Deciding what products to offer our Co-op customers, given the limited space in the freezer and coolers, is sometimes a dilemma for me. There’s one category of food, however, that merits as much room as I can make – eggs. The Co-op carries a variety of eggs: cage-free, omega-3 enriched, organic, certified sustainably grown, and (by far the most popular) locally-produced – in different sizes and colors. In this article, I’d like to give you an overview of the differences among the types of eggs on the Co-op’s cooler shelves.

The labels on egg cartons can be quite confusing. “Cage-free” means that the laying hens live in large barns or warehouses instead of individual cages. The cage-free eggs the Co-op sells come from Wilcox Family Farms and Chino Valley Ranchers. Both companies house their birds in environmentally controlled buildings with natural sunlight, poles for roosting and areas for nesting. Wilcox allows their hens outside access. Both companies feed a high-quality vegetarian diet. Wilcox uses a mixture of corn, wheat, peas, barley and soybeans. Chino Valley’s formula contains vegetable seeds, grains, soybeans and limestone meal.

The hens that lay “omega-3 enriched” eggs are fed a vegetarian diet rich in flaxseed. Both Chino Valley and Organic Valley Family of Farms supply us with these. Each egg provides 225 mg of omega-3 and is a good source of vitamin E.

Because of the complexity of certification, I’ll discuss “organic” and “certified sustainably grown” more in depth in a future article. Briefly, though, these types of eggs come from Organic Valley and local producers. On Organic Valley farms, the hens are free to roam within their house or outside. Their organic, vegetarian diet is free of antibiotics, synthetic hormones and pesticides. The inclusion of chlorophyll-rich plants, alfalfa and kelp result in deep yellow yolks; oyster shells and natural minerals yield strong eggshells. The eggs are nest-laid and hand-gathered.

I often let out a little “woo hoo” when I see one of our local egg producers enter the Co-op with arms filled with egg cartons. Although not USDA inspected, our local eggs are subject to health department regulations and follow quality guidelines the Co-op has established. Each producer fills out a card that lists such things as: breed of hen and size of flock; a description of the hen house and outside access; feed ingredients; and method of handling eggs. The eggs must be fresh, clean and in clean cartons labeled with the producer’s name and their farm’s location. Organic and sustainably grown producers must provide documentation of their certification.

I admit I was never much of an egg eater until I learned of their health benefits. They are a low calorie source of complete protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They contain a moderate amount of fat, but it is mostly the heart-healthy, unsaturated kind. Their cholesterol content is a concern for some, but the good news is that recent tests have measured it at 213 mg instead of 274 mg as previously thought.

My goal is to utilize shelf space by choosing egg types that (I hope!) meet the dietary and budget needs of Co-op shoppers. If I’ve guessed wrong, please let me know. I encourage you to pick up a carton of this nutritious food on your next shopping trip. Our egg suppliers, especially our local producers, will thank you for it!