Foster Farms First Major Poultry Producer In The West To Earn Humane Certification From American Humane Association⿢ ; Meets Increasing Consumer Demand For Humanely Raised Foods

FRESNO, Calif., March 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Family-owned Foster Farms today announced that its fresh chicken products have earned humane certification from American Humane Association. The American Humane Certified ^TM (AHC) program, developed in 2000, is the nation's first independent, third-party humane certification program for farm animals. Foster Farms fresh chicken products now carry the American Humane Certified seal for easy recognition by consumers. The company announced the certification at the dedication of the new Foster Farms Poultry Education and Research Facility (PERF) at Fresno State's Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology. The facility features a fully working, American Humane Certified poultry barn modeled after a similar type found on Foster Farms' own humane certified ranches.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130311/SF74195-a)

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130311/SF74195-b)

Beginning in 2012, all company growing facilities dedicated to fresh chicken production in California and the Pacific Northwest have implemented AHC program standards and are participating in independent, third-party audits. The audits are administered by the AHC program and its third-party auditor, Validus. The audits consist of more than 200 stringent criteria covering living conditions, diet and natural behaviors. The standards set by American Humane Association are in practice on all Foster Farms fresh chicken ranches 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

"While the actual certification is a new development for us, our commitment to raising chickens humanely has always been important to our company," said Foster Farms CEO Ron Foster. "It is the right thing to do for our birds and we know that it is important to consumers. In 2008, we implemented a comprehensive animal welfare program guided by our two full-time veterinarians. Becoming an American Humane Certified producer is a genuine milestone for our company. We see it as a meaningful sign of progress and look forward to working with American Humane Association to further improve our animal welfare efforts."

"We know that consumers want more choices for humanely raised poultry," said Ira Brill, Foster Farms Director of Corporate Communications. "Our longtime commitment to the welfare of our birds has made this possible and certification provides consumers with that assurance."

A survey released today of 2,000 West Coast consumers by NSON Opinion Strategy, commissioned by Foster Farms, found that consumers want humane-certified meat and poultry products to be more widely available and, at the same time, affordable.

• 45 percent are very concerned about animal welfare
• 49 percent completely agree that they are more concerned with animal welfare and how animals are raised for food than they were five years ago
• 74 percent completely agree that they would like more large producers to raise animals for food in a humane way
• 76 percent completely agree humane-certified foods should be more widely available to consumers
• 80 percent completely agree humane-certified food should be more affordable for consumers
• 55 percent would make a personal commitment/pledge to purchase poultry that is humane certified

"By partnering with American Humane Association we are helping to ensure that more farm animals are brought under the basic protections of animal welfare," said Brill. "Foster Farms' commitment and resources along with guidance from animal welfare experts helped make certification both possible and affordable for the consumer."

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