Yesterday, I went to McNeil High School, at the request of their fantastic librarians, Amelia Bligh and Laura Glaser, to speak with students about the Vital Farms method of pasture-based farming.

A little background: 200 copies of The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan had recently been handed out to students to read and share, and Ms. Bligh reached out to us to make their conversation a little more local for the students.

I shared some basic facts about our pasture-raised organic farm methods vs. the industrial, factory farm model, as well as loads of photos from our 14 family farms. The students had quite a few questions. Out of 3 groups of more than 75 students each, a handful of students said they cook at home. Many of them also took coupons to buy our eggs with their families to see if they could see and taste a difference.

A kind student named Joseph even showed the librarians and I the school greenhouse (full of edible starter plants; they sell them for 50 cents each at school sales) and their FFA (Future Farmers of America) stock yard. (The majority of the animals had been sold this year, but 3 goats were still there!) I had no idea McNeil had such an extensive background in farming and agriculture.

Definitely a charming experience; at Vital Farms, we believe that education on the MAJOR differences between industrial farming and pasture-based farming is the real key in changing how people think about (and buy) their food. Who better to make this point to than teens, who still have lots of time to break bad eating habits and create new, sustainable and healthy food choices. We will do whatever it takes to bring this message home!

Thanks for the invitation Amelia and Laura! I had a blast.

Born in Halletesville, TX (10 miles outside Shiner, TX), Lick Honest Ice Creams Owner, Anthony Sobotik, was always fascinated by food.

He painstakingly perfected 30 flavors of ice cream over a year, experimenting with recipes from old family cookbooks and determined to focus on locally sourced ingredients. Flavors like Grapefruit Ginger, Roasted Beets with Fresh Mint and Homemade Eggnog with Brandy really showcase what local farmers have to offer.

“We use low-temperature pasteurized milk from Texas Daily Harvest and fruits and veggies from local farms,” he explained. “All the bowls and spoons are also bio-compostable.”

When it came to cones, Sobotik didn’t want a store-bought feel. “The edges aren’t perfect. Ours are more light, more delicate,” he said. Though most Lick Ice Creams don’t use eggs (there are also always a few dairy-free, vegan options) there are seasonal flavors (like Egg Nog) that do. Vital Farms eggs add an extra richness, courtesy of our South Austin, pasture-raised hens.

Visit Lick Ice Creams at 2032 South Lamar in Austin, TX to try their incredibly crisp, flavorful cones and super fresh, unique ice creams.

Matt O’Hayer, CEO of Vital Farms, just returned from Savannah, GA, where the National Organic Standards Board voted unanimously to require 2 square feet of outdoor space, with at least 50% vegetative cover, for laying hens. In addition, they increased the inside space requirement to 2 sq ft (up from 1.2 sq ft.). This was a hard fought battle for abysmal spacing, but a huge increase from no legal requirement for outdoor access for organic hens, as was the case.

Follow this link to a PDF of the adopted regulations

Before this becomes law, it must get the approval of the National Organic Program which is under the auspices of the Secretary of Agriculture. Along the way, various government entities such as the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) must bless these rules. It is at the OMB that we expect the big factory organic egg farms, which oppose any outdoor access by hens, to work their lobbying magic and get this overturned. They have invested heavily in massive aviary cage complexes which will be hard to utilize under the new rules and they will claim financial hardship if they can’t continue to keep their birds inside these glorified cages.

Just to put this new NOSB requirement  into perspective: Vital Farms’ hens live outdoors during the day on 100-400 total square feet of pasture, per bird. Thank you for your continued support of pasture-raised, Certified Humane®, environmentally responsible egg farming.