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As you may recall, G.A.P.’s Better Chicken Project established a research-based protocol for evaluating broiler chicken breeds based on behavior, meat quality, production, and consistently superior welfare outcomes. And now you can purchase this chicken at your local Whole Foods Market store.

“G.A.P.’s certification and labeling requirements are built into every product bearing the new Better Chicken label,” said Malissa Lucas, Director of Certification Services at EarthClaims, LLC, the North American certifying agent for G.A.P. “I have visited these birds on farm, and it is impressive to observe their activity and energy levels, particularly the way they fully interact with their living environment.”

G.A.P. worked with multiple stakeholders, including producers, farmers, and advocates to create the label and standards. La Belle Patrimoine, Pitman Farms, and Cooks Venture Poultry Inc., are all G.A.P. Certified partners and the first to grow these remarkable birds.

Mike Charles, of LaBelle Patrimoine, a longtime G.A.P. partner, was one of the first farms to make this commitment: “We are incredibly proud to be a part of this program, which proves that the right combination of breed and animal welfare are what truly make a better chicken. It has always been my mission to raise healthy, active broiler chickens of the highest quality and taste.”

Leading welfare advocates were also a key part of this undertaking. “Most chickens in the U.S. are selectively bred for rapid growth with genetics that predispose them to pain and suffering,” says Nancy Roulston, Senior Director of Corporate Policy and Animal Science at the ASPCA. “G.A.P.’s new Better Chicken Project Certified label builds on its groundbreaking work assessing chicken breeds for objective animal welfare criteria to help consumers identify more humane options in the marketplace. The ASPCA is thrilled to recognize the industry-leading farmers and food brands that adopt this label through our Shop With Your Heart program.”

“The welfare of broiler chickens is one of the most important issues in farm animal protection, globally says Dr. Sara Shields, Director of Farm Animal Welfare Science at Humane Society International.  “G.A.P.’s new, science-based breed eligibility requirements have industry-wide transformative potential. I am grateful to the farmers embracing these meaningful changes and to consumers who are making conscientious purchasing decisions.”

So, the next time you’re at Whole Foods Market, look for G.A.P.’s Better Chicken Project label and #MakeitGAP! To learn more about the labels and what they mean, visit our Better Chicken page. To learn more about the entire multi-year research process for coming up with eligible breeds, visit our Better Chicken Project page.

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#1 – Swedish Meatballs

Who doesn’t love this tried-and-true favorite? Make them ahead and then add the gravy and simmer when it’s party time. Add to a plate and grab a toothpick — you won’t have leftovers of this meaty deliciousness.

#2 – Deviled Eggs with Bacon

This party favorite screams “it’s the holidays!” but who doesn’t love deviled eggs all year?! We love the addition of bacon crumbles to make it extra. These are also great to make ahead so you’re not stressed when it’s “go time”.

#3 – Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms

Sausage, cheese, breadcrumbs, butter… the makings of a perfect bite of food. Stuff it into a mushroom and you get your veggies, too! Another perfect finger food for the party table.

#4 – Cheesy Beef Empanadas

We love these little pockets of beefy cheesiness. You can make these ahead and then pop them in the oven before your guests arrive. Don’t forget the salsa and sour cream for dipping!

#5 – Buffalo Chicken Dip

Ah, buffalo chicken. Make this one for the holiday party, your football-watching party, or your summer picnic. No matter the occasion, this one is sure to please. Use shredded rotisserie chicken if you don’t have time to bake or cook chicken in a crockpot the day before.

#6 – Greek Lamb Sliders

Ground lamb is one of our favorites. Mix and form the patties and make the sauce the day before so all you have to do is grill and assemble before the party. These are delish!

#7 – Jalapeno Popper Pigs in a Blanket

This is a brilliant idea… marrying two of your favorite apps – pigs in a blanket and jalapeno poppers – to make an amazing new app! These might be the talk of the party table.

