- AWA In the News
- News Releases
- Brochures
- Newsletters
- Upcoming Events
- Staff and Consultants
- Brian Anselmo: In Memoriam
- Employment
- Contact
- Sitemap
- Privacy
News Releases
Contact
Andrew Gunther
Program Director
(202) 415-6568
mediarelations@AnimalWelfareApproved.org
News Releases
February 1, 2012
Animal Welfare Approved Refutes Misleading Conclusions of Antibiotic Resistance Research
AWA has strongly criticized the conclusions of a recent research paper from the UK’s University of Glasgow on the link between farm antibiotic use and the development of antibiotic resistant disease in humans for being “misleading” and “highly irresponsible.”
January 18, 2012
Animal Welfare Approved Funds the Future of Farming: 2011-2012 Good Husbandry Grants
AWA is pleased to announce the 2011-2012 Good Husbandry Grants which help promote innovative, forward thinking farming techniques. Thirty-six grants have been awarded to farms across the nation to improve animal welfare and allow pasture-based farmers to increase productivity for their operations.
January 10, 2012
Twelve Year Old Farmer Hatches Successful Pasture-Raised Egg Business
Amidst the reality that the average age of farmers in the U.S. is rising, twelveyear-old Shelby Grebenc, founder of “Shelby’s Happy Chapped Chicken Butt Farm,” has become the youngest Animal Welfare Approved® farmer. Shelby’s AWA certification lets consumers know that the laying hens on Shelby’s farm were raised in accordance with the highest animal welfare standards in the U.S., using sustainable agriculture methods on an independent family farm.
January 6, 2012
Farmer Carole Morison of Food, Inc. Trades Contract Farming Blues for Rhode Island Reds
Former contract poultry grower and featured farmer in Food, Inc. is now going sustainable at Maryland’s first Animal Welfare Approved® farm. Carole Morison, the outspoken farmer of the Academy Award-nominated documentary Food, Inc., has recently announced a new business venture – pastured poultry. With the first flock of laying hens now in production, Morison’s Bird’s Eye View Farm is a model for transitioning farmers throughout the region.
September 27, 2011
Announcing First Animal Welfare Approved Restaurant in U.S. Grazin’ to Open in Hudson, NY
Animal Welfare Approved announces the October 1, 2011 opening of the first Animal Welfare Approved Restaurant, Grazin’, in Hudson, New York. Grazin’ is the first restaurant in the U.S. using only Animal Welfare Approved meat, eggs and dairy products. Restaurants can only earn the distinction of being an “Animal Welfare Approved Restaurant” if all meat, dairy and egg products are from Animal Welfare Approved farms.
September 7, 2011
Animal Welfare Approved Announces Landmark Sustainable Meat Conference
George Washington University’s Urban Food Task Force, Animal Welfare Approved (AWA) and the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) have joined forces by providing a platform for DC’s vibrant culinary community to focus on strengthening the supply chain for sustainably raised meat.
June 17, 2011
Animal Welfare Approved Offers Grants for Farmers and Slaughter Plants
Animal Welfare Approved is offering grants of up to $5,000 to improve farm animal welfare on AWA-certified farms and farms that have applied for the free certification. Slaughter plants working with AWA farms are also eligible for funding. A primary goal of this grant program is to facilitate the growth and success of high-welfare, pasture-based systems. The deadline to apply is September 30, 2011. Farmers and slaughter plants interested in applying should visit the AWA Good Husbandry Grants page or contact Grants Coordinator Emily Lancaster at Emily@AnimalWelfareApproved.org or (202) 618-4497.
June 9, 2011
Animal Welfare Approved recently announced that it is launching an innovative marketing opportunity for pastured egg farmers that are certified by the nonprofit organization. Beginning this summer, AWA farmers raising laying hens and selling eggs can begin using specially designed AWA-branded egg cartons.
