Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Bruce Weber might not be able to answer this particular philosophical query, but chances are he’ll be able to answer any other questions you might have about chickens and their eggs.
The Elmira egg farmer has just launched a tour across the province, speaking on behalf of the Egg Farmers of Ontario (EFO) and providing youngsters and curious consumers about the ins and outs of all things related to chicken eggs.
“Bruce is a wonderful spokesperson: he’s so passionate about what he does and he’s so proud to produce eggs that people enjoy eating that it’s a pleasure to have him be an ambassador and go across Ontario and share his passion and what he knows about eggs,” said Janet Hueglin Hartwick, director of public affairs for the Egg Farmers of Ontario.
Having kicked off his annual egg education tour, Weber will be travelling to fairs and events across Ontario talking with consumers and students about eggs and egg farming. His goal is to explain how fresh Ontario eggs make it from the farm to the table.
He’ll also explain to viewers how the majority of eggs found at local grocery stores are in fact grown locally. While farmers of other products struggle to deal with grocery chains buying cheaper food from across the border or overseas, local egg farmers are in this context more fortunate.
“That’s not the case with eggs; we have a different system in Canada. We don’t export a lot of eggs nor do we import a lot of eggs. Eggs are different than some of the other farm products,” Weber said, noting that approximately 10 per cent of the egg farmers in Ontario are located in the Waterloo-Wellington area. Based on the number of eggs consumed and on the prolific output of chickens, which each lay some 320 eggs per year, egg farmers can predict and meet consumer demands with relative ease. The fact that eggs are so fragile also helps.
“My eggs that are produced here in Elmira, chances are they’re being sold in Elmira.”
In the past EFO has offered up recipes as a method of promoting the egg industry; as it continues with its campaign this season, however, it is also looking to provide consumers with even more information regarding the science and facts behind eggs and egg production.
“We’re targeting media around Easter time here and trying to get the word out there, demystify some things – we want to give the Easter Bunny a break,” Weber quipped, noting that many people have little insight into how eggs actually make it from the farm to the kitchen table, a process that takes approximately four to seven days.
Nowadays, Ontarians have access to a variety of choices at the egg counter, including classic eggs (white and brown), omega-3, free-run and organic.
“There are a lot of different kinds of eggs out there now and they’re all healthy,” Weber said before heading for Kitchener and Barrie.
“Nature’s little vitamin multi-packs” he calls them.
While on tour, Weber will explain what’s behind the increasingly popular omega-3 rich egg.
“We don’t do any hocus pocus with it or anything. All we do is feed the chickens with flax seeds; flax seed is high in omega-3 fatty acids,” he said, adding that the eggs provide a healthy alternative for people who do not eat a lot of fish, which is also rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
As for the classic white and brown eggs, they too are healthy. The chickens laying those eggs are fed corn wheat, soy beans, and oats and aren’t fed hormones or antibiotics, said Weber.
While on tour, Weber will travel in his stylish mobile egg farm known as the Egg Education Trailer. A scaled-down version of a modern egg farm, the trailer shows how laying hens are fed and cared for, and how eggs are collected and graded. It is home to eight white and eight brown hens that lay white and brown eggs respectively.
Weber this week will continue his tour of Ontario answering the questions posed by curious visitors to his mobile farm.
As for his stab at the age-old chicken or egg dilemma?
“I don’t know, but I just hope that both the chickens and the eggs keep on producing because I think it is important for us,” he said with a laugh.
