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Visiting the Pastured Hens of Lancaster, PA

Leitha Matz · August 23, 2011 ·

Capturing the Nature's Yoke hens on video
Capturing the Nature's Yoke hens on video
Which came first? For most of us city folks, it’s the eggs.

Every week, I get a FreshDirect delivery of a dozen perfect ovals nestled in a cozy cardboard box. At breakfast time, while I wait for the pan to heat up, I sometimes read the package for my Nature’s Yoke Pastured Eggs, which describes family farms, fresh air and happy hens.

I buy pastured eggs for their rich yellow yolks and firm shells, but if you’re anything like me, you might also wonder how much of the package promises are true and how much is exaggeration. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to travel with a small FreshDirect team to visit Westfield Egg Farms, the producers of Nature’s Yoke eggs.

After meeting the team and seeing their packing plant, farms and happy hens, I left Lancaster County, PA, with great photos and a genuine trust in the quality, care and good process behind every egg.

We started with staff introductions and a tour of the packing facility. The team at Westfield has been in the conventional egg business for generations, but when George Weaver III took over the operation, he added a line of eggs from cage-free chickens.

George realized that he also wanted to make use of his community’s rich, green fields and traditional farming families to produce a special, old-fashioned line of eggs from pastured chickens. Last year, the timing was finally right: urban families were asking for eggs from pasture-raised chickens, and George knew just where to find those hens.

Some of his Amish neighbors were already caring for hens in open barns (and others had expressed interest), so George set up processes for a group of these small-scale family farms and organized end-to-end quality control and labeling practices to get these farm products ready for wider distribution. After a few months of work and coordination, the Nature’s Yoke line of pastured eggs was ready to roll.

All the eggs that arrive at Westfield are specifically tagged and labeled by farm before they’re cleaned, inspected, graded and packed. For George, that means that tracking down where and when a dozen Nature’s Yoke eggs started is as simple as interpreting the code that’s ultimately printed on the side of the carton.

After a delicious farmhouse lunch in the home of one of George’s Amish neighbors, our team traveled to three open-air egg farms along the Pennsylvania farmland. Though the families requested that we avoid photographing them, we did get plenty of images of the hens.

In the nicer months, the chickens that supply Nature’s Yoke pastured eggs wander as they wish between the barns and the rolling hillsides. The hens have plenty of grain and water if they want it, but they also typically spend time scratching the ground and nibbling the grass. George said that in the cold months, these chickens stay in the barns, but they get piles of hay to scratch and pick through.

It was a pleasure to tour the beautiful Pennsylvania countryside, meet the farming families that supply Nature’s Yoke and learn all about the egg packing processes from George and the Westfield staff.

For a local food fanatic like me, there’s nothing like knowing the stories behind the packaging and the chickens behind the eggs.

Do you like to see where your food comes from? Are you interested in the stories behind the food? Let us know at our Facebook Wall or on Twitter (@FreshDirect).

You can also click here to see more pictures from the trip at Facebook.

Filed Under: Producer Stories Tagged With: Behind the Scenes, cage-free, chickens, eggs, farming, local food, pasture-raised, Pennsylvania

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Your summer’s about to get a lot tastier — and veggier…🥕🥦🍄🍔

Enjoy plant-based grilling all summer long with our @drpraegers selection at FreshDirect!

Tap to shop Dr. Praeger's!
Your summer’s about to get a lot tastier — and veggier…🥕🥦🍄🍔

Enjoy plant-based grilling all summer long with our @drpraegers selection at FreshDirect!

