created the nation's first third-party farm animal welfare certification and auditing program with species-specific science-based standards covering everything from adequate space to air quality, heat and lighting, humane treatment, and the ability for animals to be animals and express the natural behaviors of their kind. These standards for the resulting American Humane Certified program were built upon the internationally accepted values of the Five Freedoms, adopted by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, as well as input from animal science experts, veterinarians and other animal husbandry specialists. These evidence-based standards are reviewed regularly by an independent Scientific Advisory Committee made up of some of the world's leading experts and animal advocates.
More information about the American Humane Certified program can be found at www.humaneheartland.org. Information about Handsome Brook Farm may be found at www.handsomebrookfarm.com.
About American Humane Association
American Humane Association is the country's first national humane organization and the only one dedicated to protecting both children and animals. Since 1877, American Humane Association has been at the forefront of virtually every major advance in protecting our most vulnerable from cruelty, abuse and neglect. Today we're also leading the way in understanding the human-animal bond and its role in therapy, medicine and society. American Humane Association reaches millions of people every day through groundbreaking research, education, training and services that span a wide network of organizations, agencies and businesses. You can help make a difference, too. Visit American Humane Association at www.americanhumane.org today.
About Handsome Brook Farm Pasture Raised Eggs
Handsome Brook Farm Pasture Raised Eggs is a privately held company run by Bryan and Betsy Babcock, and one of the leading producers of Organic Pasture Raised eggs in the United States. Partnering with 75+ family farms throughout the East Coast and South (NY, NJ, VA, PA, MD, NC, KY), Handsome Brook Farm is the fastest growing privately held egg company in the United States, the 14th fastest growing food company in the United States and honored to be #391 on the 2015 Inc. 500 List. Pasture Raised Eggs are the one of the fastest growing segments in the dairy case, and are distinguished from other eggs in that the hens actually spend their days outdoors. Handsome Brook Farm's mission is to provide customers throughout the United States with eggs that reflect the highest standards of quality, fair trade practices, and commitment to animal welfare. For more information call 607.829.2587 or visit http://handsomebrookfarm.com. Follow Handsome Brook Farm on Instagram and Facebook.
Source: American Humane Association
