Large-scale, cage-free egg production facility underway in south valley

A new egg production and processing project is still somewhat under wraps, but construction is already well underway in California’s Kern County. The facility is located near Wasco, about halfway between Interstate 5 and Highway 99.  “I think I speak for our economic development people to say we’re very excited about an industry that wants to come to Kern County,” said Kern County Planning Director Lorelei Oviatt. A Valley Air District public notice states Central Valley Eggs, LLC is proposing to build a 20,000 square foot processing plant, three 77,000 square-foot pullet houses, and seven 61,000 square-foot layer houses. The facility would house more than 3 million hens without cages. Oviatt says the California egg industry changed in 2008 when voters passed Proposition 2, making it illegal to confine farm animals like hens to cramped spaces.  Read More