PASSADUMKEAG — River Basin Farms is pleased to announce that we have been awarded a Fund-A-Farmer Animal Welfare Improvement Grant from Food Animal Concerns Trust to purchase portable electric fencing and an energizer to rotationally graze chickens and to help keep larger land predators from accessing them. We deliver high quality eggs from our Animal Welfare Approved laying hens to local stores in the Orono area and on our in season farm stand in Passadumkeag. We are quickly expanding our flock to keep up with demand from interested eateries along with other retail locations and farmers markets. You will continue to see the unique easter egg colors, along with the browns and whites in each carton offered in more locations as we grow. We hope to expand to over 500 laying chickens in 2026.
Food Animal Concerns Trust is a non-profit organization that advances the vision that all food-producing animals are raised in a humane and healthy manner. Their Fund-A-Farmer Grant program recognizes farmers who are dedicated to the humane treatment of farm animals and funds projects to increase animal welfare and climate-smart practices.
River Basin Farms is a family-run, woman owned business with Katie Rossignol as the operator. Along with offering Animal Welfare Approved eggs, we have bees that produce honey and help pollinate around 100 fruit trees, offer maple syrup, grow garlic, and while in season, have several types of raspberries and black raspberries to offer retail. RBF practices have been to trust what we produce to eat and offer the same level of what has been provided to our family as to our customers. RBF is proudly on the ASPCA’s ‘Shop With Your Heart’ local farmer’s directory, which highlights verification of small humane farms. The commitment to quality and those humane practices shines through to deliver exceptional tasting foods with customer demands that have exponentially increased since the farm journey started. The farm and our home also has a near net zero carbon footprint with installed solar panels, electric/hybrid hot water heater and many electric tools that we use around the farm, though it’s not absolute (we have vehicles and use wood for boiling sap down to syrup). RBF is truly your out of the village farming experience!
RBF is certified Animal Welfare Approved by A Greener World, who performs annual on farm audits to ensure certain humane compliance is met with rigorous standards. Currently, RBF is also working on getting the farm Certified Regenerative through Climate Smart Commodities Project.
We maintain a strong,collaborative partnership with both the ASPCA and FACT. As part of this partnership, it is important to highlight how higher welfare farmers, ASPCA, and FACT are ensuring a steady and reasonably priced supply of eggs. In response to bird flu outbreaks, these farmers are advocating for more humane depopulation methods, reinforcing biosecurity measures, and calling for government policies that prioritize animal welfare. The efforts of higher welfare farmers underscore the importance of supporting resilience in our egg supply chains and fostering more humane systems. If you’re interested in more, follow FACT’s social media to stay up to date.
Food Animal Concerns Trust or FACT advances our vision that all food-producing animals are raised in a humane and healthy manner. We accomplish this by supporting humane farmers, promoting policies that make foods from animals safe and healthy to eat and helping consumers make informed food choices.
