When you’re reaching for eggs at the grocery store, you’re likely faced with a wall of choices. Among them, Pete & Gerry’s Eggs stand out, not just for their distinctive carton, but for their long-standing commitment to humane and ethical farming practices. But what truly sets Pete & Gerry’s Eggs apart? It’s a story rooted in family farming, a dedication to animal welfare, and a pioneering spirit that transformed a struggling farm into a national leader in responsible egg production.
The Story Behind Pete & Gerry’s Eggs: From Family Farm to National Brand
The journey of Pete & Gerry’s Eggs begins at Ward Family Farm in Monroe, New Hampshire. Like many family farms in the 1980s, Ward Family Farm faced immense pressure from large-scale industrial egg producers. The farm’s survival was uncertain until the third generation, Carol Ward Laflamme (Gerry’s wife) and her cousin Peter (“Pete”) Stanton, stepped in. They recognized the changing tides of consumer awareness and made a bold decision: to pivot away from conventional methods and embrace cage-free, organic production. This pivotal shift made them the first Certified Humane® egg producer in the United States, a move that not only saved their farm but also positioned them as pioneers in the ethical egg market.
Today, Ward Family Farm serves as the headquarters for Pete & Gerry’s, with Carol and Gerry’s son, Jesse, at the helm as CEO since 2019. While still operating a processing facility handling over 100,000 eggs daily, Pete & Gerry’s has expanded its reach significantly. They now partner with over 200 small family farms across the nation, all sharing the same commitment to free-range hen welfare. These partner farms adhere to Certified Humane® Free Range standards, ensuring hens have access to grassy pastures (weather permitting), lay eggs in traditional nests, and have dust-bathing areas to express natural behaviors. This network of family farms is what allows Pete & Gerry’s Eggs to be available in fine food retailers, restaurants, and colleges throughout the country, bringing ethically produced eggs to a wider audience.
Certified Humane®: Ensuring Ethical Egg Production
In a market increasingly filled with vague and often misleading claims, Pete & Gerry’s understood the need for credible third-party verification. To genuinely distinguish themselves as a producer committed to higher animal welfare standards, they sought a robust certification program. In 2003, they chose Certified Humane®, recognizing its trustworthiness and rigorous standards as essential for building consumer confidence and expanding into their target retail markets.
Achieving and maintaining Certified Humane® status is not a one-time event; it requires ongoing commitment and adaptation. Pete & Gerry’s and their partner farms underwent changes to meet the stringent requirements. This included installing more scratching and dust-bathing areas for hens, increasing perching space, and creating elevated perches to provide timid hens with safe spaces within the flock. Pete & Gerry’s emphasizes that the annual audits by Certified Humane® are rigorous and often lead to continuous improvements, such as the addition of shade structures in pasture areas, demonstrating their ongoing dedication to exceeding welfare standards.
The Positive Outcomes of Humane Certification
The decision to pursue Certified Humane® certification has yielded significant positive outcomes for Pete & Gerry’s Eggs, impacting animal welfare, market differentiation, and industry collaboration.
Benefit to Animals: Pete & Gerry’s reports a lower than average mortality rate in their free-range flocks compared to similar flock sizes in conventional systems. This is a testament to the healthier living conditions provided by their free-range system. The provision of indoor scratching space and outdoor range areas allows hens to engage in natural behaviors and exercise, contributing to their overall well-being.
Cutting Through Market Confusion: In an era where consumers are increasingly skeptical of unsubstantiated claims, the Certified Humane® label provides invaluable third-party credibility. Pete & Gerry’s prominently features the Certified Humane® logo on their website, brand materials, and egg cartons. This transparency helps consumers confidently choose Pete & Gerry’s Eggs, knowing they are supporting a company genuinely committed to higher animal welfare standards.
Technical Advice and Industry Improvement: Certified Humane®’s commitment extends beyond auditing; they also provide technical advice and, for smaller producers, subsidized program costs. This supportive approach fosters accessibility to certification for farms of all sizes. Furthermore, Certified Humane® has facilitated a collaborative environment among Pete & Gerry’s producers, encouraging the sharing of best practices in hen welfare, such as innovative roost and nest designs. This collaborative spirit contributes to the overall advancement of humane farming practices within the egg industry.
Why Pete & Gerry’s Chose Certified Humane®: A Message to Farmers
Jesse Ward, former CEO of Pete & Gerry’s, offers compelling advice for farmers considering HFAC certification. He underscores that a welfare-focused approach is not only ethically sound but also strategically advantageous in today’s market. “A welfare-focused approach isn’t just good for our hens and the planet. It has also been good business,” Jesse stated. “Consumers are searching for alternatives to the traditional food system. Integrity in labeling is important now and will become even more important in the future, and I believe that when it comes to animal welfare, there is no higher and more trusted standard for consumers than Certified Humane®.”
Pete & Gerry’s Eggs stand as a powerful example of how prioritizing animal welfare and seeking credible certification can lead to both ethical and commercial success. Their story serves as an inspiration for other egg producers and reinforces the growing consumer demand for transparency and humane practices in the food industry. When you choose Pete & Gerry’s Eggs, you are choosing more than just breakfast; you are supporting a legacy of family farming, animal welfare, and a commitment to a more ethical food system.
