RIO, Wis. -- Eggs from OrgaNick Pastures, a family farm located in Rio, will begin being sold in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region next week at all 11 Kowalski’s Markets.
The Twin Cities is the latest market eggs from OrgaNick Pastures will be sold bringing the total stores selling these organic eggs to 55. OrgaNick Pastures, which is named in part after owner Nick Westby, is the first certified humane, organic pasture-raised farm in Wisconsin. OrgaNick Pastures began selling brown eggs in 2018 and had the most popular organic egg produced entirely in Wisconsin last year earning the unofficial branding, “Wisconsin’s Favorite Eggs.”
Westby expressed excitement about Kowalski’s Market being the first store in the region to sell eggs from OrgaNick Pastures as the stores have emphasized the importance of quality, affordable food in the American diet. The following is an excerpt from the Kowalski’s website:
“When we opened our doors back in 1983, we knew that a big part of our focus would be on supporting local growers, businesses and nearby communities. It's always been important to our family to support honest, hard-working people who go the extra mile to ensure a higher quality product and who adhere to the same higher standards that we do, including sustainable practices.”
Selling eggs in Minnesota marks a dream come true for Westby, who grew up cheering for the Minnesota Vikings. It’s his hope you’ll celebrate OrgaNick Pastures eggs in your community the way you’ve celebrated Cheryl Reeve, Kevin Garnett, Kirby Puckett, Jim Kleinsasser and Maya Moore.
“Our organic process offers people who crave a healthier lifestyle higher quality foods to live a healthier lifestyle,” Westby said. “As we add stores in the Midwest, we’ll continue to partner with businesses committed to meeting this higher standard for our customers and communities.”
After earning the title “Wisconsin’s Favorite Eggs,” Westby said he hopes new Minnesota customers will recognize the health benefits of a pasture-raised, organic lifestyle for the Hy-line Brown layer hens on the farm in a more golden orange egg yolk.
Organic eggs are a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids which are linked to improving cardiovascular health, slowing down plaque growth in arteries, and promoting brain development. These eggs also are a great source of Vitamin A, D, E, and beta-carotene.
Westby and his fiance Holly Hornback have committed to farming organically over the last three years for three primary reasons -- organic farming is better environmentally, nutritionally, and ethically. The chickens on their farm are never fed growth hormones as they spend most of the year grazing for worms throughout the pasture where each hen has more than 108 square feet per bird.
It’s a requirement for OrgaNick Pastures’ hens to have at least 108 square feet to comply with Humane Farm Animal Care standards. Other egg companies selling eggs at a competitive price to OrgaNick Pastures claim to be “cage-free” or “free-range.” We’d like to unpack that a little bit -- here are the USDA requirements to market as such:
Cage-free: “Must be produced by hens housed in a way that allows for not only unlimited access to food and water, but, unlike eggs from caged hens, also provides them the freedom to roam during the laying cycle.”
Free-range: “Producers must demonstrate to the Agency that the poultry has been allowed access to the outside.”
Hopefully this information is helpful when you consider purchasing our eggs in the near future. Please let us know if you have any questions by filling out the Contact Form on our website: www.organickpastures.com
OrgaNick Pastures currently can be purchased in 44 grocery stores around the state of Wisconsin and in northern Illinois. A map with the stores OrgaNick Pastures' eggs can be purchased is located in the FAQ portion of this website.