Animal Welfare Approved posts USDA statement on Swine Flu (Swine Influenza A/H1N1).

We invite you all to participate in today’s conference: “Reaching the New York City Market: A Summit on Linking the Supply Chain between Western New York Farmers and the New York City Market.” A partnership between Animal Welfare Approved and Alfred State College, this event is free and open to the public. Instructions on how [...]

Spring shedding at Animal Welfare Approved’s Green Dirt Farm in Weston, Missouri
Is meat to blame for our climatic woes? According to two recent reports, one by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the other by the American Meat Institute (AMI), the consensus is, “partly.” The two groups differ however, on just [...]

We are excited about our three day trip to Alfred, NY where we are sponsoring, along with our partners at Alfred State College, a Summit to develop a supply chain from Western New York to New York City.
An impressive group of farmers, NGO leaders, chefs, retailers, distributors and educators are meeting to discuss the demand, [...]

Mark and Barbara Laino raise Animal Welfare Approved laying hens at Midsummer Farm in Warwick, NY. The flock is made up of a variety of heritage breeds of chicken (e.g. French Cuckoo Marans, Salmon Faverolle, and Speckled Sussex) so that their eggs come in various and gorgeous shades of white, green, pink, and brown! At Midsummer Farm the hens are treated as family members and respected as living, feeling beings. They spend their days ranging and feeding on approximately three acres of organically maintained pasture, woods, wild meadow, and riparian areas- making them truly grassfed- and are only cooped up at night for their own protection. They are also allowed to set their own eggs, care for their own chicks, and are never culled as they get older.

In 1999, Ellen Ochoa bought two goats for each her two daughters for their 4-H project. Each year the herd of goats grew, until they were milking 20 goats and found themselves running a dairy. In 2005, Jeff Poulos, a high school science teacher, joined the family. Jeff has since retired from teaching and together they now milk 250 goats and sell all of their milk to their neighbors at Redwood Hill Creamery, who make award-winning cheese, yogurt and kefir. Ellen and Jeff plan to create their own line of Alma de Luna Animal Welfare Approved goat cheeses.

Shape Ranch, producer of Thunder Heart Bison, is owned and run by Hugh and Sarah Fitzsimons. The ranch was purchased by Hugh’s grandfather, H. A. Fitzsimons, in 1933 and it has been in the family ever since. Although originally stocked with Hereford cattle and steers, Hugh made the spontaneous decision to begin a herd of bison and now raises 350 head. Not only are bison indigenous to Texas, and therefore naturally adapted to live off the land, but they also produce a very healthy meat. Hugh appreciates this, noting, “Bison is probably the purest form of protein you can find.” Bison meat is low in cholesterol and fat and high in omega 3.

Acclaimed chef and friend of Animal Welfare Approved Andrea Reusing wrote a nice post about the true costs of conventional eggs vs. those from hens raised humanely on pasture. Read the full article (below) as it appeared on Gourmet.com, and try out her recipe for fried rice with eggs and country ham! [...]

In response to last week’s Op-Ed in the New York Times by James E. McWilliams entitled Free-Range Trichinosis, the folks from Center for a Livable Future at Johns Hopkins University wrote this blog.
April 10th, 2009
Smoked “Bacon” and Mirrors
Why didn’t Op-Ed author reveal National Pork Board paid for Trichinosis study?
Having spent the majority of my career [...]

Sunpower Farm, located in Round Hill, VA, is dedicated to humane, sustainable agriculture. Currently, owners Richard and Jamie Pantel supply top quality eggs from poultry given the highest standard of care. Their flock of chickens is rotated outdoors on quality pasture, every day, and at night they are housed in spacious straw bedded coops. The pair also raise turkeys for breeding stock and sheep for meat, wool, and breeding stock. Richard and Jamie are proud of their association with Animal Welfare Approved, and hope to continue efforts in support of AWA’s goals.