April 22, 2011
New Interstate Inspection and Shipment Program Expected to Benefit Farmers
In a move expected to help thousands of farmers, the USDA has ruled that state-inspected meat and poultry can now be sold across state lines. The ruling establishes a new voluntary cooperative interstate shipment program, and Animal Welfare Approved applauds it as a common sense move that will benefit independent farmers and bolster animal welfare.
April 5, 20011
Consumer Alert: Things You Want To Know About Easter Eggs
Those who celebrate Easter often do so by boiling eggs, coloring eggs, hiding eggs, rolling eggs and eating eggs. But what do you look for when choosing eggs for Easter or everyday consumption? Animal Welfare Approved shares a few tips on finding the best tasting and healthiest eggs for your family and provides some ideas on how to heighten your enjoyment of this holiday that celebrates renewal and the coming of the spring season.
March 9, 2011
The Best Burger in St. Louis is Animal Welfare Approved
St. Louis Magazine says there is no doubt: “Five’s is the best hamburger in the city. And at $10, a steal.” Five Bistro of Saint Louis uses Animal Welfare Approved beef for its burgers, which means animals are raised on pasture, given no unnecessary medications and lead lives that are low on stress and high on care. It’s American Grassfed Beef from the Whisnant family farm based in Doniphan, Missouri, which strictly adheres to AWA’s high standards for animal welfare.
February 10, 2011
Nationwide Survey on Food and Tourism Launched
Animal Welfare Approved has teamed up with the Center for Sustainable Tourism at East Carolina University to conduct a nationwide study on American food choices and tourism. The project aims to develop a greater understanding of the sustainable food market, motivations for purchase, and eating preferences while traveling. How far will people go to get the foods they really want? The survey is available here online.
February 1, 2011
AWA Teams Up With UK Partners To Develop World Class Animal Welfare Assessments
Animal Welfare Approved is proud to be a partner on a new project with the world renowned Bristol University Veterinary School, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) and the Soil Association, all in the United Kingdom. The “AssureWel” project will improve how animal welfare is assessed.
February 1, 2011
More Proof that AWA Standards For Animal Welfare Are The Best In The US
In the latest published version of a side-by-side comparison of farm animal welfare standards, Animal Welfare Approved is shown to be the best. A leading welfare organization, Humane Farm Animal Care, has just produced a new edition of a comparison of standards of animal care required by USDA/Organic, American Humane Certified, Global Animal Partnership (GAP/Whole Foods Market) and others, and once again, AWA’s standards are the most rigorous for farm animal care.
January 21, 2011
News and Observer Restaurant Awards
AWA farms are supplying many of the North Carolina Research Triangle’s best restaurants. The News & Observer food critic picks his favorites. Restaurant winning “Restaurant of the Year” serves only AWA beef from Rare Earth Farms.
January 13, 2011
Animal Welfare Approved Funds the Future of Farming
Animal Welfare Approved is helping promote innovative, forward thinking farming techniques through its Good Husbandry Grants program. Twenty-eight grants have been awarded to farms and slaughter plants across the nation to improve animal welfare and allow pasture-based farmers to increase productivity for their operations.
January 12, 2011
Looking for humane, sustainable farms and products? Search no further than the new AWA Online Directory. Find restaurants, retailers, farmers’ markets, CSAs, farms and farm shops and all places where AWA products are available. Nothing in your area? Order on online or by phone at many outlets!
December 29, 2010
USDA’S New Meat Labels -‐ Great, but Where Does Your Meat Really Come From?
The new nutrition labels for meat products from the USDA are a terrific step forward. But even with all the listings for fat, protein and vitamins, you still can’t tell where your meat really came from or how it was produced. Current law in the United States only requires a farmers to hand over an affidavit saying he/she raised a meat animal. But that affidavit doesn’t require notarization, audit or any other kind of verification. That animal could have been raised under brutal unsanitary conditions and the consumer and the government would never know.
December 29, 2010
Consumer Alert: Want Good Luck for 2011? Eat Pork … Pastured Pork
Chickens move backwards as they scratch the ground to get their food. Cows stand still. But pigs move forward as they root around to get a meal. So the legend goes that if you eat pork on New Year’s Day, you’ll move forward in the New Year.
