What does Air-Chilled mean?
Air Chilling is a technology used throughout the European countries where birds are cooled in fresh refrigerated air, rather than soaked in a large, cold water baths. By Air Chilling, Alison’s birds absorb no chlorinated water. Birds are moved slowly through the cold Air Chill room where they slowly cool. This technique also allows natural dry aging to occur, which both preserves and further enhances tenderness and the flavorful, natural taste.
Air Chilling reduces the exposure of the birds to bacterial cross contamination, which can dramatically enhance self life, cleanliness and health of the product to our customers.
We believe that Air Chilling is an integral part of sustainable agriculture as it significantly reduces the use and treatment of large quantities of processing water. There are only a few Air Chilled poultry operations within the USA. Alison’s Family Farms is the only Air Chilled Turkey and Chicken and Certified Humane Raised and Handled operation in the USA.
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What is All Natural?
Although there is no exact definition of what All Natural means by the USDA lets talk about what it means to Alison's. Flocks must be raised separate from their conventional counterparts. The birds are not given growth-producing hormones or antibiotics. The birds receive preventive medical care, such as vaccines, and dietary supplements of vitamins and minerals. They consume an all vegetable feed, free of animal byproducts. Producers must provide living conditions that accommodate the health and natural behavior of the birds. They should have access to the outdoors, shade, exercise areas, fresh air, and direct sunlight as is suitable to the birds and the stage of production.
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What is Certified Humane Raised & Handled?
A consumer certification and labeling program. This label means that any egg, dairy, meat or poultry product has been produced with the welfare of the farm animal in mind. Food products that carry the label are certified to have come from facilities that meet precise, objective standards for farm animal treatment.
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What is Free Range?
Poultry must have safe and maintained access to the outdoors. Insuring that the area where the poultry are kept is clean, not used during bad weather and is properly fenced to keep predators out. Poultry should not be left outdoors during the evening hours.
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What does Made with Organic Ingredients mean?
This type of processed product must contain at least 70% organic ingredients and list up to three of the organic ingredients or food groups on the principal display panel.
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What does an Organic Label mean?
Must consist of at least 95% organically produced ingredients (excluding water and salt). Any remaining product ingredients must consist of nonagricultural substances approved on the National list or non-organically produced agricultural products that are not commercially available in organic form. Made with Organic Ingredients Label this type of processed product must contain at least 70% organic ingredients and list up to three of the organic ingredients or food groups on the principal display panel.
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What is Organic Poultry?
According to the USDA all organically raised flocks must be raised separate from their conventional counterparts. The birds are not given growth-producing hormones or antibiotics. The birds receive preventive medical care, such as vaccines, and dietary supplements of vitamins and minerals. They consume 100 % organically produced feed, free of animal byproducts. Producers must provide living conditions that accommodate the health and natural behavior of the birds. They should have access to the outdoors, shade, exercise areas, fresh air, and direct sunlight as is suitable to the birds and the stage of production.
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What is Sustainable Agriculture?
A way of raising food that is healthy for consumers and animals, does not harm the environment, is humane for workers and animals, and provides a fair wage to the farmer.
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