Chicken. It’s served in just about every restaurant across the United States and much of the world. Yet, despite its fame as the most popular poultry, chicken might not always seem like the most exciting thing on the menu. But if you’re a chicken connoisseur, you know that when the chicken is good, it’s really good. And really good chicken starts with how they’re raised and what they eat. Shenandoah Valley Organic (SVO), now also known as Farmer Focus, has been raising chickens the organic, humane way for nearly two decades, devoted to partnering with small farmers and raising some of the best darn chicken you’ll ever try. What makes SVO Farmer Focus chicken so delicious and unique among the many producers in the country?

Organic is as Organic does

When you have “organic” in your name, you better be able to back that up. Shenandoah Valley Organic chicken is USDA Certified, 100% organic chicken, raised entirely with organic practices. But what does that mean for the chickens?

When a chicken is raised organically, they’re raised their entire lives on certified organic feed. This feed is completely free of pesticides and fertilizers, no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives, and completely vegetarian. No animal by-products in the food means healthier meals for the birds. Obtaining and keeping an organic certification is nothing to cluck at. SVO regularly inspects all of their partner farms and processing facilities to make sure organic practices are being followed.

SVO Farmer Focus takes the organic operation a step further with their Project Non-GMO certification. GMOs, or Genetically Modified Organisms, are never allowed in organic feed, but the extra certification gives you another level of security about the finished product. Project Non-GMO ensures all feed given to chickens is completely free of harmful fertilizers and pesticides used on traditional feed. We’ve been modifying crops for centuries through selective breeding to improve yield and disease resistance, so it's not the GMOs themselves that are harmful. Instead, the use of toxic and possibly cancer-causing chemicals is what SVO seeks to avoid.

All of these practices combined also help the environment. The use of organic feed on their farms has cut down on the use of 8.2 million pounds of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer since 2017, not to mention that organically raising chickens in smaller flocks reduces emissions and water usage per farm. All in all, it’s a win for farmers and the planet!

Treat chickens with kindness

One of Shenandoah Valley Organic’s core tenets is the humane treatment of each and every bird in their flocks. As such, SVO holds its partners to strict guidelines for raising their chickens.

1. Free access to wholesome, nutritious food and water

   SVO chickens are always fed a completely vegetarian diet of 100% organic feed. Healthy feed means healthier chickens. They’re also provided clean water at appropriate heights, to make sure those birds stay hydrated. Water and food are never more than 13 feet away from chickens either, so there’s always plenty to graze on and drink.

2. Safe and clean shelter with room to roam

   Chickens need shelter at night to protect them from the elements and predators and SVO birds have it made when they go to bed! Chicken houses are always fixed structures, with electricity and running water. Inside each house is clean, dry, organic bedding to keep them warm and free of pests.

   Not only is it nice and clean inside, there’s also plenty of room for each bird to wander and enjoy enrichment activities. No more than 6 lbs of chicken are allowed per square foot of space in any structure, and most SVO farmers request even less density than that. That’s plenty of room for any bird to spread their wings and never hit another chicken.

   Despite their sweet digs, chickens are never forced to stay inside unless the weather is too dangerous to roam outside. After they’re 28 days old, long enough to grow their protective feathers, chickens are allowed free range of outdoor spaces.

3. Access to outdoor spaces to forage, with protection from sunlight and predators

   After those first 28 days are up and they’re ready to hit the great outdoors, chickens have free access to explore green spaces and soak up the sun and fresh air. In fact, they’re given the same amount of space outside as they are inside, with 90% or more of farmers exceeding that minimum.

   As for shade, regulations require at least 25% of the space be covered by a mixture of trees, shrubs and artificial shade structures. This gives the birds plenty of cover on hot days. They also give chickens a place to hide if predators come calling.

   To keep the chickens safe from predators, all areas are kept meticulously clean and vermin-free, so larger animals aren’t attracted to the farm. Outdoor access doors are also closed and locked at night so the chickens can sleep peacefully and safely on their roosting bars.

4. Air quality, light levels and temperatures that ensure a healthy environment

   When the chickens aren’t outside enjoying the fresh air, their houses get clean air from power ventilation. This means chickens have a constant flow of pure air running through the coop at all times. Temperatures and humidity are also carefully regulated to keep the chickens comfy, with cooling in the summer and heat in the winter.

   All chicken houses have natural lighting, and chickens are given no less than eight hours of light per day and six hours of darkness per night. This natural day/night cycle keeps any chickens from getting sick or grumpy from lack of sleep.

5. Enrichments that encourage natural behaviors like perching and roosting

   Enrichment is incredibly important for chickens. Chickens are prone to pluck their feathers when they’re bored, so providing enriching activities and structures keeps them out of trouble and encourages natural chicken behaviors. After all, idle beaks are the devil’s playground.

   Each chicken house has a minimum of two enrichment activities at any given time, which can include a combination of ramps, blinds, hay bales, forages, scattered grains and perches. Outside, chickens roam as they please, pecking and scratching at the ground and hunting bugs and other goodies.

Farmer Focused

With such strict guidelines comes some pretty amazing support for all of the farmers under the Shenandoah Valley Organic umbrella. As of 2020, Shenandoah Valley Organic became Farmer Focus, reflecting their commitment to partnering with small farms. This dedication benefits farmers in a number of ways that are passed on to consumers.

1. Traceable Farms

   Each farm is given a unique Farm ID when they join Farmer Focus. This ensures that any chicken coming out of that farm can be traced back to its roots, and consumers can even learn about the farm their chicken came from. All Farmer IDs link back to Farmer Focus.

2. Equitable and sustainable pay

   Farmers work hard to take care of their flocks, and deserve to be paid accordingly. Farmer Focus works on a Fair Pay Philosophy and Partnership to take care of partnered farms. In fact, that partnership allows Farmer Focus farmers to earn up to 36% more than if they were to sell to conventional producers.

3. Full operational control

   Farms should be run by the people who know their farms best: the farmers themselves. With Farmer Focus, farmers have 100% control over the decisions made on their farms, and 100% ownership of the birds they raise. This empowers farmers to focus on the environment and the needs of their flock.

4. Supply chain partnerships

   When you’re running a small farm, it can sometimes be difficult to get the supplies your farm needs at a good price. Luckily, partnering with Farmer Focus means farmers can leverage their negotiating strength with hatcheries and feed suppliers to get what they need for their flocks at better rates.

“Tastes like chicken!”

Organic, humane, farmer focused. Does it make a difference in the taste of the final product? Professional chefs definitely think so! Chefs describe the flavor as tasting distinctly of chicken, in a way that some factory chicken doesn’t. It has a delicate, mild flavor perfect for dressing up with sauces and sides. This chicken is also incredibly succulent and juicy, and doesn’t dry out as easily, like other chicken can. And if the cut is skin-on, that skin becomes paper-thin and so light and crispy when baked or fried, lending an incredible extra level of texture and flavor.

This chicken can be cooked any way you like, from marinating and tossing into flavorful sauces and curries, to dicing and adding to a delicious soup, braising and shredding for tacos and enchiladas, battering and frying to perfection, or simply enjoying pan-roasted or oven-baked. No matter how you cook it, SVO Farmer Focus chicken comes out perfectly delicious every time. Just make sure to cook any chicken dish to 165°F to kill any possible bacteria in the meat!

SVO Farmer Focus chicken rules the roost

SVO Farmer Focus’ treatment of chickens and their farmers makes a big difference. Besides the incredible taste, you can feel good when you eat this chicken, knowing it’s been raised the organic, humane way. Give this amazing chicken a try! You’ll be crowing about it in no time.