Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Organic eggs.... how to.... help please

  • 19-04-2020 1:45pm
    #1
    Grow up
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28 ✭


    Hi all, myself and wife are looking to sell our chicken and ducks eggs. They have always been fed organic meal, medicated organically and are ethically reared. This is only a small holding set up and we are not looking to make mega bucks out of this. I have a full time job ( thankfully at this time still ) and this is just an off shoot of our smallholding. We do sell a small amount of eggs as free range, which they are but we would like to get certified organic. I have gone through the Web and am still confused as to the process. Is there a minimum requirement of egg production that would have to be met to be certified? We own 5 acres of land that has never had fertilizer in the 10 years we have owned it and 2 acres of it was planted back to natural woodland by ourselves at our own exoense. Has any other small holder gone through the process of certification that could probably simply what actually happens? I have applied for a flock number and am waiting on that to come back at this time. Any guidance would be very much appreciated. Hope all is keeping safe and we'll during these challenging times.


Comments

  • #2
    Harry Palmr
    Closed Accounts Posts: 40,061 ✭✭✭✭Harry Palmr


    I can only talk about this in the abstract as I've not been through the process but I have studied organic horticulture and been taught/studied it.

    Given your scale I'd not bother, its a lengthy process and once achieved could be a bit of a millstone.

    The public are not going to buy more eggs or pay a higher price per egg if they are certified organic. They will buy because they taste nice (assuming they do!) and are 'visibly' free range (can they be seen from the road clucking about?).

    The added value of an organic cert is marginal and once you have it the you are committed to annual inspection which while not onerous for a small holding are just another potential snag. I'll put it like this - is it better to be organic and then fall fowl ;) of their regulations or to be not be certified at all.

    From a marketing point of view the only restriction for your situation is not being allowed to called your outlet Mr Clucks Organic Free Range Eggs - but you can be Mr Clucks Free Range Eggs, (raised using organic methods and practices).

    Does anyone know why there is more than one representative organic body in Ireland? it makes no sense at all in such a small country with a very small organic sector.


Advertisement