How much do you know about the eggs you buy at the grocery store? I will admit to knowing not nearly enough! I thought words like “farm raised” and “healthy” were what I needed to hear. That is until I learned about a company called Blue Sky Family Farms and their philosophy on caring for the hens that provide us with the eggs we eat.
Their tagline, which truly is represented in how they do business, is “Ethical Eggs for the Humane Race”. With a 120-acre homestead in Port Washington, Wisconsin, Blue Sky Family Farms raise hens that live naturally with plenty of room to roam, enjoying the fresh air, green grass and sunshine. As a result, when you buy from them, you are buying 100% free range and pasture raised eggs.
“We really are family-owned and operated.
And we care deeply about our chickens, people and planet — all to provide you the very best tasting, local family farm eggs available.”
In order to understand the terminology, I turned to Egg Innovations for clarification. Egg Innovations was founded by John Brunquell, a third generation farmer, whose extensive education and knowledge in the egg industry has lead the efforts in the areas of Pasture Raised and Free Range eggs. They are the parent company of Blue Sky Family Farms.
The following are some key categories and terms that I have seen referenced when we talk about eggs:
Range of Motion:
Level 1 – Caged: Applies to 93% of US eggs – under 8 x 10 inches of space per hen and caged for life.
Level 2 – Cage-Free: Inside barns for life with an average of 1 square foot of space per hen, no outside access.
Level 3 – Free Range: More than 2 square feet of free roaming outside pasture space per hen, safe weather permitting.
Level 4 – Pasture Raised: Over 108 square feet per hen or year round outside pasture space to roam free on green grass with plenty of room for foraging, dust bathing, flapping and social interaction.
Labels:
Certified Humane: expert farming groups inspect and certify that hens are humanely treated.
No Hormones: No eggs ever contain hormones. They are illegal to give to egg laying hens.
Organic: USDA regulated, cage free with outdoor access required and fed an organic diet.
Non-GMO Project Verified: This non profit organization tests the hens’ feed to make sure it contains no genes altered by scientists.
No Antibiotics: Because antibiotics are hardly ever given to hens, eggs do not contain any antibiotics.
Doesn’t understanding this language make such a difference to you? It does for me. With more knowledge of how the farming process works, I can now make smarter choices when I am shopping for eggs. The philosophy that Blue Sky Family Farms adheres too is really clear:
- They raise their hens with care – naturally, free to roam under open skies
- Every detail matters – exclusive methods, consistently better eggs
- They know this business having been in the family farming business from generation to generation for over 100 years
- Their eggs taste great!
“We pledge to put the welfare of our chickens, people and planet first, in every decision we make, every action we take.”
Blue Sky Family Farms
After learning about the farming process, I wanted to actually try the eggs, deciding to make a simple omelet. Delicious!
If you are in the areas of Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio and Kentucky, you will find Blue Sky Family Farms Free Range and Pasture raised eggs at your local groceries. Stores include Kroger, Jewel-Osco, Mariano’s, Martin’s, Pete’s Fresh Market, Festival Foods, Sendik’s Food Market and Strak and Van Til.
Finding out where and how your food and respective ingredients are grown should be transparent. With Blue Sky Family Farms, they are. Next time you are shopping for eggs, try their Free Range or Pasture raised eggs for yourself. You will feel better inside and out.
Thanks for stopping by.
I admit that when it comes to eggs, we don’t really buy those that are organic because they are like three times more expensive than those regularly sold in the commercial marketplace. We also don’t have a large supply of eggs whose hens were not injected with chemicals. Hopefully in the near future, we would have a larger supply to fulfill demand.
I agree that buying eggs these days can be really confusing! I am now buying organic eggs that are pasture raised because I don’t want to eat eggs from chickens that have been caged or fed a non-organic diet. Plus, organic eggs taste much better!
My co-worker raises her own chickens and she gave me about 2 dozen for Easter. I have to admit that I was nervous at first, but after eating my first one, I was hooked. I do find them a little harder to peel, but over all good.
I never knew egg labels could be so confusing! There is such a big difference in flavor with free range or even organic eggs. I do not live in an area where I can purchase Blue Sky Farms eggs — so I’ll stick to my farm fresh eggs.
This tagline, “Ethical Eggs for the Humane Race”, really gives curiosity to me. I love the idea that the company is a family business and eggs are raised in perfection. Because this simply means that they really are hands-on on their business and produce quality eggs.
I’ll admit I pay attention to my eggs, I use them so frequently that i want to know exactly what I’m cooking, as well as what I am putting in my recipes. I love the free range eggs, I am able to get them from a farm way out east ( I live on Long Island NY), and I can tell the difference right away. I wish I started eating them sooner but I’m glad I know about them now!
This is a really great, helpful post! I have no clue about how to buy fresh eggs so these tips have really helped me understand better. I see all the different types of eggs available in the store and have always been pretty clueless as to what the differences are until now!
I always buy organic eggs but I often don’t distinguish between ‘cage-free’, pasture-raised, etc. I do feel strongly about the chickens being raised in humane environments.
I never knew much difference about the egg selection in stores until recently when a friend of mine starting raising chickens. She had given me some fresh eggs! OH MAN, could I ever tell the difference then. Those fresh eggs were amazing. I crave eggs now!
I have to admit that I am horrible with picking eggs. As long as there aren’t any cracks I am good. I see I’ll have to pay attention more when I’m shopping for eggs in the future. Great tips and very education post.