Why Farm Fresh Eggs Have More Benefits Than Store-bought
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In this post, you will learn the difference between store-bought eggs, and farm-fresh eggs that come from local farms. Not only are you supporting local farmers, but you are also getting more nutrient-dense products than what you find at the grocery store!
Having your own backyard chickens gives you access to the freshest eggs. but not everyone is interested in raising their own chickens or doing the work that goes into it. Finding a farm that raises hens with high standards and is local, is the best way to get higher quality eggs! Not only is there a taste difference with a richer flavor in farm fresh eggs, but eggs from a small or local farm are fresher, have more essential nutrients, and also give you peace of mind knowing exactly where the eggs come from and the farming and sustainable practices used.
Fresher eggs are higher in nutritional quality
One benefit of any food from the farm is that the fresher it is, the higher the nutritional value. Commercial eggs are often 30-60 days old before they get into people’s homes. This is also true for pasture-raised eggs that you buy at the grocery store because it takes time for them to process, pack, ship, and put on the store shelves. The benefit of getting eggs from local small farms is how quickly they end up in your kitchen! If you buy eggs directly from a farm or farmers market, there’s a good chance that the eggs were laid that day, or at least close to it, which is one of the many benefits of farm-fresh eggs. You can learn more about how long eggs last and how to store them in this blog post here.
Fresh eggs will also cook “over easy” better! That’s because the fresher the egg is, the more intact the yolk is. As the egg ages the yolk starts to deteriorate and is not as firm. If you love over-easy eggs in the morning, you will have much better luck at getting the perfect runny yolk with fresh eggs.
Wowza! Look how far our operation has come! This was our first licensed egg packing area! An old counter top in our basement with a utility sink.
Farm fresh eggs have more nutritional benefits
Eggs are a great part of a healthy diet because they are packed with nutrients and protein, a single egg has 6 grams of protein and all 9 essential amino acids. However, according to a study by Pennsylvania State University, fresh eggs from a farm pack more punch and are higher in nutrients and essential vitamins than their store-bought counterparts. Farm fresh eggs have higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids. The high amount of omega-3 is important because it is an unsaturated fat with many health benefits. Omega-3s help with heart health, eye health, and healthy skin and help lower inflammation that can cause chronic diseases. Additionally, according to a study by Mother Earth News, farm fresh eggs have 1/4 less saturated fat and 1/3 less cholesterol than conventional eggs and they have 3 times more vitamin E, 2/3 more vitamin A, and 7 times more beta carotene.
Now we’ve happily upgraded to an entire shed for our operation– and some help to package! 🙂
Single source producer
Knowing your farmer on an intimate level is really critical in a world of food supply chains. We’ve seen multiple gaps in the “system” in commercial egg production where a producer sells eggs to a retail chain that doesn’t necessarily care for their hens in the way that the label portrays or maybe does not have as much outdoor access as you would assume. Being able to walk onto the farm where your eggs come from and see if it aligns with your values is critical! While many farms do have biosecurity measures in place to protect livestock, you should be able to visit the farm and the animals!
Did you know that we host farm tours, brunches, and events here at Pleasant Grove Homestead? Join our mailing list to be the first to hear about our local events!
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Know the farming practices
Let’s say your ideal scenario for your egg source is that they are free range, and not fed grain. You go out to visit your potential new egg farmer and learn something new. They tell you the chickens are raised in tractors to allow them to be protected AND they actually get to forage more because they are forced to graze the entire farm. The farmer then tells you all about how they want healthy chickens and while grain-free sounds nice, when they tried it, they had very unhealthy hens that didn’t produce eggs.
If this sounds familiar to you, that’s because this is how we raise our hens here at Pleasant Grove Homestead! While all of us have non-negotiables in our diets, more often than not once we get to SEE and EXPERIENCE how something works, we become more aware of the other nuances involved in production.
While we strived for a long time to not give our chickens any grain, we learned that grains contain essential nutrients that we haven’t been able to replace with other alternatives yet. Additionally, we are proud to have pasture-raised hens that are protected from predators inside the chicken tractors. We take care to move them to fresh grass each day, which actually enables them to graze more space than birds locked in the same barn each night.
If you are local in Iowa, you can purchase fresh eggs from us at Pleasant Grove Homestead! We have a variety of ways you can purchase through our farm, at local markets, and local co-ops. See all the ways to shop below.
More chicken resources
Want to learn more about raising hens or egg production? You can learn all about the Essentials of Raising Chickens here!
