When you’re navigating the grocery store aisles searching for eggs, you’re likely bombarded with labels: cage-free, free-range, organic, and pasture-raised. For the ethically conscious consumer, understanding these terms is crucial to making informed choices about animal welfare. If you’re specifically looking at Pete and Gerry’s eggs, a common question arises: is Pete and Gerry’s eggs pasture raised? Let’s delve into the details to understand Pete and Gerry’s farming practices and what their certifications truly mean.
Understanding Pasture-Raised vs. Free-Range: What’s the Difference?
The terms “pasture-raised” and “free-range” are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings, especially when it comes to egg production. Pasture-raised, generally considered the gold standard in humane farming for poultry, signifies that hens spend the majority of their lives outdoors on pasture. These hens have extensive access to open fields with grass and vegetation, allowing them to roam, forage, and exhibit natural behaviors.
Free-range, while also implying outdoor access, has less stringent requirements. The USDA defines “free-range” as having access to the outdoors, but the duration, quality, and size of the outdoor space are not specified. This means “free-range” hens might have limited outdoor access, which could be a small, enclosed area with minimal vegetation.
It’s important to note that neither “cage-free” nor “organic” automatically means pasture-raised. Cage-free simply indicates hens are not confined to cages but can move around within an indoor barn. Organic certification focuses on feed and farming practices but doesn’t guarantee pasture access.
Pete and Gerry’s Commitment to Humane Farming
Pete and Gerry’s Organic Eggs has built its brand around a commitment to humane animal treatment and sustainable farming. Originating from Ward Family Farm, a farm struggling in the face of industrial agriculture in the 1980s, Pete and Gerry’s made a pivotal shift towards cage-free and organic production. This transformation led them to become the first Certified Humane® egg producer in the United States. This history underscores their long-standing dedication to ethical practices.
Today, Ward Family Farm serves as the company headquarters and a processing facility, handling over 100,000 eggs daily. Crucially, Pete and Gerry’s partners with over 200 family farms across the U.S. to raise their hens. These partner farms adhere to Certified Humane® Free Range standards. This certification is key to understanding the living conditions of Pete and Gerry’s hens.
Certified Humane® Standards for Pete and Gerry’s Farms
Pete and Gerry’s chose Certified Humane® because they recognized it as a trustworthy and robust standard that would resonate with consumers seeking ethically sourced eggs. To achieve and maintain this certification, Pete and Gerry’s and their partner farms must meet rigorous requirements that go beyond basic “free-range” claims.
Certified Humane® Free Range standards ensure that hens have:
- Access to grassy pastures (weather permitting): This means hens are not just given minimal outdoor access; they have genuine pasture to roam and forage.
- Traditional nests for laying eggs: Providing a natural environment for egg-laying is crucial for hen welfare.
- Dust areas for natural behaviors: Dust bathing is a vital natural behavior for chickens’ hygiene and well-being, and Certified Humane® requires these areas.
- Indoor scratching space and perching areas: Inside barns, hens have space to scratch and perch, promoting exercise and natural behaviors even when weather restricts pasture access.
Pete and Gerry’s emphasizes that they undergo regular, rigorous audits to maintain their Certified Humane® status. These audits sometimes lead to necessary adjustments, such as adding more shade structures in pastures, demonstrating a continuous commitment to improving hen welfare based on the certification standards.
Benefits of Certified Humane® for Animals and Consumers
The decision to pursue Certified Humane® certification has yielded positive outcomes for both animal welfare and consumer trust, as highlighted by Pete and Gerry’s experience:
- Improved Animal Welfare: Pete and Gerry’s reports that the mortality rate in their free-range flocks is lower than average for similar flock sizes. The provision of indoor scratching space and outdoor pasture encourages exercise and contributes to healthier hens.
- Market Differentiation and Consumer Trust: In a market saturated with unsubstantiated claims, the Certified Humane® label provides crucial third-party credibility. Consumers increasingly seek transparency and verified claims, and the Certified Humane® logo on Pete and Gerry’s packaging and website offers assurance of their commitment to animal welfare.
- Technical Advice and Support: Certified Humane® offers technical advice and support to producers, facilitating compliance with high standards and promoting knowledge sharing among farmers. This collaborative approach helps to continuously improve hen welfare practices within the industry.
Why Choose Pete and Gerry’s?
Jesse Ward, former CEO of Pete and Gerry’s, aptly summarized the company’s philosophy: “A welfare-focused approach isn’t ‘just good for our hens and the planet. It has also been good business. 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®.”
Choosing Pete and Gerry’s eggs means supporting a company with a long-standing commitment to humane farming practices, verified by the rigorous Certified Humane® program. While not explicitly labeled “pasture-raised,” their Certified Humane® Free Range certification assures consumers that their hens enjoy significantly better living conditions than conventionally raised chickens, with access to pasture, space for natural behaviors, and a focus on overall well-being. When looking for eggs that align with ethical values, Pete and Gerry’s Organic Eggs stands out as a trustworthy and responsible choice.
