Sunday, November 25, 2012

Sunrise Acres Egg Farms - Looking Back

Sunrise Acres is an Egg Farm located in Hudsonville, Michigan. Sunrise Acres was started by Marvin and June Patmos with 100 chickens in 1949. Sunrise Acres was started as a family business and has remained a family business.

Here are a few photos we found that help to tell the story of the family behind Sunrise Acres.

Marvin and June Patmos

Ray Boonstra, our first farm manager, vacinnating hens in one of our early barns.

The original Patmos farm.

  
Marvin and June Patmos and their children; John, Dick, Barb, Linda, and Bill.
 

Sunrise Acres is SQF 2000 Certified




In 2011, Sunrise Acres Egg Farms became SQF 2000 certified for all three of our shell egg processing plants. SQF is an acronym for Safe Quality Foods and is recognized by retailers and foodservice providers around the world who require a rigorous, credible food safety management system.

Today’s consumers are more educated about the food they’re providing their families and requiring more information about the safety of the food they purchase. One link in the food chain does not get rattled without it affecting the next link. Customers expect more from their retailers and food service providers, who in turn expect more of their suppliers.
Sunrise Acres Egg Farms has always been committed to providing safe, quality foods to consumers. We believe in the quality of our products.

Please see the Sunrise Acres SQF management commitment statement below.

The Sunrise Acres Quality Mission is to understand the requirements of our customers and strive to consistently meet or exceed those expectations in order to produce safe, quality food in accordance with regulatory requirements. We instill confidence in our customers and consumers through safe and efficient processing and packaging of food. With core values of integrity and self-determination, we will be better together and build stronger relationships by keeping our promises.

Senior Management is committed to providing adequate resources for the ongoing development, implementation, maintenance and improvement of the food safety and quality program. Multiple members of the quality team are certified HACCP Managers and SQF Practitioners. These key personnel are responsible and have the authority to organize the tasks and communication required to ensure the effectiveness of the food safety and quality program. This includes but is not limited to training personnel, developing and implementing programs, and overseeing corrective and preventative action affecting product legality and safety.

Monday, August 13, 2012

Sunrise Acres Egg Farm - Third and Fourth Generation Michigan Farmers


Third and Fourth Generation Michigan Farmers
Left to Right: Jeremy DeYoung, Joe Patmos, Jeff Armstrong, Dick Patmos, Bill Patmos, and Doug Patmos


Our new website home page photo was just recently taken to show the third generation that is getting involved more and more at Sunrise Acres. Marvin and June founded the egg farm in 1949 and Marvin's father Cornelius Patmos was a farmer before him in and around Hudsonville, MI. That makes us proud third and fourth generation Michigan farmers.

Farming runs deep in the family at Sunrise Acres Egg Farms.

Sunrise Acres is an Egg Farm located in Hudsonville Michigan. Sunrise Acres was started by Marvin and June Patmos with 100 chickens in 1949. His two sons, Dick and Bill Patmos took over day to day operations in the 1980's. Today the third generation, Bill's sons and Dick's sons-in-law, are learning the family farm business.



Sunday, June 10, 2012

Sunrise appears in an article in June 2012 Michigan Farmer.
Be sure to read "Regulation Rift" by Jennifer Vincent.


One of our new barns that would meet proposed legislation regulations (H.R. 3798)
















Below is a small piece of the article; "Regulation Rift: Proposed Regulation Ruffles Some Feathers" by Jennifer Vincent.

For Dick and Bill Patmos, brothers who own a 2 million-hen layer operation, called Sunrise Acres, in Hudsonville, moving toward a uniform standard would ensure their ability to compete with growers in other states. “We realize we’re going to have to change to meet market demand; we just want the entire industry from state to state to have the same standards,” Dick says. “It creates a level playing field, and while we’re not thrilled with having to work with HSUS on this, it’s the first time they have negotiated with integrity in regards to what is best for the future.” On Capitol Hill, H.R. 3798 has been introduced to create the national egg production standards. Lobbyists within animal agriculture are on both sides of the aisle.

Key Points
·         Egg industry, HSUS (Humane Society) agree to a national production standard.
·         Legislation is introduced but has not yet passed.
·         Producers of hogs and other animals opposed.
·         H.R. 3798 would create 124-square-inch housing standard per laying hen.
·         HSUS shifts from state ballots to federal regulations to dictate standards.
·         Not all egg producers are on board with idea, although the vast majority are.




Monday, May 28, 2012

Sign the Petition - Support the Egg Bill

www.eggbill.com

A new bill introduced in Congress this year will amend the Egg Products Inspection Act. This legislation is good for consumers, good for egg farmers, good for grocery and foodservice companies, and good for hens!
The bill will require egg farmers to essentially double the space allotted for 270 million hens in the U.S. and make other important animal welfare improvements during a tiered phase-in period that allows farmers time to make the investments in better housing, with the assurance that all will face the same requirements by the end of the phase-in period. It would provide a uniform, national standard for all egg farmers rather than a patchwork of cumbersome and complicated laws in every state. The federal legislation protects interstate egg commerce and provides the nation's egg farmers with a stable, clear future while ensuring consumers with an ample supply of economical eggs and a variety of choices.
The legislation is supported by United Egg Producers (which represents egg farmers producing 88% of the nation's eggs), the Humane Society of the United States, National Consumers League, Consumer Federation of America, American Veterinary Medical Association, American Association of Avian Pathologists,  American Humane Association, and the overwhelming majority of American voters.

Sunday, May 27, 2012



Sunrise Acres Egg Farms received the Spartan Award for Excellence in 2012. This is the fourth year in a row. In this photo from left, Gary, our plant production manager, Joe Patmos, and Gordie, our sales and transportation manager.

Friday, May 25, 2012

May 2012 - Sunrise Acres Egg Farm received the Spartan “Service Excellence Award” for 2012. 
We are the only Spartan Foods supplier to have won it 4 years in a row. Thanks to all our employees for their efforts to help achieve such an honor.