December 10, 2010
An American Legend Becomes Animal Welfare Approved
Some of the best burgers in the United States are now being made with humanely raised beef, thanks to Animal Welfare Approved, American Grass Fed Beef, and Dan Rosenthal, owner-operator of the Rosenthal Group. The legendary Poag Mahone’s, of the Rosenthal Group, is the very first restaurant in Chicago to be serving this prized beef.
November 30, 2010
A rare moment has come in food history: world-class American cheeses are being celebrated. Consider Bardwell Farm of West Pawlet, Vermont has received top honors at what some call the Olympics for cheese producers—the World Cheese Awards in Birmingham, England.
Consider Bardwell Farm received a gold medal for its Manchester semi-hard goat’s milk cheese this past weekend
November 9, 2010
Five Animal Welfare Approved Farms Featured at the New Amsterdam Market, Sunday, November 14
Roxbury Farm of Kinderhook, NY, High View Farm of North Hanover, NJ, JW Beef of Stonington, CT, and Finger Lakes Dexter Creamery of King Ferry, NY will offer AWA products including pork, beef, lamb, cheese and yarn. Grassfed beef from AWA’s Grazin’ Angus Acres will be featured in a special Danish dish, Smørrebrød (pronounced “smoe-bruth”), served at the Danish Consulate-sponsored Smørrebrød Table 2010.
October 6, 2010
Program Director Andrew Gunther is pleased to announce that Animal Welfare Approved farmer Jeremiah Jones of GrassRoots Pork Company in Beulaville, North Carolina has been awarded the 2010 Glynwood Farmer Harvest Award. Glynwood, a nonprofit dedicated to sustainable agriculture and farmland preservation, gives this award to highlight innovative work being done to increase access to fresh, locally produced food and to recognize leaders from across the country who are supporting regional agricultural systems.
August 26, 2010
Demand for Pasture-Raised Eggs Rising After Massive Recall
Animal Welfare Approved set to offer consulting services free of charge to farmers wanting to start up pastured egg operations.
August 4, 2010
This June, Animal Welfare Approved (AWA) and Wild Turkey Farms co-hosted a poultry processing workshop using a Mobile Processing Unit (MPU)–essentially a slaughterhouse on wheels that can be moved from farm to farm as needed. The MPU was funded by Animal Welfare Approved and built by farmer Lee Menius of Wild Turkey Farms as part of AWA’s Good Husbandry Grants program. The MPU came at time when a new clarification of processing regulations could greatly expand markets for pastured poultry in North Carolina.
August 3, 2010
Clinton-Mezvinsky Wedding Features AWA Short Ribs from Grazin’ Angus Acres
Animal Welfare Approved (AWA) farmer Dan Gibson of Grazin’ Angus Acres in Ghent, New York, first heard the rumor on Sunday morning—the short ribs he had been accumulating and subsequently supplied to a mysterious buyer had been served at the reception following Chelsea Clinton’s wedding to Marc Mezvinsky on Saturday, July 31 in Rhinebeck. The rumors abounded that Grazin’ Angus Acres had been named on the menu. Unable to confirm this, AWA approached the caterer who had purchased the ribs. AWA spoke with Rob Cano at RCano Events to confirm that Grazin’ Angus Acres short ribs were the short ribs being written about by gossip columnists and bloggers.
July 20, 2010
NFL Star Will Witherspoon’s Shire Gate Farm Earns Animal Welfare Approved Seal
Shire Gate Farm of Owensville, Missouri, owned by Tennessee Titan middle linebacker Will Witherspoon, has earned the Animal Welfare Approved seal. Animal Welfare Approved certification is an assurance to consumers that the cattle at Shire Gate Farm have been treated according to the highest welfare standards. Witherspoon raises 100% grassfed White Park cattle on his 500-acre farm.
