At the Farmers Market: Free-Range Eggs and Chicken

CalabasasPatch.com

19 December 2011

A Temecula-based family farm brings the best of free-range and hormone-free eggs and poultry to the farmers market every Saturday. 

The Calabasas Farmers Market offers an abundance of organic and exotic fruits and veggies, but one vendor helps shoppers cross a particular item off their grocery list: eggs.

Based in Temecula, the family-owned La Bahn Ranch does not just carry eggs and chicken, but free-range, grain-fed, antibiotic-free and hormone-free ones.

“They’re as organic and as nutritious as you can ever get them,” said David Ruelas, a family member who was manning the stall last Saturday.

There were brown eggs and white eggs in large and jumbo sizes, with prices ranging from $3 a dozen to $6 a flat.

Free-range eggs generally have higher nutritional value because the chickens are better fed. In appearance, regular eggs tend to be more watery with a lighter yellow yolk.

Between white and brown eggs, the difference is in the flavor, according to Ruelas. “Brown eggs are usually richer in taste and more flavorful,” he said.

Market-goer Shirley Vincent could not agree more. “I always buy brown eggs and they’re more popular where I live,” said the native of Portugal who was in town briefly, visiting family in the San Fernando Valley area.

“My family was raving about this farmers market so I just had to stop by,” she said. “Imagine my pleasant surprise to find brown eggs, among other kinds of good stuff.”

The shelf life of eggs is six to eight weeks usually, said Ruelas, whose cousin Luis Silva, is the primary owner of the farm. “They are best eaten within a week for optimum flavor and quality,” he said.

La Bahn Ranch also sells free-range whole chicken and chicken parts like thighs, wings and legs from $3 a pound and up.

“Around Thanksgiving, we’ll even have a limited number of whole turkey,” said Ruelas.

Last Saturday, there was a limited number of avocadoes and grapefruits too. “We bring whatever’s in season but the quantity is not consistent and reliable,” said Ruelas.

“It’s unpredictable and sometimes dependent on the weather,” said Ruelas, describing buying trends and peak seasons at the Calabasas Farmers Market. “Sometimes, we’ll run out of eggs or chicken or both.”

There are regular customers who look for and buy the same things every week, according to Ruelas. “There are also some who will just try brown eggs one time, out of curiosity, and go back to buying white eggs” he said.

“We get all sorts of customers here,” he said, adding that that’s part of the farmers market attraction in general. “People can come in, sample and buy small quantities of food they’ve never tried before.”

La Bahn Ranch also provides eggs and poultry to select restaurants on a weekly basis. They can also be found at the Westlake Farmers Market and nine other L.A.-area farmers markets during the week.

The Calabasas Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday at 23504 Calabasas Road, across the street from the Sagebrush Cantina.