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Selling fresh eggs from your farm? There is no doubt that farm fresh eggs are different from traditional store bought eggs! Here are some important differences to mention to customers when selling your farm fresh eggs.
By Kylie Vaughn As the COVID-19 pandemic began to affect the traditional sources of our food supply, many people began to see empty grocery store shelves. Eggs were (and still are) one of the many items that people had a hard time finding in the grocery store. Because of this, many people have started to look for local sources of eggs.
It’s exciting to see people starting to look for local ways to fill the gaps in their food supply. Keeping food chains as local as possible provides resilience opportunities for both local farmers and consumers!
Personally, we have never professionally marketed or sold our eggs. However, we have always given it to friends, family, and co-workers. When the pandemic started, our orders almost doubled in just a few weeks! In fact, we’ve had a steady waiting list since March!
If you are just getting started selling or sharing your farm fresh eggs, there are some educational points you will likely want to share with your new customers. Educating them will help them prepare for any differences they may encounter when trying farm fresh eggs for the first time. Bottom line: It’s just good customer service!
Over the years, we have sold eggs to a wide range of people. Some of them are very knowledgeable about the local food while others are not. No matter their experience, I’ve learned that a little education can go a long way in ensuring they have a positive experience!
7 important things to tell your customers about farm fresh eggs
If you are selling farm fresh eggs, it is important that you are willing to help your customer understand the differences between farm fresh eggs and conventional eggs. Here are some educational points you may want to address with new customers when they start buying eggs from you.
Country requirements:
Each state has different requirements for selling eggs. Learn about your state’s requirements before you start selling eggs. You can usually find these requirements online. If you need help understanding it, you can start by contacting your local extension office for assistance.
Understanding these laws will affect how You can sell your eggs. You may also need to communicate this to your clients. For example, the law may require that your eggs be purchased on site only, which is why you can’t offer delivery. Be upfront with your customers about these laws if they have any questions about the way you sell your eggs.
Washed or unwashed:
Depending on your state’s requirements, you may or may not be required to wash your eggs before you can sell them. This is an important thing to let your customers know. If your eggs have been washed, this means that the protective covering (enclosure) has been removed and the eggs must be refrigerated. If the eggs have not been washed, tell your clients that the flower is still intact. However, I still recommend that customers wash their eggs before using them to remove any small bits of dirt or droppings that may be on the shell.
Yolk color:
Many of our new customers are shocked at how dark the yolk is, in our farm fresh eggs! There was one person who was concerned that the eggs had gone bad! For this reason, we now always give new customers a heads up on what to expect. Dark yolks are more common in farm fresh eggs because chickens usually have a varied diet.
Check out these other common myths about chicken that your customers might ask you about!
shell color:
One of the great things about farm fresh eggs is the variety of beautiful egg colors! However, not everyone uses colored eggs! We had a new client who requested no blue eggs specifically because they “scared her” (in her own words!). We were happy to accommodate her request and include only brown and white eggs in her requests. However, most of our customers absolutely love the entire range of eggshell colors that come in dozens of colors!
Shell differences:
Each shell is unique! Some have thick membranes that make them difficult to crack while others are thinner. Sometimes they have bumps, calcium deposits, or a unique texture. Some even change color in the middle of the egg! It’s important to let new egg clients know that the shell may look different from time to time but it’s still good to eat.
Different sizes:
Just like shell colors and textures can vary, so can the size of farm-fresh eggs. Pallets (young layers) generally lay smaller eggs than mature layers. If you have bantams in your flock, their eggs can be particularly small. Let your customers know that egg sizes may vary from time to time. We even had a customer who preferred bantam eggs because they made snack-sized hard boiled eggs!
Accommodation and meals:
Many customers will want to know how your chickens are housed and what they are fed. Answering honestly is very important because everyone deserves to know how and where their food is grown. However, you may still need to educate your customers. For example, you may need to explain that the presence of a rooster will produce fertilized eggs, but that does not mean that there are young ones in her eggs! Or, you may need to point out that free-range chickens are definitely not vegetarians. Being honest and upfront is always the best way to generate great reviews from customers who enjoy your farm fresh eggs!