Beak-breaking isn't sexy.
In fact envisioning dismemberment when staring at my omelet makes me lose my appetite. Gross.
After a little research I learned that cruelty-free eggs are non-existent at the vast majority of chain grocery joints. If I were approaching dietary enlightenment, I wouldn't eat eggs at all. I'm not there yet. Instead, the best I can do is locate free-range, certified humane or cage-free eggs.
The search was on!
Could I find a list of cage-free brands through a simple Google search? Sadly no. I visited the Humane Society's Battery Cage Campaign webpage but no brand list. Apparently demand is outstripping supply. Hoards of Obama voters want cage-free but McCain funding industrial farms are reluctant to pay the costs for ethical business.
How about if I see what my local grocers have? I get on the phone with Bloom, which is across the street, walking distance. "May I ask about your eggs?" "My what?" "Bloom's eggs." "Oh." "Do you have anything that's cage-free, free-range, certified humane, etc?" "Uh. We have an Organic section, Nature's Place." "OK. Thanks."
Shoppers. "I have a question about your eggs?" "What did you say?" "Eggs." "Eggs?" "Yes, eggs." "Do you have any free-range or cage-free eggs?" "Oh, no." "Thanks, anyway."
Two closest stores down. (I'm cursing the suburbs at this very moment.) Should I drive 10 miles to a store for which I don't shop for eggs? Does this mean I need to drive 20 miles round-trip to do my socially-conscience shopping at Whole Foods? Criminey! I save a chicken but contribute to climate change.
I found a Giant only 6 miles away. Shot in the dark. (Metaphorically-speaking, I'm against violence here.) It's reported that Safeway has some cage-free brands. The nearest one to me--9 miles.
I call Giant. "Hello. I have a question about eggs." "Eggs?" "Yes. Eggs. Do you have any cage free or free range eggs?" "Actually, we do. Cage free, I believe. I can check for you?" "Would you? That'll be great. Because I'll drive out there for them." 4 minutes later. "Yep. They're brown. Cage free and cage free organic." "THANK YOU!"
So we come to the end of the Great Egg search. I'll now become a regular shopper of Giant Foods on 2205 Old Bridge Road in Woodbridge until I finally move downtown.
'Cause cannibal chickens? Not tasty.
R.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Farmer's markets dude! If you have any around, their eggs are usually cheaper than "cage-free," and they're local, and they're usually organic and "cage-free", though small-time farmers can't afford to have them certified as such.
And! driving to the store to get eggs is contributing to climate change, yes, but so is packing a lot of manure-producing chickens into a small space - lots of methane in the air, and nitrogen and other bad things into the watershed, which means too much algae in the water, which can mean fewer fish and filter feeders.
Plus, you get to talk to people who might be excited to tell you about their eggs and chickens at farmer's markets.
Hm. Yes. Good points. The cost-benefit metrics are not as important as being contradictory, but I see what you mean about comparing production costs to carbon costs. There aren't any FMs of which I am aware near Lorton BUT there are plenty in DC. I shall be downtown in a month and a much more sustainable person. I regret that it's so difficult to be such a person in much of America's suburbs! Thanks for readin'.
Post a Comment