By KEVIN WALKER Michigan Correspondent MIDDLEBURG, Va. — In a world where everything seems mass-produced, Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC) wants to bring a more humane touch to the raising of livestock. Founded in 2003 by longtime farm animal advocate Adele Douglass, HFAC would like to be seen as the gold standard of farm animal care. A number of organizations have popped up in recent years seeking to inculcate transparent and open standards in the raising of animals and crops. “Americans have a lot of questions about where their food comes from, how it is raised and if it is good for their health long-term,” said Bob Stallman, a former chair of the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) and past president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. Surveys conducted by USFRA in 2011 revealed that consumers frequently think about food production, yet consumers know little about how food is brought to the dinner table. HFAC said it is trying to bring transparency and verifiable standards to farming, and the raising of livestock in particular. HFAC claims its standards are more rigorous than others trying to accomplish similar goals. Key to the certification process is a thorough inspection of farm operations. Douglass said the many HFAC inspectors are professors. An inspector has to have a Ph.D. or master’s degree and must complete on-the-job training. An inspector must care about both the farmer and the animal, she added. HFAC said its standards are available to the public, and its organizational structure is completely transparent. On its website, HFAC provides a chart comparing itself to other private sector groups that provide similar certifications to its “Certified Humane” label as well as USDA’s Organic program. HFAC claims it is free from conflicts of interest because it doesn’t receive any funding from the sale of Certified Humane products. HFAC receives no contributions from logo users outside of certification fees. HFAC encourages farms to use its Certified Humane label overseas; however, it is also having an impact locally. One business using the Certified Humane label is Tulip Tree Creamery, based in Indianapolis, Ind. Founded in 2014 by Fons Smits and Laura Davenport, Tulip Tree Creamery produces artisan cheeses using milk from a local dairy that raises cows in accordance with Certified Humane standards. That means no-tie stalls, daily access to pasture and exercise areas, fresh feed without hormones or antibiotics and an environment that supports the animals’ ability to engage in natural behaviors. “We want to show our customers that we do not just use any type of milk in our cheeses,” Fons said in an HFAC blog post. “We care about how the animals are treated and how a farm is managed. We believe sourcing Certified Humane products demonstrates that to our customers.” Fons, a native of The Netherlands, emigrated to the United States in 2003 and, armed with an education in dairy science, helped develop several creameries in California and the Midwest. That experience served as inspiration for his own business using Certified Humane milk products. Fons and Davenport focus on cheese-making and developing unique flavors. More information about the creamery is available at www.tuliptreecreamery.com To learn more about HFAC, go to https://certifiedhumane.org |
