by Jack & Joanne
Jack and I listened to Michael Pollan speak at a Napa Slow Food event in St. Helena last weekend. He was truly inspiring and is a wonderful speaker. I'm very eager to read his new book, Omnivore's Dilemna, especially the chapters where he follows a Whole Foods meal back to the source, which he talked about that evening.
Already, as a result of his talk, I have to go find a new chicken source. Rosie (which is the organic brand local to us – from Petaluma Poultry) which Whole Foods carry and we've been eating, apparently does not meet my definition of free range.
According to Pollan, chickens are housed in 100ft long barracks with a little roll-up door at the end which leads to a beautiful green lawn. The door is locked until the chickens are 5 weeks old. (Can't go out earlier as they might get sick.) Then chickens get a "holiday" opportunity to go outside for the final 2 weeks of their 7-week-life.
There is little use, though, as by the time they get to be 5 weeks old the chickens have never been outside and everything they need is inside (they are fed 100% organic feed) - so why would they ever venture on that holiday? This was not my vision of the “free-range” nature of the “Rosie” chicken. Hence my pending search.
So far I’ve found two Marin sources: Marin Sun Farms is supposed to sell poultry at the Marin Farmer’s Market (how did I miss this?) and Clark Summit Farm (I got from Eatwild.com) in Tomales Bay, CA, are supposed to offer organic free range chicken. They have no website and I guess we will have to go to the farm to get them.
I have yet to find a Sonoma County chicken source – if you find one before I do, please let me know! - Joanne
Jack & Joanne live in Sonoma County – not just wine country, but food country! They create/write the website Fork & Bottle which focuses on artisan food, wine and cheese along with information on gardening, what to feed kids, gourmet food reviews, etc., etc.
