Farm-Fresh Egg Facts

Eggshell color comes down to the breed of the hen, not the quality of the egg. Hens with white earlobes typically lay white eggs, while hens with red earlobes tend to lay brown eggs, and some breeds produce blue or green shells. Just like hair or eye color in people, it’s written into a hen’s genetics—nature’s way of adding a little variety to the egg basket, with no difference in taste or nutrition.

Deep orange or golden yolks come from hens that eat more carotenoid pigments found in grasses, flowers, and insects. These pigments include antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin, and hens with more varied diets may also produce eggs with slightly higher levels of vitamins A and E. Darker yolks are also often found in fresher, locally produced eggs, which many people associate with better texture and flavor - though color alone doesn’t determine egg quality.

Eggs are one of nature’s most complete foods. Each egg provides high-quality protein with all nine essential amino acids, helping support energy, muscle health, and satiety. Eggs also contain important vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, D, E, and B12, as well as choline, a key nutrient for brain function and metabolism. Many of an egg’s nutrients are found in the yolk, including antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin, which support eye health.

When eggs are labeled Large, it refers to the average weight of the eggs in the carton, not that every single egg is exactly the same size. Egg sizes are measured by weight per dozen, so some eggs may be a little bigger or smaller and still meet the standard. This system works well because different hen breeds naturally lay different-sized eggs.