Thousands of hens at a local farm are flying the coop next year.
Vanderwees Farms and its 30,000 hens have been putting eggs in local grocery stores, restaurants and on breakfast tables for years. But partner Bruce Vanderwees said with changing regulations and rising costs for things like feed, there’s no profit to be had any longer.
“It really comes down to economics,” he said. “It’s got to a point where it’s really tight.”
Instead, the farm will use its federally regulated grading station and distribution network for eggs from other local producers as well as companies from Ontario and Manitoba.
“We’re not going away. We’re staying here, we’re still investing in the community,” Vanderwees said. “We’re just changing our focus.”
The farm will also not have to lay any of its six full-time employees or summer students off.
Vanderwees said it plans to phase out the hens by the summer of 2014.
