DAVIS, Calif. – Superior Farms recently launched its Farmer’s Mark brand of antibiotic-free lamb. Raley’s supermarkets in Northern California was the first retailer to carry the product, the company said.
“We’re excited to offer Farmer’s Mark to our consumers who want to know more about how their food is produced and are looking for meat products that were raised without the use of antibiotics to serve to their families,” said Anders Hemphill, vice president of marketing and brand strategy.
Superior Farms began its free-from program in 2006 with the Pure Lamb program. Rising consumer demand for meat sourced from animals produced without antibiotics generated incremental growth in the program. The Farmer’s Mark brand allows for Superior Farms’ product to be differentiated in the meat case.
Lambs must not have received any antibiotics or ionophores in order to qualify for the program. Superior Farms sources lamb from more than 1,000 family operated farms and ranches in the United States. The company said it is working with its producers to meet consumer demand for antibiotic-free lamb. However, the company remains committed to the responsible use of antibiotics.
“If lambs fall sick, producers do a great job using their proactive animal health program to properly care for the animal and to bring them back to health,” said Lesa Eidman, Superior Farms director of producer resources and sustainability. “If a lamb needs antibiotic treatment we encourage producers to treat them back to health, and to identify that lamb in order for it to be traced so that it doesn’t qualify for this program, and the withdrawal period is met.”
