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Written by Carolyn Ditchfield
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Friday, 03 April 2009 10:24 |
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Extract from Organic Advantage Ed. 118 (BFA e-newsletter) March 2009
A large free range egg company and distributor based
in Sydney is looking to branch into organic, following growth in demand for
natural and ethically produced poultry products.
Free Range Egg Farms currently distribute a
range of brands - including the antibiotic-free egg variety 'ecoeggs' - into 600
retail outlets on the Eastern Seaboard.
Eggs are predominantly sourced
from three of their own independently Free Range accredited farms in
NSW.
Now, they want to have a scratch at organic.
''We are very
interested in getting an organic line up and running, but require more eggs to
meet what we anticipate will remain a growing demand for the product,'' says Mr.
Rob Scott, Organic Egg Project Coordinator with Free Range Egg Farms.
''We are now
looking to get a group of producers on board who are already involved in, or
simply have an interest in, organic egg production.
''We are working
towards building a coordinated network of organic egg producers to distribute
product into the same 600 retail outlets currently serviced by Free Range Egg
Farms.''
He says the market for 'ethical eggs' has expanded significantly
over the last five years, with a gain of 35 percent globally in the past year
after Jamie Oliver (a passionate organic advocate) aired concerns on the welfare
of laying hens.
He says Free Range Egg
Farms are looking toward a co-ordinated group approach to supply when it
comes to organic, to ensure volume for a high level of demand can be met, at a
consistent quality.
''We envisage that each member producer will have
some equity in the newly branded product,'' says Rob.
He says a group
approach will also allow producers the advantage of shared costs for goods and
services, transport, and the purchase of stock feed; as well as allowing for the
possibility of sourcing grain feed on-farm from an operator in the
network.
He says newcomers will also benefit from Free Range Egg Farms long term industry
expertise.
''Free Range Egg Farms has been operating for over seven
years and has a family history in poultry farming dating back 105 years.
''Owners Ray Leach and George Holland have had significant experience in
marketing in the Australian egg industry. We have the infrastructure available
to collect from the farm gate, pick up and distribute; and can also assist in
animal husbandry for those wanting to expand.''
He says while free range
egg brands are already associated with, and often purchased, on the grounds of
animal welfare, certified organic eggs could offer consumers something more when
it came to health.
''There are a lot of perceived health benefits
associated with organic, on top of the high animal welfare standards that a
growing number of egg consumers now look for.
''Organic eggs deliver on
both counts, and are antibiotic free to boot.
''We believe a new group
of consumers will increasingly value these criteria, and are prepared to pay a
premium for health and welfare. This category is no longer just the realm of
high income earners.''
He says interest in organic egg supply would be
welcomed from all existing certified organic egg producers and potential egg
producers from Victoria, NSW and Queensland.
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