Sonoma To Lose Largest Egg Farm
Eventually, according to one of the partners at Sunrise Farms, Sonoma County's largest egg producer.
The Press- Democrat looks at the future of egg farming in Sonoma County. I was surprised to see the farm would just wind down operations rather than move out of state.
Of course, the mouthpiece from Prop 2 says the guy's full of crap. Seems to me that's pretty much like politicians telling businesses what will or won't work. We'll see what happens as time goes on.
posted by Fred Mangels @ 7:53 AM
25 comments
25 Comments:
The local Food Bank and Food Banks all across the state were pressing people to vote no on Prop 2. The reason? The egg producers would give their overruns, and there was a huge amount, to the food banks. Supposedly, 95% of large scale California egg producers will move from the state leaving the food banks short.
This is a case where liberal regulatory elitism serves those who have the means to pay for higher-end food products and couldn't care less whether it affects other populations such as the truly needy.
Don't like caged egg production? DON"T FREAKIN' BUY 'EM! Eat your $9 per dozen organic free-range laid eggs in glee while low income seniors lose a vital protein source.
Businesses will be fleeing California in droves. Some will even leave the country. We're in for some very tough times.
Free range doesn't mean that the chickens roam around in fields - just have to be able to walk around in a little area. How would anyone find eggs if chickens were just turned loose to roam which is probably what people pictured because of the ads that were run that showed chickens in a field.
Nobody told us shoppers until Prop 2 came along that our friendly egg farmers were forcing poor, defenseless chickens to live packed together like sardines in a can. Nobody told us the little feathered egg-layers were not able to stretch their little wings or even sit down. We never approved this cruel treatment of those birds. How would you feel if you were a school kid who could never extend his or her arms, or turn around, or sit down? I would feel terrible! I still remember how bad I felt just being required to stay in that boring old classroom every day. But to have chicken feathers in my face and be unable to brush them away because the kids were packed together so closely that I couldn't move my arms! That would be inhuman! Chicken farmers had no right to torture those chickens. When we found out what they were doing, we put a stop to it. They'll be OK, once they get over the idea that they must hurt the birds to make the bucks.
They don't hurt the birds. If they did, the chickens wouldn't lay eggs.
"...which is probably what people pictured because of the ads that were run that showed chickens in a field.".
And, of course, the worst case scenario pics of sick chickens and calves that supposedly showed how animals are treated. I'm amazed even Californians couldn't see through that one.
Get a grip Fred. This will only be a boon for the smaller, local egg producers, which is actually better for our economy. Free range eggs are also fae superior to those bland, light yellow yolked fakes we get from those mega producers like Sunrise Farms.
Californians seem to care more about animal rights than human rights.
Fred, It hurts the bird's feelings to be cooped up in such close quarters. It hurts their spirit, their joie de vivre, their elan. It demoralizes them every bit as much as it demoralizes office workers who are forced to work in tiny cubicles.
Hayduke wrote, "This will only be a boon for the smaller, local egg producers, which is actually better for our economy.".
Why? Because consumers have to pay more for food?
"Free range eggs are also fae superior to those bland, light yellow yolked fakes we get from those mega producers like Sunrise Farms.".
It shouldn't be for you to decide what kind of eggs everyone else buys. Let people make their own choices.
"It shouldn't be for you to decide what kind of eggs everyone else buys. Let people make their own choices."
Exactly!
Actually I was not telling people what egg to buy, but only pointing out that Prop 2 did pass, and if the result is outfits like Sunrise go out of business there is a little upside to go with the downside.
Every time I post on your blog and get into a debate with you we end up in a silly argument.
If we have to purchase local eggs they will cost more. But that is not why it will help the local economy. It is because buying local always cycles more money into the local economy.
Second, I was only pointing out if you choose not to purchase Mexican eggs, which indeed will probably be cheaper, you will get superior eggs for your increased expenditure if you purchase local free range eggs.
I am not trying to limit anyone's choice....the voters did that... but only to suggest that there is often more to a situation than just the issues you presented. Hence my comments.
Just like the idiots that get sick because they drink raw milk everyone who voted for this crap is a fool. Good healthy egg production and pasturized milk come from a smart industry. The prop 2 folks have hurt us all with this crap.
The vote did not change anything for the out of state people. We don't raise veal here so it comes from out of state. Lots of our eggs come from Oregon and they won't have to change their practice on chickens. This only changes California grown but it will probably enable the out of state chicken and beef ranches to up their prices.
We have a responsiblity to treat our food animals in a humane manner. That's all Prop 2 was about. And clearly a large majority of Californians agree. It passed by a nearly 2-1 margin.
One reason I didn't support prop 2 is that the smaller local farms,with their niche product would be hurt badly bad because voters FORCED competition upon them from big agri-businesses who will already have a leg up on the competition as they have greater influence over the FDA.
Let me be perfectly clear here. You want to pay more for your food, fine by me.
I kill my own food!
Yes- emotional appeals work very well in California- especially when it comes to animals. Remember the Mountain Lion initiative that banned hunting them? The cute fuzzy face of a Cougar turned out the urban vote without any thought to folks that actually lived and ranched in rural areas where cougars need about one deer a week apiece plus whatever else comes along domestic critter wise.
If the egg producers wanted to defeat Prop 2, they had a funny way of showing it. Almost no ads. What's with that?
Looks like there will be fewer eggs with that California Fresh logo on them. That logo will now become the green flag of the industry. People in other states that want a choice will be able to buy California eggs and know that they are supporting a humane industry. This reminds me of the company that wanted to test their cattle for mad cow disease. The feds wouldn't let them because they said consumers would demand that they all tested their cattle.
What's wrong with a little competition? Consumers will decide which is worth more. By the way, I have never heard of 9 dollar a dozen eggs. I raise chickens and their eggs cost me about 2 bucks a dozen and they are better than the Petaluma farms eggs and cheaper than the organic free range eggs sold in stores.
Raise your own and donate or sell the extras. Grow Local!
No egg on earth is as tasty as a home-grown egg.
Let me put that another way. No egg on earth is as tasty as an egg laid by a bug-eating, backyard-roaming, rugged-individualistic American chicken-bird.
The voters have decided and if you don't like voting as a way to establish laws, move. Move to China if you want a government that ignores the conditions under which food is produced and you want to eat food from producers who cut costs any way they can and with little understanding or caring of the health effects.
As a result of this law, the cost of eggs will go up but they will be better eggs. The egg farmers will cut the rules as much as they can to make their eggs as cheaply as they can, just like they are already doing. But as a result of this law, the cost of better eggs will be lower than it is now. Everyone benefits and so do the chickens.
Right now eggs cost about 16 cents apiece. If you ate 2 a day, you pay $5 a month. And you really aren't advised to eat that many eaggs, because of their high cholesterol content.
Eggs are a very small part of a food budget Even if the price doubled as a result of this law, which it won't, they would still be inexpensive. In fact premium pet food costs more than eggs.
"I kill my own food!"
Mmmm, Trog like meat!
Yes, Trog does like meat. I kill fish, deer, pheasant, duck, turkey, grouse and elk to name a few varieties.
Used to grow my own eggs, but gave it up as the little creatures kept getting eaten by racoons and skunks UNLESS I KEPT THEM IN CAGES.
Post a Comment
<< Home