Canadian Poultry Magazine

June 5, 2017, Onondaga, Ont. – When they Josh and Melissa Groves learned about a new artisanal chicken program, Josh and Melissa Groves of Vangro Farms Country Market immediately signed up.

It suited to a tee the main theme of their buy local, buy fresh meat production and retail operation.

“We applied as soon as it started last year and we have done well by it,” Josh Groves said in an interview at Vangro farm on Highway 54.

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He showed freestanding stalls of chicks that are the latest addition to VanGro’s lines of fresh lamb cutlets and prepared beef and pork products.

“We’re moving into the second year having learned how to make it work for us.”

The artisanal chicken program launched by the Chicken Farmers of Ontario in 2016 provides opportunities for small independent farmers to meet local demands for high-quality chicken.

“The Chicken Farmers of Ontario is continually looking to meet the changing needs of Ontario chicken consumers and markets,” the organization says on its website.

“The program will help farms fill local food and seasonal markets and will give Ontario consumers more choice and options in how and where they buy locally grown chicken.”

The CFO mainly deals with larger operations which must produce to a set quota of tens of thousands of chickens. Its artisanal program is meant to address the more modest needs of local farmers.

Under the program, non-quota holding farmers who wish to grow between 600 and 3,000 chickens each year can partner with independent producers to provide artisanal chicken for select markets. READ MORE


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