Comprised of 43 family-owned farms (all “Certified Humane”) Murray’s Chicken is certainly a “unique breed.”

Murray Bresky grew up raising chickens and watched his father closely as he grew and learned the poultry business. The birds were such a passion for him and he worked diligently to learn the art of raising chickens well. He took over the family business in the late seventies and by 1993 he started Murray’s Chickens.

His promise to his growing family and grandchildren was that Murray’s Chickens would be raised without the use of antibiotics, growth drugs or hormones, and that they would have plenty of room to move around, flap their wings and get fresh air and sunlight.

Murray’s Chicken also takes great pride in being one of the first operators to become “Certified Humane” through Humane Farm Animal Care. According to Steve Gold, Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Murray’s Chicken, “Earning the ‘Certified Humane’ designation was the best thing we ever did. Humane Farm Animal Care has one of the few third party labeling programs that is for real… no shortcuts. We feel so proud to be associated with the ‘Certified Humane’ program.”

Based in New York and Pennsylvania, Murray’s Chicken has grown over the last decade and brings jobs to over 300 people and 43 farmers and their families.

With over 30 years of service to Murray’s Chicken, Mr. Gold has a real understanding of what the essence of Murray’s Chicken is really all about, and that is family. From the select family farms of the Pennsylvania countryside to Murray’s own children and grandchildren that inspired his mission – the legacy of Murray’s Chicken will always be about family.

Murray’s product line includes a variety of whole chicken cuts as well as convenient “ready to go” options like Italian-Style Chicken Burgers. Murray’s Chicken is available at grocers up and down the East Coast and as far west as Chicago, including Publix, Win Dixie, A&P, Wegmans and Fairway just to name a few.

To learn more, visit their website at: www.murrayschicken.com

For information on where to find other Certified Humane® products in your area, visit the “Shop” page of HFAC’s website.

David Lathem, owner of Lathem Family Farms, is no stranger to raising poultry. As a second generation poultry farmer he grew up carrying feed bags to feed the chickens.  His first job after graduating from the University of Georgia was visiting chicken farmers  as an extension specialist.  Therefore, it is natural he now owns and operates Lathem Family Farms, a flourishing poultry farm nestled in the beautiful pine trees of Pendergrass, GA.

David’s interest in the Certified Humane® program was piqued following visits to Pete & Gerry’s Organic Eggs and Wilcox Farms, both Certified Humane® egg companies.  Impressed with the Certified Humane® program’s honorable reputation and the farmers that were part of it, he decided he wanted to do something that was in the true spirit of animal welfare and become a Certified Humane® company. In March of 2012, Lathem Family Farms earned the Certified Humane® designation.

Lathem Family Farms remains a family-run business, with Mr. Lathem’s nephew, Evan, working to preserve the Lathem legacy. The farm raises Hi-Line Brown, Bovan Brown, and ISA Brown laying hens. David took a lot of care choosing how to house his birds. It was important for raising his chicks, to make sure they have an enriching and stimulating environment. Once the hens are mature, they are moved into an aviary, which provides them with many different levels to explore and lots of perching. To ensure that the birds are breathing clean air, David enlisted the expertise of a ventilation specialist from the University of Georgia. The birds freely roam the aviary as well as having free access to an outdoor area.  David states “The hens are happy and doing well!”

As a new company on the Certified Humane® program Lathem Family Farms has  plans to expand their operation, but not lose sight of what remains important; the welfare of the laying hens.  Consumers can find Lathem Family Farms eggs in the Kirkland Signature Organic Brown Eggs at Costco in 6 southeast states and Puerto Rico.

For information on where to find other Certified Humane® products in your area, visit the “Shop” page of HFAC’s website.

Marvin Glaum worked to keep his family’s egg farming business in Aptos, California, going through tough times. Things have changed a bit since Marvin invented the egg vending machine (complete with dancing chicken puppets) that’s still in use at Glaum Egg Ranch’s processing plant. But the Glaum family’s creativity, determination, and dedication to family farming are still at work, and the family business is going strong.

Today, it has been almost 100 years and four generations of the Glaum family that continue to position their business for growth in a changing market, ready to meet and overcome the challenges that confront many small family farms. Doug works with his sisters Sherrie and Debbie, and two of his children Mikayla and Gunnar (as well as a few other employees) on the 28-acre ranch in Watsonville and the processing plant and headquarters in Aptos. “We have always been told that family working together in the same business is unique, and most of the time unsuccessful,” says Doug. “Well, I guess we just beat the odds, just like surviving in the egg business.” Rather than follow trends that have led to the demise of so many family farms, the Glaums have found ways to thrive. They raise cage-free Certified Humane Raised and Handled eggs, as well as organic eggs, to sell to grocery stores, restaurants, and walk-up customers in their new Barn Store on the property in Aptos.