July 13, 2010
Hoffmann Farm in Fabius, New York, owned by former New York State Senator Nancy Larraine Hoffmann, has been awarded the Animal Welfare Approved seal. Senator Hoffmann a longtime advocate for family farmers, served in the New York State Senate from 1984 to 2004, where she was the Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee from 1984 to 1998 and Chairwoman of the Agriculture Committee from 1999 to 2004.
July 9, 2010
AWA Announces 2011 Good Husbandry Grants
Animal Welfare Approved is pleased to announce that it will offer a third year of Good Husbandry Grants. AWA is seeking proposals for projects to improve farm animal welfare with a concentration on three areas: increased outdoor access, improved genetics and improved slaughter facilities.
June 14, 2010
AWA Baldwin Beef Voted Best by the Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) recently compared five grassfed beef brands and Animal Welfare Approved Baldwin Family Farms took the trophy for best filet and was voted best overall. WSJ’s “Cranky Consumer” Peter King evaluated each brand for ease of ordering, product selection and taste. Testers noted the “purity” of flavor in Baldwin Beef’s filet mignon, which farmer Mac Baldwin credits to quality pastures, nutritious forages and good management.
June 9, 2010
AWA and The Pit Go Whole Hog at the Big Apple BBQ
For ethical eaters attending this year’s Big Apple BBQ in New York City June 12-13, a visit to legendary pitmaster Ed Mitchell and The Pit restaurant booth will be an exceptional opportunity to satisfy a hunger for ‘cue while supporting family farmers who raise their animals with the highest humane standards. The Pit, of Raleigh, North Carolina, will be serving its signature whole-hog barbecue made exclusively from Animal Welfare Approved pastured pork supplied by the North Carolina Natural Hog Growers Association (NCNHGA).
April 12, 2010
The future of high-welfare, environmentally and financially sustainable livestock farming is brighter than industrialized agriculture would have us believe, says a panel of experts convening on May 4, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. in Washington, DC for a public discussion, “Green Pastures, Bright Future: Taking the Meat We Eat Out of the Factory and Putting it Back on the Farm.” The panel discussion is presented by Animal Welfare Approved in cooperation with the Pew Environment Group.
Organic Pastures Dairy Company, Largest Retail-Approved Raw Milk Dairy, Earns AWA Seal
Animal Welfare Approved, the nation’s leading certification label for family farmers raising their animals outdoors with high-welfare standards, is pleased to welcome Organic Pastures Dairy Company of Fresno, California into the AWA program. Organic Pastures Dairy Company has 500 dairy cows and specializes in bringing raw milk and raw milk products to California consumers.
March 2, 2010
Demand for AWA Products Creates Opportunities for Farmers
Surging demand for Animal Welfare Approved meat, dairy and eggs is creating opportunities for family farmers in the southeast and mid-Atlantic regions of the country. Animal Welfare Approved ranches in the southeast are in need of calves to supply AWA grassfed operations and Animal Welfare Approved has a growing backlog of restaurants and other outlets in the mid-Atlantic hoping to source only AWA eggs.
January 28, 2010
AWA Announces 2010 Good Husbandry Grants
Animal Welfare Approved, the nationally recognized certification program and food label, is pleased to announce the selected projects for the 2010 Good Husbandry Grants cycle. This cycle’s funding priorities include genetics, outdoor access, and welfare improvements in the slaughter process. Twenty-eight projects in 14 states were awarded funding.
December 7, 2009
Consumer Alert #5: Grassfed Beef and Pastured Pork Available in Whole Foods Market Stores
In response to many ongoing requests asking whether Animal Welfare Approved products are available in Whole Foods Market stores, the answer is YES! This holiday season, in addition to purchasing your AWA meat directly from the farm, CSA, farmers’ markets, co-ops, or buying clubs, you can shop at more than 100 Whole Foods Market locations and find Animal Welfare Approved grassfed beef and pastured pork products.
November 10, 2009
Dr. Mohan Raj, International Farm Animal Welfare Expert, to Lead Animal Welfare Approved Scientific and Technical Advisory Board
Dr. Mohan Raj, a world-renowned expert in humane slaughter and farm animal welfare, has been tapped to lead Animal Welfare Approved (AWA)’s newly formed Scientific and Technical Advisory Board, AWA Program Director Andrew Gunther announced today.
