United Egg Producers Certified

Kreher’s Fresh Farm Eggs, New York

Hi, my name is Scott Kreher and I am a third generation egg producer from upstate New York. The photo to the left is of my brother Brett Kreher and his wife Julia and their three kids.

My grandparents started the farm in 1924 and in 1950, their sons Henry and Don purchased the farm. Both Henry and Don retired in 1992 and today, seven family members of the third generation own the farm as a partnership.

In the mid-1990s, we decided that we needed to do something to make Kreher's more environmentally friendly. In 1995, we initiated our on-site composting system. We initially composted in one building, but added a second in 2000.

The waste from our hens is collected and transported to the two composting buildings using a conveyor belt system, with the exception of manure from the pullet houses and one of the laying houses, which is transported by truck. The compost is kept in long windrows and turned every three days, while being moved slowly lengthwise down the building.

Some of the compost is sold to local organic farmers as organic fertilizer with high nitrogen value. Along with our laying facilities, we also have 3,000 acres of our own organic crops, so much of the compost goes right back into our land. Finally, about 2,500 tons of the compost is run through our pellet mill to create a high-quality fertilizer that we sell through various outlets.

Since implementing the composting system, we have noticed many benefits. Removing the waste more quickly from the henhouses has greatly improved the air quality inside and created a better environment for our hens. Another advantage of the composting system is the opportunity to export nutrients offsite.

Environmentally responsible farming is incredibly important to all of us at Kreher's. We want to supply a top of the line product while preserving the land that my grandparents began working over 80 years ago so that many more generations of our family can carry on our tradition.