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Tuesday June 10, 2008 Edition
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Local Poultry Farm Expanding to Keep Up in a Competitive Market


photo by Rebecca K. Fay

Tuesday June 10, 2008

By Rebecca K. Fay

   Maple Meadow Farm in Salisbury is beautifully maintained with flower gardens throughout the property, and three retrievers welcoming each visitor.  Maple Meadow is the largest commercial poultry farm in Vermont, with the exception of Vermont Egg, which sells its eggs in Canada.   Maple Meadow's eggs are sold throughout Vermont and can be found in Shaw's Supermarkets, Mom and Pop stores, or in the Farm's storeroom.   

   Maple Meadow has three generations of Devoids working on the farm.  George C. Devoid purchased the farm in 1946 and continues to supervise.  It is now owned and operated by his son George E. and his daughter-in-law Jackie.  George E.'s and Jackie's two children, Jennifer and George (“Niles”), are the third generation of Devoids working at the farm.  Although having the name George is common at this farm, it is not a prerequisite to employment.  The farm employs an additional seven full time employees including Jennifer's boyfriend George.

   Last year, Maple Meadow sold 468 gallons of maple syrup in its storeroom and to restaurants.  Maple Meadow produces some of the syrup, but Maple Meadow also purchases syrup from local farmers, and then cans it and sells it.    

   The majority of Maple Meadow's business is the commercial sale of eggs.   Maple Meadow sells eggs in a vast variety of sizes and quantities.  For instance, the eggs come in white or brown, medium, large, ex-large, or jumbo, and are sold in 6-packs, dozens, 18-packs, flats or bulk.   In 2006, Maple Meadow responded to Vermont's demand for cage-free eggs, and renovated the bottom story of their two-story barn to a space where hens could roam free and lay eggs.  Today, there are 65,000 chickens laying eggs in the traditional cages and 6,000 cage free hens.  Last year, Maple Meadow produced “roughly 18 million eggs.” Jackie explains, “8% of our business is cage free.”  The cage free eggs are sold in 9 packs, 15, or 30 pack cases.

   Although these numbers sound huge, Maple Meadow is a relatively small poultry farm compared to New York's poultry farms, which have an average of 2 to 5 million hens.   Jackie explains, “We can't compete financially, but we can compete with quality and service.  Our eggs are fresh.”  Jackie explains that many of the larger poultry farms over-produce eggs, so the eggs are stored in a refrigerator until they are needed.  These eggs aren't fresh.

   At Maple Meadow, Jackie explains, “We produce for our market.” Producing eggs for the market is no small feat.  Jackie explains it takes “a full year to adjust flocks if we lose of gain a major account.”  To cope with the fluctuations of the market, Maple Meadow works with Kay Barn in New York. Kay Barn is a similar size to Maple Meadow and has similar objectives.  If one farm is low on eggs, the other helps out and visa versa.  This is how Maple Meadow is able to continually offer fresh eggs and compete with other large poultry farms.   

   Maple Meadow is in the midst of building a new barn.  The construction of this barn is visible from Route 7.  The new barn will be 200 feet by 60 feet and will be used for storage of cases, cartons, flats and a repair shop for the tractors.   This will help the Devoids save money because they will be able to purchase containers and cartons for the eggs by tractor trailer load, and will get a better price per delivery.  

   When selecting the contractors for the new barn, Jackie explains, “We tr[ied] real hard to do as much business locally.”  For the new building, Meadow Maple hired all local, builders, excavators, and plumbers.  Maple Meadow also gives back to the community by donating eggs to non-profit charities whose fundraising goes back to the organization like fire departments for their fundraising breakfasts.

   So despite the competitive market, Maple Meadow Farm remains family owned.  The farm continues to compete by offering a fresh local product and responding to the demands of Vermont's consumers.   If you are in the area, the storeroom is opened from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  You can purchase eggs, cage free eggs, Monument Farm milk, and maple syrup.  If your not in the area, remember to look for Maple Meadow Farm eggs when you are shopping at your local supermarket.

 


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