Farmers Don’t Get a Pause

Hens can’t pause their eggs, which means our farmers can’t pause their farming. At Vital Farms, our network of over 500 farmers work year-round — including the holidays — to care for their hens. Luckily, farming is usually a family affair, especially when it comes to collecting eggs in the egg room.  

What’s an Egg Room?

Have you ever wondered how the eggs laid by our pasture-raised girls make their way into your carton? It all starts in that very place we call The Egg Room.

Each of our small farms has one. You can think of it as a farmer’s personal egg factory equipped with machines, controls, and a whole lot of eggs.

Our girls lay their eggs in the early mornings before heading outside to the pastures. Conveyor belts transport those eggs from the barn to the egg room. There, our farmers inspect the eggs and pack them into trays. For some farms, this is a high-tech setup with automation. For others, it’s a more traditional process, with each egg packed carefully by hand. 

Quality Time for the Whole Family 

No matter the system, one thing remains true for most farms: the egg room is usually an activity for the whole family. Parents, children, nieces, nephews, you name it — everyone pitches in, turning a daily routine into something meaningful. 

“Having everyone in your family be a part of the farm, even if it’s just a small part, it brings you closer together – Annie, Farmer at Free Bird Farm.”

From Our Farms to Your Table  

Once collected, the eggs journey to Egg Central Station in Springfield, Missouri, where our crew washes and packs them into the cartons you see on shelves at your local Mother’s Market.