Store dumps Grimaud Farms' Duck Meat

[Guest guest]

>

> For Immediate Release: For more

information:

> May 22, 2002 lauren Ornelas (530)

> 759-8482

>

>

> Viva!'s Duck Campaign Still Flying High

> Another store dumps Grimaud Farms duck meat

>

>

> Davis, CA.Viva! has received correspondence from Huckleberry's Fresh

Market

> in Spokane, Washington stating:

>

> " We are no longer purchasing or selling Grimaud Farms' ducks. This is due

to

> the information we received from Viva! "

>

> Huckleberry's decision to stop buying duck meat follows in the wake of

> Viva!'s investigation of Grimaud and subsequent, national campaign. Kicked

> off in September of 2000, it has been endorsed by celebrities such as Paul

> McCartney and actress Hayley Mills.

>

> " We are excited that Huckleberry's has decided no longer to carry duck

meat

> from Grimaud Farms, " said lauren Ornelas, Viva!'s U.S. Campaigns Director.

> " It is good to know that when presented with the facts, Huckleberry's will

> make the right choices. "

>

> Since the inception of its duck farming campaign, Viva! has successfully

> negotiated with several retailers, including Earth Fare, to end their

> dealings with inhumane, duck factory farming businesses. In 2001, Whole

> Foods agreed to end selling duck meat from producer Maple Leaf Farms

> (another farm investigated by Viva!). Later that year, Trader Joe's

> suspended its purchase of duck meat, pending a third party certification

> that the farms are " humane. "

>

> Viva! has photographs and video of the conditions in which Muscovy ducks,

> raised by Grimaud Farms (located in Stockton), are forced to live: filthy,

> crowded warehouses without even enough water for the ducks to immerse

their

> heads. Eye problems commonly develop under such conditions. Without more

> water, these naturally aquatic birds find it difficult to keep warm and

> clean. Grimaud Farms practices de-billing (in which a portion of the

birds'

> beaks are seared off, without anesthesia) as a means to prevent the ducks

> from pulling out each others' feathers; an unnatural, neurotic behavior

> caused by the crowded, " factory farm " conditions.

>

> About Viva: We are an international organization with national

headquarters

> in Davis, CA. Undercover video and photos taken in duck units on U.S.

> factory farms, as well as Viva!USA's report on the status of ducks held in

> these farms, are available through Viva!USA's website at www.vivausa.org

or

> by contacting Viva! at 530/759-8482.

>

>

> -end-

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