Eggs-cuse me?

When I can’t make it to my twice-a-month local winter farmer’s market this time of year (the subtext here is that I can’t wait for summer when the market goes back to weekly), I pick up organic eggs from my local food store.  This is the best option under that roof, but I’m still amazed at the difference between the store-bought eggs and the farmer’s market-bought eggs. 

I eat an egg every morning, pan-fried in some olive oil, add some melted raw cheddar and throw it on two pieces of Ezekiel wheat toast.  This past summer, I bought eggs from the farmer’s market for the first time.  When I went to crack the egg into the pan the next morning, I was greeted by a strong, thick shell, firm yolk and white consistency, and dazzling yellow-orange yolk. 

“Ok, what’s the deal,” I thought, “Seriously?  What’s so good about these? I thought I was already getting the best.”  I went online to research the meaning behind this and compare to my previously store-bought organic eggs.  The reasoning for these characteristics is simple:  Let the chickens be chickens.

Unless under a rock, everyone has heard some form of how the edible product corporations house chickens confined without room or sunlight and force-feed them with corn, soy and animal byproducts.  These poor creatures produce eggs that are just as unhealthy as they are.  It’s like putting my Honda’s economy 82-octane fuel into an F-16… will the end result be a desired one?  Unfortunately, organic does not mean the chickens are required to live in the open pastures, develop as God intended, and produce fabulous eggs.  No doubt organic still means the chicken’s diets and living conditions are better than average, but we can still do better. 

Here’s what I needed to see, to see the light:

In my opinion, this is an apples and oranges situation – even though the corporations attempt to make it look like I’m splitting hairs in this comparison.  The other main difference between these ovum is the strength and feel of the shell.  I'd also justify that I'm not splitting hairs because I thought organic would have gotten me closer to the best than it has.  Like I said, I do my best to get the best, but it’s sad to think that the store’s organic eggs are that vastly different.  

So let the chicken be a chicken.  Get out into your community and support your farmers.  Your local farmers are the ones who know how to treat their birds properly to get the best results.  Buy the eggs of these organic, pasture-raised, bug-eating, field-roaming, sun-bathing, God-fearing chickens, and feel good, be satisfied, and live more healthfully.