Eggs as good as they’re cracked up to be!
We’ll lay it out here, not all eggs are good eggs. We are loving these egg brands that come from farms that regenerate soil, support biodiversity, and produce nutrient-dense food for human health.
Eggs as good as they’re cracked up to be!
We’ll lay it out here, not all eggs are good eggs. We are loving these egg brands that come from farms that regenerate soil, support biodiversity, and produce nutrient-dense food for human health.
We created this guide to help you discover brands supporting more ethical and regenerative farming practices, navigate confusing carton labels, and choose eggs that are better for your family, hens, and the planet.
The Good Egg Checklist
When it comes to egg quality, what’s inside the shell matters just as much as the label on the carton.
LOOK FOR:
High, rounded yolks
When cracked open, a fresh egg should have a rounded, unblemished yolk that sits tall and holds its shape.
Thick, firm egg whites
Fresh eggs have thicker albumen (whites) that stay compact rather than spreading out.
Clean, intact shells
Choose eggs with clean, uncracked shells.
Higher welfare production methods
Organic, pasture-raised, and free-range options provide hens with more opportunities to roam, peck, and forage, resulting in more nutrient-dense—and delicious—eggs.
USDA Grade AA or A
These grades indicate higher standards for shell quality, yolk appearance, and egg white firmness.
Freshness
Always check the sell-by or pack date. When in doubt, trust your nose! Fresh eggs should smell neutral, not sulfurous or off. You can also try the float test: fresh eggs sink and lie flat; older ones stand up or float.
A deep orange yolk may look impressive, but color doesn’t tell the whole story.
Yolk color comes primarily from what a hen eats, especially carotenoids from foods like grasses, insects, corn, or marigolds. While darker yolks can indicate a more varied diet, they can also be achieved through feed ingredients and supplements.
For a better picture of quality, consider the production method, freshness, and overall condition of the egg.
Regenerative Organic Certified® Pasture-Raised
From the beginning, Natural Grocers has only sold cage-free eggs. They developed the Natural Grocers Egg Quality Ranking System to help you understand what’s on the label and how the eggs you’re buying were produced.
Pasture-Raised Regenerative
Sunnyside Egg Co. is practicing eggs-actly the kind of farming we love to see! Their pasture-raised hens live in rotating mobile coops so they can roam and peck the way nature intended, supporting healthier soil and more ethical farming along the way.
Watch Patrick Samuels’s story here.
Large Pasture-Raised Organic
Alexandre Family Farm’s commitment to healthy hens is no yolk! From a small Future Farmers of America project to a thriving organic operation, their mobile-cooped, pastured eggs are nest-laid and hand-gathered daily.
Blake Alexandre from Alexandre Family Farm is a member of Kiss the Ground’s Farmer Relations Board.
REGENERATIVE ORGANIC PASTURE-RAISED BROWN
New Barn Organics, the first nationally-distributed Regenerative Organic Certified egg brand in the U.S., wants to “farm like the world depends on it.” Their dedication to animal welfare and quality ingredients means every carton contributes to a healthier planet.
We created a Food Labels Guide that uses a simple rating scale to help you navigate labels on products in the grocery store and better understand the many claims often found on egg cartons.
Pasture-Raised
Free-Range
Cage-Free
Organic Restorative
Each of Vital Farms’ hens enjoys year-round outdoor access to rotating pasture, giving them space to be themselves while supporting a kinder approach to farming.
Pasture-Raised Organic
Chino Valley Ranchers maintains American Humane certification, and their poultry feed is milled onsite at Southern California’s only dedicated organic poultry feed mill, for hens that are happy, healthy, and stress-free.
Organic Pasture-Raised
Handsome Brook Farms’ network connects 10 states and 75+ small family farms, helping to bring regenerative-minded practices to more grocery shelves and creating a brighter future for everyone.
Pasture-raised eggs have been shown to contain more vitamin A, E, and omega-3 fatty acids than commercial-raised eggs. All of these nutrients are found in the yolks so eat the entire egg—not just the whites!
Truly Outdoors Organic
Happy Hens is living up to its name! Their hens live outdoors 365 days a year, lay their eggs in hay nests, and graze rotationally on insects, native grasses, field peas, sesame, alfalfa, wheat, and barley.
Organic Free-Range
Happy Egg Co.’s hens enjoy 10x more outdoor space than traditional free-range models, to support happier birds and higher-quality eggs.
The color of an eggshell is determined by the breed of the hen, so white, brown, blue, green, and even speckled eggs can all offer similar nutrition.
Organic Pasture-Raised
Pete & Gerry’s Organic, Certified Humane, pasture-raised eggs come from hens who are free to roam, scratch, and forage naturally.
Organic Pasture-Raised
Organic Valley is showing that large-scale farming can still keep soil, animals, and farmers in mind. Their network of organic family farms prioritizes outdoor access and farming practices designed to support long-term farm health.
Regenerative Pasture-Raised
Regenerative, Outdoor Living, and Animal Welfare-certified, Eggcited Farm is dedicated to animal welfare, soil health, quality food, and supporting East Texas’ farmers and communities.
While the following widely available brands are not officially regenerative, they are better quality than most store-bought, conventional eggs.
Safeway
O Organics Pasture-Raised Large Brown Eggs
Sprouts
Sprouts Organic Pasture Raised Large Brown Grade A Eggs
Trader Joes
Trader Joe’s Organic Pasture Raised Eggs
- Support your local farmer when possible, or better yet, raise your own chickens!
- Look for a Regenerative Certification to ensure the highest soil health standards are met!
- Look for animal welfare certifications, such as Certified Humane, to ensure that animal care standards are met.
- Certified organic eggs ensure chickens are fed grains grown without pesticides or GMOs.
These guides are created with the support of our audience and brand partners.
Want more guides? We are audience-supported.
For every $100 donated to Kiss the Ground, we inspire and catalyze the transition of 10 acres into regenerative agriculture, working directly with farmers and partners. Read our full impact here.