#8 – Chicken Satay Skewers with Peanut Sauce

Another favorite we couldn’t leave off the list. Thread the skewers ahead of time and make the sauce, so all you have to do is grill these (with the lamb burgers) before guests arrive. We love the addition of lime wedges for an added zip – and it makes the dish look even more delicious.

#9 – Bacon Pastry Twists

Bacon + Pastry = yes, please! This recipe calls for a side of beer cheese for dipping and we think it’s a MUST. Your guests will ask for this recipe.

#10 – Turkey Taco Bites

These little guys are easy and you can make a large amount with just a pound of ground turkey meat and phyllo dough shells. Keep it simple with a cheese topping and salsa/sour cream for dipping or add some diced tomatoes and green onions on top to make it even more festive. Queso for dipping would be ah-mazing, too.

#11 – Cheesy BBQ Pulled Pork Dip

Oh pulled pork – how we love thee. Cook and shred your pork the day before to save time on party day. Pro Tip: save some pulled pork for the next day when you’re craving a delicious sandwich but don’t want to move from the couch.

#12 – Little Smokies

All you need for this easy app is a 14 oz. package of cocktail weenies, 12 strips bacon, and 3/4 cup of brown sugar (packed). Cut bacon strips into thirds and wrap each weenie. Secure with a toothpick and place seam down. Load them into a dish tightly and coat with brown sugar. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes, remove, baste with the mixture from the bottom of the pan and bake for another 15 minutes. Then they’re ready for prime-time.

Best of luck with the party! Thanks for helping us #MakeitGAP when you cook. For more recipe inspiration, check out our Recipes page. If you’re holiday shopping, check out our “Food Gifts That Matter” blog highlighting G.A.P. Animal Welfare Certified partners who offer gift boxes for the season. New to our program and want to learn more about G.A.P. certification and what it means? Check out our website. Happy entertaining!

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Canadian Thanksgiving

We wish all of our Canadian fans celebrating Thanksgiving a beautiful fall day filled with changing leaves, apple picking, pumpkin patch visits, and family time. We’ve hunted down some traditional Thanksgiving Recipes in the section below if you’re ready to host a big gathering with a turkey as the star and lots of accompanying side dishes. But if you’re in more of a non-traditional mood just looking for a nice family meal without turkey, we’ve got you covered as well. Especially if you have young kids, remember that enjoying a meal around a table with family and friends is what matters most – not that you’re a Michelin-Star chef. We hope this recipe round-up helps you strike a nice balance between what you envision for your table with what you have time for. Either way, give thanks on this day and reflect upon that for which you are grateful.

Pork and Chicken Recipe Ideas (mouth-watering photos below):

Pork Loin with Braised Mushrooms & Wine

Whole Roasted Chicken

Sheet Pan Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Vegetables

American Thanksgiving

Don’t forget the Sides!

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Who is Evermore Pet Food?

Founded in 2009, Evermore was one of the very first companies to make a frozen-fresh, human-grade pet food. From day one, animal welfare, quality, transparency, and accountability have stood out as Evermore’s guiding principles. In the spirit of continuous progress, Evermore also adopted the Better Chicken Commitment earlier this year—a policy endorsed by 10 animal welfare organizations in the United States and Canada. Achieving G.A.P. certification helps demonstrate the implementation of this policy.

Why is G.A.P. Certification important to them?

Despite being evocative buzzwords today, the terms “humane” and “humanely raised” have no legal definition. Individual brands and producers can set their own parameters for what this means, operating with no oversight; in other words, a company can use the word “humane” on a label so long as they list what they believe qualifies them as humane. This creates a void between what brands subjectively claim and what consumers need to know in order to make informed decisions. G.A.P. provides a solution by offering a comprehensive framework, developed to allow for continuous improvement in farmed animal welfare. G.A.P.’s species-specific standards reflect the latest research in agricultural science, combined with achievable, practical application on-farm, for the entire life of the animal. G.A.P.’s accredited third-party certifiers audit every single farm every 15 months to ensure compliance with the standards.

