Support a Humane Thanksgiving

HERNDON, Va., Nov. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- This year, ensure your Thanksgiving turkey is Certified Humane^®. Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC), the leading non-profit certification organization improving the lives of farm animals in food production, wants to encourage shoppers to only buy genuinely Certified Humane^® turkeys.

Over 10 billion animals raised for food in the U.S. annually endure inhumane treatment. Most are confined such that they can't behave naturally.

Alternatively, a Certified Humane^® turkey is one that can flap its wings and move around freely, can perch above the ground at night, eat nutritious food that doesn't contain antibiotics, and express natural behaviors.  
 

Currently, these three producers of turkeys meet HFAC's standards:

Ayrshire Farm in Virginia 
Koch's Turkey Farm in Pennsylvania
White Oak Pastures in Georgia 
 

The biggest barrier is that most turkey producers don't want to meet the space requirements in our standards, which allow turkeys the room that they need. Producers believe that consumers are not concerned with the manner in which their food is raised. Let's prove them wrong. 

"The power is with shoppers to help us get more turkeys Certified Humane®." Adele Douglass, Executive Director of Humane Farm Animal Care. 

The public can buy their turkey directly from these producers, visit the Where to Buy page on the HFAC website, or use our handy app for iPhone/iPad and Android.

Take Action

Please help us make sure that by Thanksgiving next year, 8,000,000 turkeys are raised under our Humane Farm Animal Care Standards. You can show your support and end needless turkey suffering, simply by sharing your favorite holiday recipes on Facebook.

Enter your recipe by November 30^th, 2013 in one of the following categories:

• Favorite Turkey Recipes
• Alternative Meat & Seafood Mains
• Delectable Side Dishes
• Delicious Desserts
• Holiday Appetizers

Finalists are announced on December 1^st, 2013 and voting begins.  Vote throughout the month of December for your favorite recipes.  Winners receive incredible gift baskets filled with all sorts of Humane goodies – autographed titles from authors like Jamie Oliver, Michael Pollan, and Andrew Kimbrell, Certified Humane^® products, aprons, jewelry and MORE!  The grand prize winner will also receive a heritage breed turkey from Ayrshire Farm, valued at $200!

By voting and sharing this contest with your friends and family, you will be taking action to end animal suffering.  Together, our collective voices will raise critical awareness of the plight of nearly 10 billion abused and neglected farm animals in this country.

Join our Certified Humane^® Holiday Recipe Contest to make a world of difference in the quality of life of turkeys around the country, and at your Thanksgiving table.

Endorsed by more than 65 humane organizations, the Certified Humane Raised and Handled^® program is nationally recognized as the "Gold Standard" for certifying animal welfare from birth through slaughter.  HFAC's Animal Care Standards were developed by a veritable "Who's Who" of national and international animal scientists and farm-animal welfare experts.  Producer compliance with the HFAC standards is verified through annual on-site visits by HFAC's third-party inspectors.
 

Don't be Fooled by Similar Sounding Programs. Only Certified Humane^®:

• Is managed by an independent nonprofit organization
• Is supported by the ASPCA, and over 65 other humane organizations
• Maintains the highest animal welfare standards for animals raised for food production in the U.S.
• Manages the strictest inspection program, which ensures that everyone is following those standards
• Requires that every standard be met before a producer is certified

Related Links:
Follow Certified Humane® on Twitter
Like Certified Humane® on Facebook
Watch the Certified Humane® YouTube Channel
For More Information about Certified Humane®

Video with caption: "Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of farm animals by certifying their humane treatment. Supported by more than 50 humane organizations, the Certified Humane Raised and HandledR program is nationally recognized as the Gold Standard for certifying animal welfare from birth through slaughter. Since the program was began in 2003, more than 100 companies, representing thousands of farms and millions of farm animals, have been certified." Video available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=br5_Gp-UUDo

Image with caption: "Look for the Certified Humane® seal on your turkey this Thanksgiving to ensure that your turkey was treated humanely from birth through slaughter." Image available at: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131119/MM19420LOGO-a

Image with caption: ""We create an environment in which our animals can express their instinctive behavior. The Certified Humane® credibility verifies this to our customers, and helps us spread the message" says Will Harris of White Oak Pastures, pictured above with daughter Jenni." Image available at: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131119/MM19420-b

Image with caption: "Certified Humane® turkeys, like these turkeys from Ayrshire Farm, meet HFAC's Animal Care Standards such as: space requirements, the ability to engage in natural behaviors, and food free of antibiotics". Image available at: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131119/MM19420-c

SOURCE Humane Farm Animal Care