What Makes Green Circle Chicken Different
D'Artagnan is dedicated to finding farmers that share our vision of rearing livestock humanely. We look at scale and sustainability; choosing only farms that respect nature and focus on the best animal welfare practices.
Our network of small Amish and Mennonite family farms in Pennsylvania raise chickens the old fashioned way. They are environmentally responsible & sustainable and offer farm-to-table traceability.
The Green Circle chicken is a special bird for many reasons, but what sets it apart is the diet. These chickens are fed clean surplus vegetables from markets – bruised, cut or otherwise unattractive vegetables - along with cuttings and peelings from restaurant kitchens and wholesome grains. These unloved vegetables are saved from going to landfills, so not only do the chickens benefit from the vegetable diet, but it makes sense for the environment too.
All Green Circle chickens are raised and handled according to Humane Farm Animal Care’s stringent welfare policies and are the rare bird that receives their humane certification. And of course, no antibiotics, hormones or arsenicals are ever used.
Our chickens are also free-range. In order for poultry to be certified free-range, it must be raised in specific conditions: with access to the outdoors and natural light, ability to forage naturally and a minimum of 1.5 square feet of space per bird when indoors. Green Circle chickens enjoy more than twice that space in the barns. In addition, to be called free-range, chickens must be raised to 8 weeks of age, as opposed to 5 or 6 weeks, which is standard for commercially-raised chicken.
Green Circle chickens are air-chilled and hand processed in a low-volume facility near the farms where they are raised. The air-chilling process guarantees our chickens have no additional water weight, which leads to better post-cooking yields, with a deeper flavor profile and crispy skin.
Our holistic approach produces truly wholesome results. From start to finish, these birds are treated and fed well, and the result is a supremely tasty chicken on your table.