Tap to shop Dr. Praeger's!
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Your summer’s about to get a lot tastier — and veggier…🥕🥦🍄🍔 Enjoy plant-based grilling all summer long with our @drpraegers selection at FreshDirect! Tap to shop Dr. Praeger's!
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📣 Major brew alert 📣 Stock up and save now on your favorite easy-drinking brews, crushable lagers, and refreshing hard seltzers for the Holiday weekend! ☀️
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Going to the Hamptons, Montauk, or Jersey Shore? We are too! Seasonal summer delivery from FreshDirect is now available to your place by the beach. Join the summer fun as we celebrate 20 years of delivering obsession-worthy food. Head to our site for more details and to find out if we're available in your area.
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Going to the Hamptons, Montauk, or Jersey Shore? We are too! Seasonal summer delivery from FreshDirect is now available to your place by the beach. Join the summer fun as we celebrate 20 years of delivering obsession-worthy food. Head to our site for more details and to find out if we're available in your area.
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#softshellcrab #seafoodlovers #fishburger #summervibes #cookoutfood #summerinthehamptons #jerseyshore #nyceats #eeeeeats #eaterny #nycfoodie #ctfoodie #ctfood #ctfoodlovers #nycdinner
Soft-shell crabs are back in season! If you're looking for a quick and light lunch, fry up a soft-shell crab or try one of our handmade fish burgers. Simply cook the fish burger on the stovetop, or soak the soft-shell crabs in milk for 10 minutes, then pat dry, season, and dredge in cornmeal or flour. Cook in a pan with oil until browned and crisp, about 2 minutes per side. Serve on a brioche bun with blanched ramps, @sirkensingtons spicy chipotle mayo, and lettuce for a Springtime-inspired seafood sandwich. If you can’t find ramps, try @aerofarms spicy micro-greens. 🔥.
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#softshellcrab #seafoodlovers #fishburger #summervibes #cookoutfood #summerinthehamptons #jerseyshore #nyceats #eeeeeats #eaterny #nycfoodie #ctfoodie #ctfood #ctfoodlovers #nycdinner
Soft-shell crabs are back in season! If you're looking for a quick and light lunch, fry up a soft-shell crab or try one of our handmade fish burgers. Simply cook the fish burger on the stovetop, or soak the soft-shell crabs in milk for 10 minutes, then pat dry, season, and dredge in cornmeal or flour. Cook in a pan with oil until browned and crisp, about 2 minutes per side. Serve on a brioche bun with blanched ramps, @sirkensingtons spicy chipotle mayo, and lettuce for a Springtime-inspired seafood sandwich. If you can’t find ramps, try @aerofarms spicy micro-greens. 🔥.
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#softshellcrab #seafoodlovers #fishburger #summervibes #cookoutfood #summerinthehamptons #jerseyshore #nyceats #eeeeeats #eaterny #nycfoodie #ctfoodie #ctfood #ctfoodlovers #nycdinner
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Soft-shell crabs are back in season! If you're looking for a quick and light lunch, fry up a soft-shell crab or try one of our handmade fish burgers. Simply cook the fish burger on the stovetop, or soak the soft-shell crabs in milk for 10 minutes, then pat dry, season, and dredge in cornmeal or flour. Cook in a pan with oil until browned and crisp, about 2 minutes per side. Serve on a brioche bun with blanched ramps, @sirkensingtons spicy chipotle mayo, and lettuce for a Springtime-inspired seafood sandwich. If you can’t find ramps, try @aerofarms spicy micro-greens. 🔥. . . . . . . . . . . . #softshellcrab #seafoodlovers #fishburger #summervibes #cookoutfood #summerinthehamptons #jerseyshore #nyceats #eeeeeats #eaterny #nycfoodie #ctfoodie #ctfood #ctfoodlovers #nycdinner
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Whether she prefers bagels with cream cheese and coffee, croissants with berries and a cappuccino, or yogurt with berries and and tea, we’re here to help you treat your moms to the nicest Mother’s Day breakfast! 
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#happymothersday2022 #mothersdaybrunch #bagellover #bagelporn #bagelsandcreamcheese #bagelsandwich #breakfastinbed #momsday #croissantlover #berriesandlove #yogurtbowl #nycmoms #ctmoms #fairfieldcountymoms #phillymoms #dcmoms #hamptonsmoms #njmoms
“What nicer thing can you do for somebody than make them breakfast?” - Anthony Bourdain
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Whether she prefers bagels with cream cheese and coffee, croissants with berries and a cappuccino, or yogurt with berries and and tea, we’re here to help you treat your moms to the nicest Mother’s Day breakfast! 
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#happymothersday2022 #mothersdaybrunch #bagellover #bagelporn #bagelsandcreamcheese #bagelsandwich #breakfastinbed #momsday #croissantlover #berriesandlove #yogurtbowl #nycmoms #ctmoms #fairfieldcountymoms #phillymoms #dcmoms #hamptonsmoms #njmoms
“What nicer thing can you do for somebody than make them breakfast?” - Anthony Bourdain
🌹🥯🌹🥐🌹🍓🌹🥯🌹
Whether she prefers bagels with cream cheese and coffee, croissants with berries and a cappuccino, or yogurt with berries and and tea, we’re here to help you treat your moms to the nicest Mother’s Day breakfast! 
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#happymothersday2022 #mothersdaybrunch #bagellover #bagelporn #bagelsandcreamcheese #bagelsandwich #breakfastinbed #momsday #croissantlover #berriesandlove #yogurtbowl #nycmoms #ctmoms #fairfieldcountymoms #phillymoms #dcmoms #hamptonsmoms #njmoms
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“What nicer thing can you do for somebody than make them breakfast?” - Anthony Bourdain 🌹🥯🌹🥐🌹🍓🌹🥯🌹 Whether she prefers bagels with cream cheese and coffee, croissants with berries and a cappuccino, or yogurt with berries and and tea, we’re here to help you treat your moms to the nicest Mother’s Day breakfast! . . . . . . . . . . . . #happymothersday2022 #mothersdaybrunch #bagellover #bagelporn #bagelsandcreamcheese #bagelsandwich #breakfastinbed #momsday #croissantlover #berriesandlove #yogurtbowl #nycmoms #ctmoms #fairfieldcountymoms #phillymoms #dcmoms #hamptonsmoms #njmoms
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What You’ll Need:
4 8-10 ounce striped bass fillets or similar white fish
2 pounds cockles
1 bunch ramps, sliced
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 bunch asparagus
5 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper

