Californian egg producer Gemperle Farms has announced plans to remodel its egg barns to improve its sustainability and continue to reduce its energy usage.
The producer has also stated it will maintain its donations of up to 500,000 eggs annually, increase its recycled material usage, reduce its downtime and food waste from equipment breakdowns by 75%, improve its maintenance program and prepare for a new free-range and pasture-raised egg farm.
The announcement follows changes the company has already implemented in its business including a reduction in its CO2 emissions by 25% in its organic division through use of the Cool Farm tool.
Additionally, the producer was able to decrease its energy usage by 25% when compared to its older egg barns, which lessened its environmental footprint, and eliminated the use of rodenticide in its organic egg barns by utilizing mechanical rodent devices. These accomplishments were reached at the same time as the company’s 100% cage-free conversion, which it achieved seven of months ahead of schedule in May 2021.
The producer’s highlights and goals were published in its first ever sustainability report on May 4, 2022.
Donations
In April 2019, Gemperle Farms confirmed it donated over eight million eggs to lunch programs, local nonprofits, food banks and food pantries since 2000. Annually, the producer donates at least 350,000 eggs, with more than 75% of those going to United Samaritans Foundation and its partners, Hilmar Helping Hands, Turlock Together and Salvation Army.
In May 2019, the company announced its donations to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International and the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation organizations to help improve animal welfare and species preservation. The declaration came as a result of a biodiversity and ecosystems report from the United Nations.
"There is a network of awe-inspiring nonprofits on the ground doing sound science and community-based projects. The easiest way to create change is to fund these organizations so they can continue their work,” stated Heidi Gemperle, Gemperle Farms veterinarian.
