Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Farmers' Market Eggs: Different Colors, Spots and Dots

I buy eggs at the farmers’ market, from a farmer who treats her hens with great care. The hens eat their natural diet (which includes grass and insects), have ample space to move (inside and out) and are allowed to follow their natural sleep rhythms.

As seen in the photo above to the right, the eggs these hens lay vary greatly in size and color. Occasional spots and dots are common.


On the other end of the spectrum are eggs from industrial egg-laying operations. Often at these fact
ories, the hens are fed an all-vegetarian diet (not natural for the hens), have little to no room to move and are kept under artificial light to stimulate egg production.

The photo to the l
eft pictures commercial eggs; the eggs are exactly the same color and appear to be artificially whitewashed. I opened 10 cartons and every egg looked identical.

Personally, I take a common sense approach when I buy eggs. In addition to the taste, health and safety advantages of the farmers’ market eggs, I want my eggs—like humans—to look different. I’m a little wary of buying a carton of eggs and seeing 12 identical eggs.

3 comments:

Terry at Blue Kitchen said...

I've only recently become a convert to farmers market eggs, but they are wonderful! The yolks are big and sturdy, a deep golden yellow, and the eggs are so much more flavorful than industrial farm eggs. Even more interesting, when chickens are humanely raised, their eggs are healthier for us.

Orsi said...

A nice Mother Earth News article about the ways in which free-range eggs are so much more nutritious:
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/2007-10-01/Tests-Reveal-Healthier-Eggs.aspx

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