Doug’s father, Marvin (son of John Glaum, Doug’s grandfather and founder of Glaum Egg Ranch), died in 2004. According to Doug, “Looking back on my childhood, I realize how hard my dad worked on the ranch. His ultimate goal and commitment were to better the ranch with all his innovations and inventions, to keep the ranch at its most efficient. Many of his inventions were published in national poultry magazines. We always wondered why he never patented any of his ideas, but his drive was different. He just wanted to take care of his family first, and then the ranch.” Marvin’s creativity helped to broaden his business’s scope, such as when he decided to produce compost from the manure harvested from the chickens.

Following their father’s death, the Glaums continued in his innovative spirit and converted their entire operation to cage-free and organic egg production. According to Doug, gaining Certified Humane status for the cage-free eggs made a lot of sense, given growing consumer awareness of humane issues. “Since we decided to fully commit ourselves to becoming a cage-free ranch, I thought to validate who and what we have become, [working with] a third-party certifying organization would be the best path to take. That is where I found Humane Farm Animal Care and their Certified Humane standards. The fit was perfect, because we had set certain standards for Glaum Egg Ranch, and HFAC met all those, just as we met all their requirements.”

Although most Certified Humane egg producers were located on the east coast when the Glaum Egg Ranch became certified, Doug believed the label would make its way westward. Since the ranch joined HFAC’s program, according to Doug, “I have seen the Certified Humane Raised and Handled label grow rapidly in the food service and retail establishments throughout the whole country, including the west coast. I look back at the decision I made and could not be more proud of being part of a unique and ambitious organization.”
Marvin Glaum would no doubt approve of the decisions that Doug and his siblings have made. Although Marvin’s death “still hurts,” says Doug, “we know in our hearts he is with us for every move, decision, and challenge that we encounter.”

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• For information on where to find other Certified Humane® products in your area, visit our ‘Where to Buy’ product locator.

• Follow this link to listen to a 10 minute Podcast about Glaum Egg Ranch’s famous Egg Vending Machine, originally posted to Atlas Obscura on May 25th, 2021

In the outskirts of Minooka, IL there is a laying hen operation that seeks to fulfill the destiny bestowed upon this town.  Minooka means “Good Land” in the Pottawatomie tribe language, and Bill and Pam Kunke have made excellent use of their 76 acre farm named Creekside Natural Farm. The farm is fenced in by two creeks on the property, hence the name Creekside. Their piece of “Good Land” was initially used to grow vegetables, and now they have expanded to include a laying hen operation.

Having grown up in Minooka, IL, the Kunke’s are no strangers to farming. Bill, a third generation farmer, was born and raised on what is now Creekside Natural Farm, growing grain and raising livestock. Pam accredits much of her knowledge of farming to the many trips to her grandparents’ house as a little girl. When asked what peaked their interest in Certified Humane®, Pam replied that she has always been a huge animal lover, and when she heard about the program, she knew she wanted to be a part of it.

Pam says she really enjoys her laying hens: “People notice a difference in our hens.” The hens have constant access to outdoor pasture, enjoying natural light from the sun and welcoming cool breezes. Bill and Pam attribute the success of their hens producing high quality eggs to the quality of life they experience.

The Kunkes still sell vegetables along with the Creekside Natural Farm eggs, and approximately ¼ of their consumers are vegetarians. They appreciate being able to show their customers how their birds are raised. “Most people really have no idea what food in the grocery store goes through before they buy it,” said Pam, “but here they can see for themselves how these birds live their lives.”  When asked if she has noticed an increase in business since becoming certified, Pam says she has: “People get a peace of mind knowing that we are Certified Humane®.”  She feels that the Certified Humane® label provides consumers with the assurance that

Please visit their website, www.creeksidenaturalfarm.com, for up to date information on everything going on at Creekside Natural Farm, including recipes, and new additions to the Creekside Natural Farm family.  If you are in the Minooka area, please feel free to stop by the Creekside Natural Farm farm stand.the animals had a good life and were raised according to the strict standards established by Humane Farm Animal Care.

To learn more about Creekside Natural Farm, visit their website at: creeksidenaturalfarm.com

For information on where to find other Certified Humane® products in your area, visit our Shop in Store page.