New York Naturals Notes

Oprah Winfrey just had a show about California Proposition 2, which would create regulations for minimum cage sizes for some animals raised for food. The show is a good introduction to the topic of factory farming of animals and the way that the profit motive unrestrained by ethical considerations towards animals has led to conditions of cruelty to the animals, poor quality food for humans, and damage to the environment.

In the segment on eggs, we were glad to see none other than Ivan Martin and the Natural Acres farm in Millersburg Pennsylvania. Amy and I have been out to see visit the farm, which has a bed and breakfast and welcomes visitors. The chickens are housed in a trailer that is moved from field to field. They are let out during the day and can explore a wide area, hunting for insects and fertilizing the earth in the process. We get a delivery of eggs and meat every Friday morning from direct from Natural Acres. We’re the only store in New York city that carries their eggs. We’ve discontinued the other brands of organic eggs that we used to carry because we think the Natural Acres ones are the best, and we know exactly how they are made and where they come from.

The New York Times magazine also just had a feature article on Proposition 2.