Chosen Farms is housed on thirty acres of lush, bucolic farmland in scenic Pemberton, NJ. Surrounded by green and growing things we raise, breed, hatch and care for our Certified Standardbred flocks. These heritage breed birds live their best lives here, preserving historic 100+ year old bloodlines that provide flavor and quality unlike any other.
The farming and breeding techniques we use have been passed down from generation to generation of farmers. All of Chosen Farm’s breeding lines and farming knowledge come from our mentor, Frank R. Reese Jr. A 4th generation poultry farmer and famed master breeder, Frank is known as the Godfather of the American heritage poultry movement.
We collect the eggs and incubate each one in our very own hatchery. Once hatched, the day-old chicks are brought to one of several farms we employ in Pennsylvania. Here, our Amish partners raise the birds on plentiful pastures until they are fully grown and ready for processing.
Our high standards ensure a healthy and humane life for our animals, developing the best flavor and the highest quality of meat.
With our outstanding genetics and traditional, tried and true methods, we are honored to bring America’s Finest Kosher Poultry to your table.
Our spacious barns and plentiful pastures house standardbred flocks of America’s most historically important meat producing breeds. Each variety we keep is bred according to the American Poultry Association’s Standards of Perfection. Following these standards ensures that our flocks are authentic, slow growing, healthy, and of the highest quality.
The Delaware was developed in the 1940s in the historic poultry capital of America. A result of a Barred Rock rooster mating a New Hampshire hen, these beautiful and elegant birds became popular for their top quality meat and clean white feathers.
King of the broilers, the Barred Rock reigned supreme as America’s most popular meat chicken for generations. Named for its striped/barred feathering, its quality, hardiness and natural beauty helped it keep this title for over 50 years.
Developed in the state of which it is named, the New Hampshire overtook the Barred Rock as America’s most popular broiler in the 1930s. Known for its gorgeous red coloring and robust size, it is still the most productive heritage breed in existence.
The turkey is America’s most iconic bird, with a history dating back to the times of Columbus. Although today’s domestic turkeys exist in a variety of colors, they’re all one breed descended from the original Bronze, which is pictured above.
The biggest contributors to flavor are good genetics and slow growth. Top line genetics ensure our birds grow at a natural rate allowing them to develop their flavor over time.
We here at Chosen Farms never cut corners when it comes to quality. Our flavor is unmatched by the modern industrial hybrids (also known as Cornish Cross) who were bred for unnaturally fast growth, not quality or flavor. The modern birds reach market size between 5-6 weeks of age.
Our birds have been bred for balance, health, vigor and amazing flavor. They grow at one third of the rate as their modern counterparts, maturing around 16-18 weeks old and develop their incredible flavor over time.
This is why our Standardbred heritage chickens and turkeys have been served at Michelin Star Restaurants over the years such as Chez Panisse, Gramercy Tavern and Le Coq Rico. Imagine trying butter for the first time after eating margarine your whole life, the difference is astounding!
Chosen Bird’s natural genetics allows for a healthier bird that sports more nutritionally balanced meat. This has been proven out by studies which have compared the nutritional qualities of heritage birds, raised side by side with industrial hybrid stock.
In a 2011 study by Alexandra R. Christansen of Kansas State University our heritage birds were found to have, more protein, less fat, more omega 3s, and a better omega 6-3 ratio then hybrids raised under the exact same condition.
Heritage birds were bred by humans over millennia to have a hearty immune system, great fertility, and balance in all things. These traits allow them to lead a natural lifestyle, well suited to the rigors of pasture-based, outdoor production systems.
Modern industrial hybrids were developed to live short lives in highly controlled indoor environments. Their genetic makeup pushes their bodies to the very limit, making them unsuited to an outdoor lifestyle and unable to perform many natural behaviors such as: roosting, running, flying, mating and much more.
The #1 myth surrounding poultry is the use of growth hormones. We are here to dispel that myth as use of hormones in poultry production has been illegal since the 50’s. The truth behind the modern fast growing birds is a much more shocking and well kept secret.
In the late 1950’s a genetic mutation causing obesity and dwarfism was discovered in a flock of Leghorns. In the 1960s Perdue University worked with Tyson foods, using these “Obese Strain” chickens to create a fast growing bird that would reshape the American poultry system.
Today nearly all of the 9+ billion chickens and turkeys raised in the US each year are engineered from the Obese Strain lines. While these changes have made poultry cheaper and faster growing, it has done so at the cost of its health and flavor.
At Chosen Farms we’re proud to be the only Kosher producer in the world exclusively breeding and raising heritage lines. That’s the Chosen difference.
Yadidya (Jed) Greenberg is a Standardbred poultry farmer, educator, and trained shochet. Yadidya developed a love for farming and animals while growing up on an Israeli kibbutz as a child. After meeting Frank Reese in 2014, Yadidya became inspired to reintroduce heritage breed birds to kosher market. In 2022 Yadidya and founded Chosen Farms, a 30 Acre farm in the heart of New Jersey.
Frank Reese is a world renowned Standardbred poultry breeder and farmer based out of Lindsborg, Kansas. He has committed his life to the preservation of biodiversity via protection and stewardship of the oldest continuously bred flocks of Standardbred poultry in the United States. These flocks are kept and maintained on his farm, The Good Shepherd Poultry Ranch, which due to Frank’s efforts has become nationally renowned by farmers and chefs alike. Frank is a pioneer in his field and has been featured in publications ranging from the New York Times to National Geographic and Vogue.
Miriam Greenberg has always felt a pull towards agriculture and fine cuisine. During her adolescence she worked on a private farm in Maryland where she fell in love with farming and animal husbandry. She later studied at The Center for Kosher Culinary Arts in NYC and used her classical training to work as a private chef and caterer. Miriam and Yadidya married in 2022, after connecting over their love of agriculture and gourmet food. She has since wholeheartedly embraced the mission and now applies her culinary and managerial experience to the success of Chosen Farms.
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All of our birds have been Certified Standardbred by the American Poultry Association. This ensures that we are selling only 100% heritage stock with no unhealthy low-quality industrial-hybrid. We are America’s only kosher poultry manufacturer to offer this gaurantee.
Our poultry is produced kosher, under the strict supervision of the world’s largest kosher certifier, the Orthodox Union (OU).
Our chickens and turkeys are raised in comfortable and well-maintained coops with ample access to rich pastures and enriching outdoor spaces. Unlike industrial-hybrids (who struggle with the stresses of the outdoors) our heritage genetics produce vigorous birds making them perfectly suited to the natural outdoor lifestyle.
The biggest contributors to flavor are good genetics and slow growth. Top line genetics ensure our birds grow at a natural rate allowing them to develop their flavor over time.
We here at Chosen Farms never cut corners when it comes to quality. Our flavor is unmatched by the modern industrial hybrids (also known as Cornish Cross) who were bred for unnaturally fast growth, not quality or flavor. The modern birds reach market size between 5-6 weeks of age.
Our birds have been bred for balance, health, vigor and amazing flavor. They grow at one third of the rate as their modern counterparts, maturing around 16-18 weeks old and develop their incredible flavor over time.
This is why our Standardbred heritage chickens and turkeys have been served at Michelin Star Restaurants over the years such as Chez Panisse, Gramercy Tavern and Le Coq Rico. Imagine trying butter for the first time after eating margarine your whole life, the difference is astounding!
We do not administer any hormones*, antibiotics, or in ovo vaccines to our animals. Our birds are fed using an all-natural locally milled feed designed especially for us.
This system ensures we produce high quality, clean food, from genetically healthy animals for our customers.
*It is illegal to administer hormones to poultry in the United States.