October 23, 2009
Three Farms in Hawaii Are First to Earn Animal Welfare Approved Seal
Animal Welfare Approved is pleased to announce that Eden Earthworks in Mountain View, Hawaii Lowline Cattle Company in Honoka’a, and Kauai Kunana Dairy on Kauai’s North Shore, have recently been awarded the Animal Welfare Approved seal for high-welfare animal husbandry. Animal Welfare Approved is a free certification granted to family farmers adhering to the high animal welfare standards outlined by the non-profit program.
October 21, 2009
Animal Welfare Approved Certifies Family Farms that Supply Pacific Natural Foods Brand
Program Director Andrew Gunther announced today that Animal Welfare Approved has certified the first two family farms supplying beef and dairy to Pacific Natural Foods. “We are so pleased that Pacific Natural Foods has chosen Animal Welfare Approved to audit and certify its family farms, demonstrating its commitment to high welfare farming. We look forward to an ongoing collaboration as we work towards certifying the other family farms that supply Pacific Natural Foods.”
October 7, 2009
Consumer Alert #4 USDA “Grass Fed” Label Claim Leaves Loophole for Confinement
In response to a recent press release announcing that La Cense Ranch has become the first grassfed beef producer to be certified under the USDA “Grass Fed” standard, Animal Welfare Approved Program Director Andrew Gunther made the following statement: “I am seeing a re-emergence of the arguments that surrounded initial discussions about the USDA’s ‘Grass Fed’ definition. The USDA standard only partially addresses buyers’ expectations for grassfed meat. We are concerned that consumers may assume that a USDA Grass Fed certification means that ruminants are raised on pasture for the duration of their lives, without confinement or feedlots.”
September 30, 2009
Consumer Alert 3: Getting the Word Out About Animal Welfare Approved
Animal Welfare Approved Launches “Advocates of AWA.”
September 22, 2009
Animal Welfare Approved Launches Redesigned Website
New Site Makes it Easier to Find Farms and Products and Provides Online Scientific and Technical Module
July 17, 2009
Consumer Alert 2: Tips for Cooking 100% Grassfed Beef from Chef Bill Telepan
Chef Bill Telepan, owner of Manhattan’’s Telepan Restaurant, gives tips for cooking with 100% grassfed beef. Telepan’’s burger is consistently rated as one of the top burgers in New York City, proving you don”t have to make any compromises when cooking or grilling with 100% grassfed beef.
June 25, 2009
New All Natural, Pasture-Raised Product Line by William’s Pork carries Animal Welfare Approved Seal
Animal Welfare Approved is pleased to announce that William’s Pork’s new All Natural Pasture-Raised Pork line will carry the Animal Welfare Approved seal. Animal Welfare Approved hog growers in North Carolina are supplying the pork for the new product line, which includes chops, ribs, ground pork and tenderloin. William’’s Pork is based in Lumberton, N.C. and specializes in gourmet pork products.
April 8, 2009
Alfred State College and Animal Welfare Approved Host Summit to Plan Food Supply Chain from Western New York State to New York City
Farmers, State Agriculture Representatives and New York City Chefs and Distributors to Meet on April 23, 2009.
March 13, 2009
Animal Welfare Approved Program Now Open to Canadian Farms
December 4, 2008
Animal Welfare Approved to Provide All Audits for American Grassfed Association Members
November 7, 2008
October 28, 2008
“Ask Frank” New Blog Feature on Animal Welfare Approved Website
October 16, 2008
Animal Welfare Approved Farmer Jude Becker Featured on Oprah
July 17, 2008
May 30, 2008
Animal Welfare Approved Program Takes Major Steps Forward
May 8, 2008
February 6, 2008
Animal Welfare Approved Farm Accreditations Expanding Rapidly
October 24, 2007
Shop for “Animal Welfare Approved” Products from Family Farms for Upcoming Holiday Meals