What to Do:
•Prep your seafood: Rinse cockles in cold water to wash away any sand. Pat sea bass dry fillets with paper towels, cut in half, and season with salt and pepper.
•Blanch asparagus in boiling salted water for 30 seconds. Drain and chill.
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•After a few minutes, turn heat down to low and simmer for a total of 10 minutes, shaking pan occasionally. •Carefully fold in asparagus and allow to rest covered for a minute.
•Remove fillets and place in a large serving platter. Arrange cockles and vegetables on platter and add broth from pan to the platter.
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#seabass #easyrecipes #easyfishrecipes #cockles #ramps #rampseason #asparagusseason #asparagus #seafoodrecipe #fishrecipes #grocerydelivery #onlineshopping #nycfoodie #nycfoodies #phillyfoodie #dcfoodie #njfoodie #ctfoodie #ctfoodlovers #northforklongisland #hamptonslife #seafoodlovers #seafoodlover
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Spring is here, which means that the local docks are welcoming the return of striped and black sea bass. We love to pair these fish with fresh cockles and bright spring vegetables for a light, bright meal that's perfect for the season. Get the recipe on Sourced, the FreshDirect blog. Link in our stories. What You’ll Need:
4 8-10 ounce striped bass fillets or similar white fish
2 pounds cockles
1 bunch ramps, sliced
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 bunch asparagus
5 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper What to Do:
•Prep your seafood: Rinse cockles in cold water to wash away any sand. Pat sea bass dry fillets with paper towels, cut in half, and season with salt and pepper. •Blanch asparagus in boiling salted water for 30 seconds. Drain and chill. •In a dutch oven or large sauté pan, over medium heat, add olive oil and ramps. Sauté for a minute. Nestle fish in pan and add cockles. Pour the white wine into the pan and cover. •After a few minutes, turn heat down to low and simmer for a total of 10 minutes, shaking pan occasionally. •Carefully fold in asparagus and allow to rest covered for a minute. •Remove fillets and place in a large serving platter. Arrange cockles and vegetables on platter and add broth from pan to the platter. . . . . . . . #seabass #easyrecipes #easyfishrecipes #cockles #ramps #rampseason #asparagusseason #asparagus #seafoodrecipe #fishrecipes #grocerydelivery #onlineshopping #nycfoodie #nycfoodies #phillyfoodie #dcfoodie #njfoodie #ctfoodie #ctfoodlovers #northforklongisland #hamptonslife #seafoodlovers #seafoodlover
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#earthmonth #savetheplanet #natureconservancy #aeroponics #aeroponicgardening #verticalfarming #boweryfarming #sustainability #sustainablefarming #nycfood #nycfoodies
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This Earth Month, our partner Bowery Farming is partnering with The Nature Conservancy to shine a light on the importance of restoration efforts. The conservancy promotes initiatives like letting degraded land re-wild and restoring biodiversity to ecosystems. In turn, Bowery Farming is educating consumers about how indoor vertical farming can be a vital component of resilient food systems. Bowery achieves this through pesticide-free sustainable indoor farming (hydroponics), using recycled water, and by giving back to hunger relief and other community organizations. You can support these efforts by making a big delicious salad or smoothie using their produce! 🥬 . . . . . . . . #earthmonth #savetheplanet #natureconservancy #aeroponics #aeroponicgardening #verticalfarming #boweryfarming #sustainability #sustainablefarming #nycfood #nycfoodies
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If streamlining and optimizing your fridge storage for healthier eating and learning the magic of meal planning to avoid food waste and stay on track with your eating intentions are part of your spring cleaning plan, but you're not sure how to get started, you're going to want to check out  this workshop starting 4/27 from FD Ambassador @feedyoursister - signup via link in her bio, and keep reading below for details! 🍎🍐🍊🍓🍌🥥🥝🥑

Repost from @feedyoursister
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Do you love an organized fridge?

