Published 7/7/2014

ATLANTA, NEW YORK AND CHARLESTON (JULY 5, 2014) – Following the success of last year’s event, this year’s Pastured Poultry Week on Monday, July 7 - Sunday, July 13 is expanding to include over 15 chefs from Charleston along with over 25 New York along with over 50 Georgia-based chefs. Organized by Compassion in World Farming, a global organization working to end factory farming, and Georgians for Pastured Poultry (GPP), the event aims to help promote and celebrate humane and sustainable pasture-raised poultry.

“This week this about shining a spotlight on better way ,” says Leah Garcés, USA Director of Compassion in World Farming and lead founding member of GPP.

During the week, nearly 100 restaurant locations in Georgia, New York and Charleston are serving pastured poultry on their menus to highlight the multiple benefits of pastured poultry, such as, the high welfare of the chickens and the positive impact on both human health and the environment, not to mention its superior taste. Participating restaurants in New York include ABC Kitchen and the Lion and Atlanta-area restaurants include Miller Union and Bantam & Biddy. Charleston restaurants include Husk, FIG, McCrady’s, Black Bean Co. and High Cotton amongst others.  The event is also supported by Whole Foods Market, where pastured raised chicken will be available in the New York City, Atlanta and Charleston stores.

Prominent supporters that have helped organize the event include Atlanta chef Shaun Doty of Bantam + Biddy and Chick-a-Biddy and leading New York chefs Jean-Georges Vongerichten of ABC Kitchen, and in Charleston Mike Lata of Fig and Sean Brock of Husk. 

“We want to inspire consumers and chefs to re-think the chicken,” adds Garcés. “This is not your average supermarket bird; these are chickens raised on pasture with the sun above their heads and the ground beneath their feet. They are active, healthy and robust. Our participating chefs are helping us demonstrate that pastured poultry is better – for animals, for us and for the environment.”

Doty, who has helped pioneer pastured poultry efforts, has also been leading the way in supporting the cause through his restaurants.

“We want to help make sure pasture-raised chicken is the next big food trend, not only because of the superior taste, but because of the humane and sustainable focus,” says Doty. “Pastured Poultry Week is one way I can remain highly involved in informing consumers, businesses and government about the true costs of factory farming of meat chickens and the need to support more alternatives.” 

About Compassion in World Farming

Compassion in World Farming was founded over 40 years ago in 1967 by a British farmer who became horrified by the development of modern, intensive factory farming. Today we campaign peacefully to end all cruel factory farming practices globally. We believe that the biggest cause of animal cruelty on the planet deserves a focused, specialized approach - so we only work on farm animal welfare. 

About Georgians for Pastured Poultry (GPP)

Georgians for Pastured Poultry (GPP) is a Georgia-based alliance made up of a multi-stakeholder group including Chef Shaun Doty of Bantam + Biddy and Chick-a-biddy, Compassion in World Farming, Sierra Club, Georgia Organics, GreenLaw, Darby Farms, Grassroots Farms, Heritage Farm, White Oak Pastures and others. GPP’s goal is to make Georgia the leader in the production and consumption of pastured poultry.