A major Saskatchewan egg producer is going organic.
O & T Poultry Ltd. of Regina will convert a portion of its egg production to organic next year.
President Tim Wiens said retail stores are starting to ask for organic eggs because their customers are demanding them.
Organic eggs are available in health food and specialty stores, but are usually supplied by smaller producers.
“The potential is, I think, quite large.”
Wiens declined to say which company was interested in purchasing organic eggs from O & T, but noted there are several large chains that could require a lot of eggs. For example, Safeway has about 200 stores. If each of those stores ordered three baskets of 45 dozen eggs per week, the supplier would need to supply 600 baskets of eggs, he said.
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“You would require 20,000 hens to produce that.”
Organic eggs must be layed by organic hens fed organic grains without medications.
“It takes 18 weeks to produce an organic pullet,” Wiens said. “Organic egg production is going to take six months of lead time.”
O & T’s feed mill north of Regina is expected to be converted to an organic facility by Dec. 1, and the egg initiative will follow.
Wiens said American consumers pay about $5 (US) for a dozen organic eggs, compared to $1.70 for a dozen conventional eggs. However, he said it also costs more to produce an organic product.
“It’s not all pure profit.”
O & T will have to make adjustments to be certified organic. For example, the hens have to be free-range. Still, Wiens said he is excited about the possibilities. Once one major store offers organic eggs, the others are sure to follow, he said.