Most of you probably answered YES, but then thought, 🤔 “My fridge looks nothing like that & never will.”

I have the perfect solution for you! Part of the MEAL PREP MAY-NIA program will include a fridge organizing workshop! I will share my methods for keeping an organized fridge as well as coaching you through your own organizing journey! And much more!

Carving out time to clean and organize is typically the issue for most! But when you sign up for MEAL PREP MAY-NIA the time is built in! I’ll be sharing links to my favorite products, be with you every step of the way and then be there to help you if your fridge needs adjusting.

We will spend the whole month together and you’ll get plenty of meal prep coaching, group support, accountability and even a 1:1 call where we really tune in to your individual needs. It’s going to be aMAYzing! 👩🏼‍🍳

If you are interested in joining I’d love to have you! Click the link in my bio and join the waitlist for 50% off the program price!

Swipe to watch my IG LIVE where I explain the program in more detail! Meal Prep May-Nia kicks off Wednesday, April 27th and runs through May 25th! Don’t miss out!
#feedyoursister #mealprepmaynia
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#feedyoursistermealprep #mealprep #mealprepsaturday #MealPrepSunday #mealprepping #mealprepmonday #thehomeedit #kitchenorganization #idesign #mealprepcoach #nycfood #nycfoodies #nyceats #eaterny #eaternyc #nychomecooking #nytcooking #nycorganizer #organizeyourlife #shelfie #shelfies #nycmealprep #goals #fridgegoals #nycfit #nychealth
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If streamlining and optimizing your fridge storage for healthier eating and learning the magic of meal planning to avoid food waste and stay on track with your eating intentions are part of your spring cleaning plan, but you're not sure how to get started, you're going to want to check out this workshop starting 4/27 from FD Ambassador @feedyoursister - signup via link in her bio, and keep reading below for details! 🍎🍐🍊🍓🍌🥥🥝🥑 Repost from @feedyoursister • Do you love an organized fridge? Most of you probably answered YES, but then thought, 🤔 “My fridge looks nothing like that & never will.” I have the perfect solution for you! Part of the MEAL PREP MAY-NIA program will include a fridge organizing workshop! I will share my methods for keeping an organized fridge as well as coaching you through your own organizing journey! And much more! Carving out time to clean and organize is typically the issue for most! But when you sign up for MEAL PREP MAY-NIA the time is built in! I’ll be sharing links to my favorite products, be with you every step of the way and then be there to help you if your fridge needs adjusting. We will spend the whole month together and you’ll get plenty of meal prep coaching, group support, accountability and even a 1:1 call where we really tune in to your individual needs. It’s going to be aMAYzing! 👩🏼‍🍳 If you are interested in joining I’d love to have you! Click the link in my bio and join the waitlist for 50% off the program price! Swipe to watch my IG LIVE where I explain the program in more detail! Meal Prep May-Nia kicks off Wednesday, April 27th and runs through May 25th! Don’t miss out! #feedyoursister #mealprepmaynia . . . . . . . #feedyoursistermealprep #mealprep #mealprepsaturday #MealPrepSunday #mealprepping #mealprepmonday #thehomeedit #kitchenorganization #idesign #mealprepcoach #nycfood #nycfoodies #nyceats #eaterny #eaternyc #nychomecooking #nytcooking #nycorganizer #organizeyourlife #shelfie #shelfies #nycmealprep #goals #fridgegoals #nycfit #nychealth
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NEW at @FreshDirect - @ChloesFruit NEWEST Pops have been added to the already robust selection at Fresh Direct! All your Chloe's cravings answered so shop away! On sale now through May 5th.
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Tap photo to shop Chloe's! 
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#chloesfruit #marvel #avengers #spiderman #popsicles #icepops #fruitpops #healthyfood #healthytreats #grocerydelivery #freshdirect #eatwellbewell #summerinthecity #summerinthehamptons #nycfoodie #nyceats #onlinegrocery
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NEW at @FreshDirect - @ChloesFruit NEWEST Pops have been added to the already robust selection at Fresh Direct! All your Chloe's cravings answered so shop away! On sale now through May 5th. . . Tap photo to shop Chloe's! . . . . . #chloesfruit #marvel #avengers #spiderman #popsicles #icepops #fruitpops #healthyfood #healthytreats #grocerydelivery #freshdirect #eatwellbewell #summerinthecity #summerinthehamptons #nycfoodie #nyceats #onlinegrocery
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