“We do this work because we have deep love and respect for animals, including those farmed for food,” said company co-founder Alison Blumberg. “We have exclusively sourced G.A.P. Certified poultry since 2015, and have been so singularly focused on making the best and highest welfare food possible that we haven’t taken the steps to be certified ourselves. Now it’s time for us to officially join G.A.P. and work together to raise awareness and effect change.”

What others are saying about Evermore Pet’s commitment

“We are so pleased that Evermore is taking this step to demonstrate their commitment to animal welfare,” said Diane McDade, Business Development Manager for G.A.P. “We are excited to partner with them to support farms that are committed to animal welfare and give more choices to consumers who care about their pets and animals in general.”

G.A.P. certification is recognized by Shop With Your Heart^®, a program of The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®), a valuable resource for helping consumers find more humane brands and products that align with their values by using tools such as the Shop With Your Heart Grocery List.

“We are impressed by Evermore’s motivation to work with higher welfare farms simply because it is the right and responsible thing to do,” says Nancy Roulston, Senior Director of Corporate Policy at ASPCA. “By achieving G.A.P. certification, Evermore offers pet owners a verifiably more humane option in the marketplace. We are excited to add their chicken and turkey pet food products to the ASPCA’s Shop With Your Heart list of distinguished brands dedicated to improving the lives of farmed animals.”

Learn more about Evermore Pet Food and their fearless founders, Alison and Hanna, by visiting their website. G.A.P. Animal Welfare Certified chicken and turkey products are available for sale now and will ship directly to your door. Thank you, Evermore Pet Food, for prioritizing farm animal welfare and sourcing G.A.P. Certified products! #MakeitGAP

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We’re a big fan of cooking a whole protein (like chicken or ham) and finding lots of ways to add it to lunches and dinners the rest of the week. We’ve also come up with a few casserole ideas, slow-cooker go-to’s, and some new muffin pan favorites. We hope you find lots of recipes to save and make over the next few crazy weeks.

Just don’t forget to look for the G.A.P. Animal Welfare Certified label when you shop and #MakeitGAP! Each purchase rewards producers for raising their animals humanely, brands for sourcing these raw materials, and G.A.P. for developing standards that put the animal first. A big thank you for your support!

Get into gear!

Before we dive into some recipes, it’s time to check your equipment. You probably have a lunchbox for you or your kids, but it’s time to get creative about what’s inside. Have you thought about Bento box containers? A new Thermos? Dishes and portion cups with lids? It’s time. We love cooking casseroles and prepping meals in glass casserole dishes with lids – they make storage a cinch.

Bento Boxes

Who doesn’t love to have their food neatly compartmentalized? We love Bento Box lunchboxes. Here’s a fun full Bento Box lunchbox for teens or adults. And here’s a fun kid version. Already have a lunchbox or lunch bag? Try these fun dishwasher-safe containers to place inside. Need small containers for dips or condiments? Try these inexpensive lidded cups. Make lunchtime more fun with creative ways to pack your Bento.

Meal Prep on Sundays with Whole Proteins

Do you meal prep each week? Grocery shopping and prepping for the week isn’t exactly the most exciting way to spend your Sunday, but it sets you up for a week of ease and efficiency. We love the idea of cooking a large “whole” protein on Sunday and then turning the leftovers into lunches and dinners for the rest of the week. We suggest purchasing a couple of whole chickens, a whole turkey, or a whole ham (G.A.P. Animal Welfare Certified, of course) and popping them in the oven on Sunday after your morning coffee. Don’t have that kind of time? Purchase rotisserie chickens from your grocery store or wholesale club. If you’re up for cooking, here’s a Roasted Chicken recipe and Herb Roasted Turkey recipe.

If you decide to cook a whole chicken or pick up a rotisserie chicken from the store, here are some quick recipe ideas for turning the leftover chicken into quick and delicious lunches for the week!

Easy California Chicken Salad – This is a healthy, easy next-day lunch with leftover chicken. Thinly slice 1/3 head of iceberg lettuce. Top with 1/4 cup grated Monterey jack cheese, 1/4 cup halved red grapes and a handful of slivered almonds (optional) with 1/2 cup shredded cooked chicken. Top with Easy Lemon Vinaigrette (see below) just before eating. A quick lunch to pack – just keep the dressing separated and remember to pack a fork.

