Grading duck eggs for sale at a farmers market?

[ollievee]

Hello! I am new to the forum and beyond new to ducks -- haven't ordered my ducklings yet, let alone gathered any eggs but am trying to do some homework so I can hit the ground running. I am required in my state to grade eggs that I sell at farmers markets, but my state website is not helpful at all as to what that means exactly. Can anyone advise me or point me to a website that explains how to grade duck eggs? I have been looking but haven't come up with anything yet.

Thanks!!

 

[bargain]

You will need to be licensed in your state for a Candling License. Your State Department of Agriculture can help you with when the tests are and they can mail you a training manual as well. This is for if you sell at a farmer's market. Different requirements if you sell at home or to a restaurant.

Great luck ....Love our duck eggs!!

 

[ollievee]

Thanks for the info. I only wish my state was as helpful....still looking for guidance. But your information is very helpful. Thanks!

 

[rainplace]

I'm in Washington state so it's possible things are different than where you are from.

Before we could sell eggs at the farmer's market we had to set up an inspection of our egg washing facilities. I was also confused about grading as I saw this listed as one of the requirements in my state's literature. Grading is a USDA thing, but turned out was not part of our WSDA license. I did not need to be USDA inspected to sell at farmer's markets. It is all very confusing when reading. What simplified the entire thing for me was actually talking to the person who would end up licensing me. I suggest you do the same. Find out who the state has set up for your county and email that person. It will probably be someone from food safety.

Here is the USDA's manual for egg grading. I read the entire thing before realizing I didn't have to grade eggs.... ugh
http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELDEV3004502

The reason we didn't need to meet USDA requirements is because we had less than 3000 hens.

btw, I looked over the Nebraska State Department of Agriculture website and it is decidedly unhelpful. Maybe you can find help navigating what you need to do by contacting someone from University of Nebraska extension.

 

[ollievee]

Thanks again. I may also go to one of the biggest farmers markest in the area and see if anyone is selling eggs and talk to them, too.

 

[ollievee]

Nice to know it wasn't just me thinking the Nebraska site was not helpful.

 

[rainplace]

Nice to know it wasn't just me thinking the Nebraska site was not helpful.

It surprised the heck out of me because Washington State Department of Agriculture's website is packed full of all the information one could want. There is a downside though; sometimes there is conflicting information. I've written them several times to change one of their egg washing worksheets so it doesn't say that the minimum temp one can use for washing eggs is 19 degrees Fahrenheit... lol

I was checking out your state university extension for agricultural resources and found this, "In the state of Nebraska a producer that has 3,000 or fewer hens is not required to have an annual inspection license or pay an inspection fee. More information on egg grading regulations can be found on the Nebraska Department of Agriculture Web site: http://www.agr.state.ne.us/regulate/daf/egg_act.htm." However the link doesn't work.

I also found the email list to the different county offices. It may be worth it to contact your counties extension for help. http://www.extension.unl.edu/officeslist

 

[ollievee]

Thanks very much again. You are most helpful.