Amanda Milewski
Whether you prefer them scrambled, poached or baked in a cake, the farm at Pierce can meet your egg needs now they have once again decided to sell ‘free range’ eggs.
For the first time in nearly 15 years, the farm is selling chicken eggs for $3 per dozen or $5 for two dozen.
“We do not add any hormones or antibiotics to our feed,” said Dr. Leland Shapiro, professor of animal science and director of the Pre-veterinary Science Program.
Organic products are becoming more mainstream since they can now be found at some commercial stores and not just at specialty food stores. However, there is the undeniable freshness factor when purchasing eggs right off the farm.
“I buy as much organic as possible, but it’s inconvenient to go all the way down to the farm. Plus eggs at Trader Joes are $1.50 cheaper,” said Pierce student and organic food connoisseur Robin Barnette-Riveria.
“We try to keep it as natural as possible. It’s part of our student educational program,” Shapiro said.
In the past, the agriculture department ran its own dairy operation, selling eggs, milk and even ice cream. After much downsizing, the sale of dairy products ceased. Before 1990, the farm had 3,000 laying hens. Now there are 52 hens that lay approximately 26 dozen eggs a week.
The department decided to begin selling the eggs again to help pay for feed and housing for the chickens. The land-locked birds are allowed to roam free rather than remain in a coop, which is customary when farming commercial eggs.
On a weekly basis, the department sells as much as the chickens produce, according to Shapiro. Care of the chickens and handling of the eggs is all done by Pierce students.
Eggs can be purchased Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to noon, or Tuesdays, 5:30 to 10 p.m.,?in the Animal Sciences Building on El Rancho Drive.