Prep Your Casseroles Ahead

Stretching your dollars? You can’t beat the value of a casserole! We’ve got lots of recipe ideas to add some new dishes to your rotation. Just don’t forget to look for the G.A.P. label when you shop!

 

Casserole Heaven – try these favorites from G.A.P.:

Chorizo Mac & Cheese

Cheeseburger Pasta Casserole

Chicken Alfredo Casserole

Chicken Pot Tater Tot Casserole

The slow-cooker is your weeknight friend

We can’t get enough of our slow cookers in the fall and winter. Here are a few of our favorite recipes with a few tips for making them stretch. Bon Appetit!

Top 4 Slow-Cooker Favorites from the G.A.P. team:

#1.Best Beef Chili

Tips: To stretch this recipe, serve your chili over a bed of spaghetti or other pasta and top with cheese. Also, consider doubling your batch and making chili dogs for lunch or another night for dinner. The classic “Frito Pie” is yet another way to put leftover chili to good use — serve it over a plate of Fritos and top with melted cheese or queso (and pickled jalapenos, for a kick).

Break out your Muffin Tins!

Egg Bites

Mini Meatloaf

We hope you have found our tips and recipes helpful as you embark on your back-to-school / end-of-summer adventures. Here’s to a great school year and work year! Thanks for helping us #MakeitGAP when you cook!

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Thanks for talking to us, Marko. Can you tell us a little about your background and how you decided to start Campfire Treats?  

It all started with our family dog – a vizsla named Pippa. My wife, Stevie, and I were looking for healthy treats for her and were unhappy with what we found in the local stores. So, we started making her treats ourselves. Pippa loved them and so did the dogs of our neighbors and friends. This made us think there might be a market gap we could fill.

When we started Campfire Treats, we knew very little about the pet food industry. All we knew was that we wanted to make real, healthy treats and chews pet owners can feel good about giving to their dogs. From day one, we’ve only worked with premium, human-grade ingredients from U.S. farms and fisheries. We’ve never used any additives or preservatives, and we never will. All of our products are 100% natural.

Why was G.A.P. Certification important to you when you were establishing your brand?

We knew very little about the role of factory farming in food production when we started Campfire Treats. Once we understood how most farm animals are raised, it was clear that we also needed to include animal welfare in our sourcing standards. We strongly believe that all animals should be treated with kindness and respect – especially animals raised for meat – for which we bear a special responsibility. From our point of view, it would be hypocritical to make dog treats to sell to animal lovers, while ignoring the welfare of farm animals whose meat we use to make these treats.

Our first step towards implementing ethical sourcing standards was the Better Chicken Commitment, which we joined in November 2021. While we strongly believe in the Better Chicken Commitment as a self-declaration, we wanted to go further and get our products certified by a third party to prove that we are doing more than just talking about animal welfare. This is why we contacted Global Animal Partnership, as they are the leading farm animal welfare food certification organization. We are proud that as of March 2022 all of our chicken and turkey products, and the first of our beef products, are G.A.P. Animal Welfare Certified.

What makes Campfire Treats special? Where can we buy them?

Campfire Treats addresses the premium segment of the U.S. dog treat market. All of our products are exclusively made from premium U.S.-sourced poultry, meat, and wild-caught ocean fish. We don’t use any additives or preservatives. Our products are made in small batches and are typically sold within days after we make them. This means everything is super fresh when it arrives at our customers’ doorsteps. We firmly believe that our products are among the best money can buy.

The lion’s share of our products are sold online at CampfireTreats.com. In addition, we also partner with a limited number of pet supply stores that, like us, are often family-owned and operated.

Anything else you’d like to tell our G.A.P. fans?

