In a market increasingly conscious of ethical food choices, Pete and Gerry’s Eggs stands out as a pioneer in humane egg production. Originating from a family farm with deep roots, Pete and Gerry’s has transformed itself by prioritizing animal welfare and transparency, setting a new standard in the egg industry. Their commitment to Certified Humane standards not only ensures the well-being of their hens but also provides consumers with eggs they can trust.
The Pete and Gerry’s Story: From Family Farm to National Leader
The journey of Pete and Gerry’s Eggs began at Ward Family Farm in Monroe, New Hampshire. Facing challenges in the competitive egg market of the 1980s, the third generation of the Ward family, Carol Ward Laflamme (Gerry’s wife) and her cousin Peter (“Pete”) Stanton, made a pivotal decision. They shifted their focus from conventional methods to cage-free and organic production. This bold move made them the first Certified Humane egg producer in the United States, a distinction that significantly revitalized their business.
Today, Ward Family Farm remains the company headquarters and a key processing facility, handling over 100,000 eggs daily. Under the leadership of Carol and Gerry’s son, Jesse, as CEO since 2019, Pete and Gerry’s Eggs has expanded its reach by partnering with over 200 small family farms across the nation. These partner farms adhere to Certified Humane Free Range standards, ensuring hens have access to grassy pastures, traditional nesting spaces, and dust bathing areas, promoting their natural behaviors and overall well-being. As a result, Pete and Gerry’s Eggs are now available in fine food retailers, restaurants, and colleges throughout the country, bringing ethically produced eggs to a wider audience.
Certified Humane: Ensuring Ethical Standards for Pete and Gerry’s Eggs
Pete and Gerry’s Eggs recognized the need to differentiate themselves in a market where unsubstantiated claims were becoming commonplace. To establish genuine credibility, they sought a rigorous certification program that validated their commitment to free-range practices. In 2003, they chose Certified Humane, a program of Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC), recognizing its trustworthiness and robust standards as essential for growth in their target retail markets.
Achieving and maintaining Certified Humane certification required Pete and Gerry’s partner farms to implement specific improvements. These included increasing scratching and dust-bathing areas, providing more perching space, and creating elevated perches for hens seeking refuge from larger groups. Pete and Gerry’s Eggs emphasizes that the audit process is rigorous and continuous, prompting them to make ongoing, reasonable adjustments, such as adding shade structures to pastures, to further enhance hen welfare.
The financial aspect of certification includes a standard application fee, annual audit fees for Pete and Gerry’s and their supplier farms, and a royalty on products sold with the Certified Humane label. Despite these costs, Pete and Gerry’s considers the program fees “very reasonable” and invaluable. They recognize the immense value of third-party certification in building consumer trust and assuring customers who are actively seeking ethically produced eggs.
Benefits of Choosing Certified Humane Pete and Gerry’s Eggs
The partnership with Certified Humane has yielded significant benefits across various aspects of Pete and Gerry’s Eggs’ operations and market presence.
Enhanced Animal Welfare
Pete and Gerry’s Eggs reports a lower than average mortality rate among their free-range flocks compared to similar-sized conventional operations. This positive outcome is attributed to the improved living conditions provided by the Certified Humane standards. The provision of indoor scratching space and outdoor range areas allows hens to engage in natural behaviors and exercise freely, contributing to their overall health and well-being.
Clear Market Differentiation
In an environment where consumers are increasingly skeptical of unverified claims, the Certified Humane label provides a crucial point of differentiation for Pete and Gerry’s Eggs. This third-party certification offers tangible credibility, assuring consumers that Pete and Gerry’s Eggs are genuinely committed to humane practices. The prominent display of the Certified Humane logo on their website, brand materials, and packaging reinforces this commitment and helps consumers easily identify and choose ethically produced eggs.
Access to Technical Advice and Collaboration
Certified Humane extends its support beyond certification by offering technical advice and subsidizing program costs for smaller producers. This approach ensures that the program is accessible to farms of all sizes, fostering broader adoption of humane farming practices. Furthermore, Certified Humane facilitates a collaborative environment among Pete and Gerry’s producers, encouraging the sharing of ideas and best practices for improving hen welfare, such as innovative roost and nest designs.
Why Pete and Gerry’s Recommend HFAC Certification
Jesse, former CEO of Pete and Gerry’s Eggs, offers compelling advice for farmers considering HFAC certification. He emphasizes that a welfare-focused approach is not only ethically sound but also strategically advantageous for business. “Consumers are searching for alternatives to the traditional food system,” he stated. “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 and Gerry’s Eggs exemplifies how prioritizing animal welfare and obtaining Certified Humane certification can lead to both ethical and business success. By choosing Pete and Gerry’s Eggs, consumers are supporting a company that genuinely values humane practices and transparency, contributing to a more ethical and sustainable food system.
