ottawa foodies

After visiting my parents' farm and having the eggs that they bought from a local farmer, I now feel completely spoiled and am having trouble settling for your regular run-of-the-mill grocery store eggs.

Are there any good places in Ottawa to get nice fresh farm eggs?

I still vote for Bekings hands down. (If you do a search of the forums for eggs, you'll find this discussion was had before).

Bekings can be found at Sasloves (Wellington), Herb and Spice (both locations) and lots of other locations.

I've been to their stand at Landsdowne where the eggs were still a bit warm. I think that's pretty fresh, no?

Another vote here for Bekings. Just a note that they are only at Lansdowne on Thursdays but they also have a stand at the Byward Market (new this year). I "think" they are only there from Wednesdays to Sundays. You can also find their eggs at the Glebe meat market.

I also get eggs at the organic farmers market in Ottawa South from Padgeberry farms. I believe the eggs they sell are from their farm. They are also very good.

Hmmm, according to Irishgal2, Bekings are factory eggs just like any other. The hens never see the light of day.

So I guess it depends on your definition of "farm fresh", or moreover, "farm"

ottawafoodies.com

Or, your defintition of free-run, free-range, et cetera.

zymurgist All their hens roam free: www.bekingseggs.com

Pasta Lover - please give the exact quote from their website which states this, along with the exact link to the full context of the quote.

"An Eastern Ontario egg producer has responded to consumers' demands for a more "naturally produced" agricultural product by converting his 16,500-bird farm to a totally free-range operation.

John Beking of Beking's Poultry Farm, located just outside of Oxford Station, has been producing eggs in a conventional barn (with caged birds) for more than 30 years. This past spring, Beking moved his layers into two new 200-by 40-foot, free-range-style barns and, from what he's seen so far, he couldn't be happier with his decision.

"For the past 35 years, we have used cages," says Beking from the egg grading room of his operation, "and so far, I like this (free-range) system better. We're seeing good production and I like to think the birds are happier."

Beking cites "more space for the birds" as his main reason for preferring free-range over the cage system. This is despite the fact that the new system had a slightly higher initial investment of about $32 to $35 per bird for the nests, compared to $22 per bird for the cage system. As well, the free-range barns are not quite as space-efficient as the old system. With the cages, Beking's old barns had capacity for 18,000 birds as opposed to the 16,500 birds (11,000 white layers in one barn and 5,500 brown birds in the other) housed in the new free-range barns.

However, the manure removal system was one area where Beking found a definite cost saving. There was no need to install an expensive manure cleaning system in the new free-range barns since the feeders and watering systems can be raised, so the manure can be simply cleared away with a skid steer loader."

Taken from Better Farming, found on www.bekingseggs.com (click on "Better Farming").

In short, the layers have not been caged for some time.

OK, I found that on my own. But it is still true that the "never see the light of day" since they live their lives in the barn. So lots of room to quibble about "farm fresh" :-)

This discussion has of course come up before via Irishgal2 and those exact same arguments that Zym presents.

I guess it all comes down to what is available, when and for how much... and how each person defines their comfort level with various farming practices.

Some folks will be ok with run-of-the-mill eggs from Blah-Blahs... others with the more humane aspect of Bekings and still others will be looking for chickens who are raised like they were a 100 years ago... in the chicken coop at night, out in yard during the day.

Zym - I believe there is a farmer in PECounty doing the latter (and I know for a fact that the best eggs I've ever tasted were at a Breakfast in the county... Restaurant said they were fresh that morning from a local supplier). As for around the Ottawa area... don't know maybe Irishgal2 sells eggs, I know that she said she raises chickens (think that was stated in your "Coop" topic).

Here's a question re: eggs...
does anybody know why eggs are refrigerated in North America, and yet they aren't elsewhere in the world?

Beking are very good eggs and nice people to deal with. Wayne Senior at Carp Farmers' Market also sells local eggs.

The strict egg grading rules have stopped alot of people from selling eggs. Which is a shame.
There needs to be an egg producer at the Ottawa Farmers' Market on Sunday. I'm sure they would sell out each week.

Fairly certain that Bekings sells at Landsdowne on Sundays.

Bekings also have a stall at the Main St Farmers Market on Saturdays.

Spud Guy:

I have noticed the same thing...my parents used to live in Santo Domingo and we were always amazed seeing the eggs sitting out in the warm climate. What I was told is that our eggs are washed before being sent to (super)market, whereas elsewhere they are not which preserves a natural coating on the outside of the shell rendering them more resistant to spoilage. Not sure of the veracity or science behind such claims...

bekings is at landsdowne on thursdays and main st on saturdays. they are not at landsdowne on sundays - unless this has changed in the past couple weeks?

also, bearbrooke farms occasionally has eggs. these aren't always white, sometimes they are even blue. very fresh.

I've been buying the Bekings at Wild Oat in the Glebe. They were $3.25 a dozen there. They were $4.00 for the same product at their booth at Main on Saturday! I guess they have to pay themselves more to get there etc. So I jut buy 'em at the Wild Oat...

Part of the reason why Beking's charges more at the markets is because they don't want to hurt the vendors who sell their eggs elsewhere. I'm not sure if there is a vendor that sells Beking's near Main, but Herb and Spice on Bank is close enough to Landsdowne and Saslove's is close enough to Byward Market that their prices are a bit higher.

For any of you who are eastenders, Bekings eggs are now availble at the Cumberland Farmers Market - she told me they'd be there every Saturday.

I love Bearbrook Farms chicken & eggs... really good prices. They seem to have changed their business a bit, no more restaurant/bed&breakfast type operation anymore. I hope they aren't suffering financially.

La Ferme Pastourelle in Masson-Angers off the 148 going towards Buckingham from Gatineau.
3$/dozen

I second Bearbrook
bantam chicken eggs, random sizes
2$
you won't believe how yellow the yolks are

Bekings eggs are also now available at the Orleans Farmers Market on Fridays.

Bekings is often present at the Thursday (but not Sunday) Lansdowne market.

Bekings now has a stall at the Byward Market. And you can get them year round at Aubrey's.

An interesting video :



Points to this report called "Scrambled Eggs", which in turn has a scorecard checklist that will help you judge your eggs

www.cornucopia.org