It’s been a wild ride so far! We’ve come a long way, but we still see room for improvement. Farm animal welfare will remain a priority for us. Sustainability is something we care a lot about, too. In 2021 we transitioned to 100% plastic-free, biodegradable, and recyclable shipping materials. Additionally, we have started various initiatives to further reduce our ecological footprint. In fact, we just announced that we’ve been certified plastic neutral by rePurpose Global – the world’s leading plastic action platform. You can read more about the announcement here. Thanks to everyone who has supported our family-owned business. We love what we do and are grateful to have great partners and customers to help us grow.

Thank you, Marko, and Campfire Treats for your commitment to farm animal welfare! Marko’s comment about treating ALL animals with respect is at the core of our mission. We couldn’t agree more! We are so grateful for Campfire, our other G.A.P. Certified pet partners, and, especially, you – pet owners – for helping us #MakeitGAP by looking for the G.A.P. Animal Welfare Certified label. Every time you purchase a product with our label, you are voting with your dollars for better animal welfare practices. Looking for more ways to help? Check out our pet parents page or donate to G.A.P. to support our mission.

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Start with Breakfast in Bed

Moms and kids – set your alarm clocks and get those eggs crackin’! Brew the coffee, pour the juice, sizzle the bacon, drop in the toast, put it all together, and let the spoiling begin!

Make a homemade card

Store-bought cards are expensive and require a trip to the store. Grab some printer paper and a Sharpie and tell Dad how you really feel. Homemade cards are the ones that get saved and cherished for many years to come.

Get outdoors for some family fun

Have an outdoorsy Dad? Make today’s workout a family affair. Pick a favorite outdoor park for a hike (and picnic lunch or snack) or take a nice bike ride in the neighborhood. Or maybe a dip in the pool or cornhole game in the backyard is Dad’s favorite? No matter what activity you choose, family time is the best.

Break out the old video games

The old Nintendo and Playstation are probably long-gone, but that doesn’t mean your Dad can’t still play some mean Mario Kart. Break out the oldie-but-goodie classics (or download the game codes online for your current gaming console) and Dad will be ready to game. Kids: you’ve been warned.

Try a beer taste test

Yes, it’s cliche, but most Dads love their beer. Moms – buy a few different ones from the store, blindfold Dad, and see if his palate is Top Chef worthy.

Fire up the GRILL

Of course, you can’t have Father’s Day without the grill! We’ve compiled our favorite grilling recipes Dad is sure to love – check out the pictures, click the links, and print out or screenshot your favorites. Just don’t forget to look for the G.A.P. Animal Welfare Certified label when you shop, and #MakeitGAP!

Jamaican Jerk Chicken Wings

Brown Sugar BBQ Pork Butt

Strip Steak with Chimichurri Sauce

Cuban Sandwich Burgers

Mediterranean Grilled Lamb Chops with Tomato Mint Quinoa

Wind down with Family Movie Night

What better way to end Dad’s special day than with his favorite movie? With so many streaming options available, you’re sure to find one that’s just right.

We hope your Father’s Day is a perfect day filled with fun, food, and family. Thanks for your continued support of Global Animal Partnership and our G.A.P. Animal Welfare Certified partners.

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A tiered approach

Like our standards for meat, eggs, and dairy, G.A.P. has taken a tiered approach, which provides flexibility for any type of farmed aquaculture system. The Step levels are used to indicate how the salmon are managed, what their environment looks like and, ultimately, how they are doing in that environment. G.A.P. Certification requires an animal welfare outcomes approach, in which no matter what type of system is used, the farm must adhere to best practices for handling, monitoring, health, welfare, and more that are set in our Standard. For producers looking to focus even more of their management on the welfare of fish, G.A.P.’s multi-step program provides a way to substantiate this welfare claim, and further differentiate their operations.

For land animal (a.k.a., terrestrial) species, G.A.P. has utilized our 5-Step® Animal Welfare Rating program for the various species-specific standards.  In order to create a meaningful animal welfare program for salmon that fits within this multi-tiered structure of the G.A.P. Program, and one that can be applied practically to the salmon aquaculture industry, three Step Levels were created – Base Certification (Step 1); Enhanced Habitat (Step 3); and Fish-Centered (Step 5+). Each Step builds on the previous Step, so as a farm moves up the Steps, more and more consideration to animal welfare within the system are required.

