Cota Farms is a true free-range farm. That means our animals are raised outdoors on chemical free pastures, no cages, no feedlots. Animals that are treated well are contented, healthy, and can better serve us.
Animal Husbandry is the main focus of Cota Farms. The care of the animals we raise is the most important thing that we do. In the pursuit of cheep food there is the danger of animal abuse. The arguments against this are many even though it goes on everyday for the sake of a 99 cent cheeseburger. If it is important that the food we eat be free of chemicals, it is equally important that the food we eat be free of abuse. After all, you are going to eat that! That abuse often extends to those people that are used to process these animals. We do not rally against these producers but instead choose to offer something better, to those that appreciate it. With this in mind, we are proud to be listed as Animal Welfare Approved.
We are a small, family farm so we are able to give each of our animals the attention they require. Indeed, animal welfare, the humane treatment of animals, does not end on our farm but extends all the way to our customers. Since we can not process our own lambs, we only use facilities that are also Animal Welfare Approved, that employ humane methods for slaughter. On the farm, we use specialized equipment and methods to handle our poultry. I personally inspect each bird before it is ever presented to you.
We do not raise thousands or even many hundreds of lambs or ducks or the like and so have limited quantities available. It is best to place orders well in advance of when you would like to have it; this is especially true for holiday meals. Some specialty items like Christmas goose, or heritage turkey are very limited. We can take orders at the Clintonville Farmer's Market in Columbus, Ohio, which we attend during market season, on this website, or by phone. Since we only offer fresh, preservative free meats, we can not ship. We deliver to the Columbus area or have pick up available at the farm. Some of our meats are served in distinguished Columbus restaurants like The Refectory.
Generally, we raise heritage and even vary rare animals on the farm and avoid commercially produced varieties. Even if you are simply purchasing a chicken from Cota Farms, it will not be something that you could have acquired at a local grocer. We don't expect that you would come to the farmer's market or our farm looking for that. Our eggs, for example, come from hard to find, old world breed chickens and ducks. Indeed, most of our animals have interesting heritages that we are happy to share with you; I doubt you'll need to ask.
