If you’ve never tasted a naturally raised, local, free range egg before…well, you’ve never had a “real” egg. Many locals raise their own chickens or buy eggs from friends and when they purchase eggs they won’t buy any eggs except Pam & Larry Zweifel’s: Zweifel Farms Eggs. Taste test them yourself and if you are really curious we invite you to do a side-by-side comparison of a commercially raised egg from caged chickens, a commercially raised (or even “free range”) organic egg and an egg from Zweifel Farms.

First thing you will notice is that the shell is tougher on the Zweifel egg. This is a good thing! Healthier birds that have plenty of minerals in their diet produce thicker shells. The second thing you will notice is the difference in color. Commercially raised eggs are runnier and have less color in the yolks. Organic and commercial free-range are bit denser and have more color but nothing compares to a “real” free-range, fresh local egg. You’ll notice the Zweifel egg has much more substance, even in the egg’s white. And the yolks, you’ll notice a rich yellow/orange color and larger yolks. The deeper color comes in part as a result of having higher levels of beta carotene…a rich antioxidant. Birds with free access to the outdoors, sunshine, pastured greens and even bugs are happier, healthier AND actually more nutritious.

Oh, and the eggs are not just better for you, they taste better too. Way more “eggy” and more satisfying. Much better for baking too!

The statement I made about “real” pastured eggs being more nutritious is based on some “real” research that has been done. Don’t take my word for it, check it out for yourself: Pastured Chickens Lay Nutritious Eggs

I recently communicated with Pam via email and asked her about another concern I’ve had, namely, GMOs in animal feed. There is a lot of research out there questioning the impact of GMO foods on health (even when passed via animal’s feed to humans) that I’ve made every effort to eliminate them from my diet, entirely. Not an easy thing to do where animal feed is concerned. Many local farmers and ranchers are still struggling to find GMO-free feed that is affordable and there is still no guarantee that the feed is 100% non-GMO.

Like many local farmers I have voiced my GMO concerns to, I found Pam to be very receptive and responsive:

“Concerning the feed, we are organic pasture and completely non gmo on pasture, whole grains, oyster shell and everything except the mixed ration that contains protein, minerals and all the other necessary things chickens need to lay and be healthy. The amount each chicken eats of anything potentially gmo is very small. ”

You can also feel good that with every carton of the Zweifel eggs you buy you are keeping your money in the local economy, helping good local farmers keep growing health food.

You can buy Zweifel Farms Eggs at the Manzanita Market in a few different sizes. I recommend the jumbo ones because they are just so impressive.

At this point I feel I must issue a warning: Once you’ve tried real pasture raised eggs there is no going back. Or so I’ve found.

Here is a great dessert recipe featuring Zweifel eggs >>