The 3 Steps

Base Certification

Our Base certification lets you know that the salmon farm was audited to over 175 species-specific standards to be certified, including providing ample space for salmon to swim and weekly welfare monitoring. G.A.P. is also the first and only fish welfare certification currently to require specific environmental enrichments at all Step Levels and life stages. G.A.P. has also created an animal welfare standard for slaughter facilities utilized in the G.A.P. Program.

Enhanced Habitat

One of the highlights of our middle step – Step 3 “Enhanced Habitat” – is more environmental enrichments and increased welfare-friendly management and handling practices. As we mentioned above, while enrichments are required at all Step Levels, Step 3 farms must provide a greater variety of enrichments at various life stages. 

Fish-Centered

On top of a long list of management and welfare-related requirements, our highest tier – Step 5+ “Fish-Centered” – requires that salmon monitoring and health checks are all done without having to remove fish from water, and thus encourages the use of technological innovations to monitor and improve salmon welfare. As mentioned above, many of the standards build upon one another, meaning that in order to achieve a higher Step Level, operations also need to meet the requirements of Steps 1 and 3. Regardless, you can be sure that G.A.P. Certified farmed Atlantic salmon is the best choice at any step level. 

Transparency Matters

We think our tiered standard is one of the unique features that sets us apart. It provides transparency for consumers and it embodies our mission of continuous improvement. We look forward to working with farmed salmon operations over the coming years to impact the lives of millions of fish around the globe. #MakeitGAP

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G.A.P. doesn’t promise to have all of the answers to climate change and our environment. We can only promise to deliver on our mission of impacting the lives of millions of farm animals raised for food. We believe that animal welfare should always be an important piece in the overall sustainability puzzle; but we are also realistic that real, systemic change must happen with collaboration. That’s why, in the coming years, we will look to form new strategic partnerships with like-minded organizations to propose and implement meaningful solutions to agricultural evolution and animal production.

The food industry is at a crossroads and consumer demands are driving change. Environmental concerns, especially with Millennial and Gen Z consumers, are forcing companies and organizations to step up. Companies and organizations not only have to be authentic about their purpose and brand promise; they also have to prove it. All of this is good news for the future of our food chain and our planet. We, as individuals, must step up too.

What you can do to help

Change takes time and it takes momentum. You might think it’s difficult for you, as an individual, to truly help a global issue, but small actions add up. Here are a few suggestions of things you can do today (and every day) to help make a difference:

1. Do your research. Before you purchase a product, do the research. Does the company truly support sustainability? How was the product sourced? Did the company seek out third-party verification or certification of processes and/or ingredients? How is the product packaged? What does the ingredient label look like? It may have a “plant-based” claim but are the ingredients loaded with words you can’t understand? Unfortunately, a lot of plant-based items are heavily processed.
2. Vote & advocate. Are you paying attention to your local elections? Are the people you’re voting for advocating for issues that are important to you like our environment or agriculture? Are there any propositions around preservation or animal welfare that you can support with your vote? All of these actions matter. Emailing your Congresspeople and advocating for upcoming farm reform and animal welfare reform make a difference – and it only takes a few minutes of your time.
3. Use your dollars. Make a donation to a cause you believe in. Purchase products that are making a difference or supporting your values. Look for products that are third-party certified like G.A.P. Animal Welfare Certified products. Purchasing these products means you are voting with your dollars for better animal welfare practices. The more demand you generate, the more farmers will convert their farms to G.A.P. animal welfare standards, and the more impact we can have on farm animals. It also signals to retailers that you care about these issues – which results in more sustainable products for you to choose from when you shop.

Animal welfare is intrinsically intertwined with sustainability. G.A.P. will continue to work hard to make sure farm animals are a part of the conversation and also a part of the solution. Thank you for your ongoing support of our program. Happy Earth Day. If you’d like to make a donation to support our organization, please click here.

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