Our founder, Corwin Heatwole, purchases his first farm
Corwin was raised farming and raising chickens - his father built his own poultry house when Corwin was only three years old. Having tended poultry for most of his life, and seeing the day to day operations of a farm up close, Corwin was inspired to purchase his own farm when he was just 23-years-old.
CORWIN STARTS HIS FIRST ORGANIC FLOCK
SVO began as an idea, with beginnings in a small-scale farm initially raising 300 chickens. Corwin believed that there was a need for high quality chickens, raised with dignity and care. His belief and ethics paid off, and his flock grew to 3,000 chickens within a few months.
Corwin starts talking to other farmers about the potential of creating a new company
The grower model was born out of conversations with local farmers. The group discussed their frustrations around standard farmer contracts with integrated companies, centering on farmers not being allowed to control their own farms. The idea of farmers owning their own chickens and being their own bosses came about because of these conversations.
SVO starts construction of the plant in June
SVO started with the live production of organic chicken on two poultry farms and grew quickly to justify the need to contract additional farmers. In order to scale operations we opened a processing factory and increased from two farms to a dozen poultry farms.
First processing day at the plant
Like the corporate SVO office, the plant where the company operates used to sit empty. It had been used as processing plant for 12 years before it was abandoned, and SVO was able to renovate it and return it back to it's original operating purpose.
SVO moves into new corporate ice house
The ideas and evolution of SVO exist around breathing new life into established ideas, modes of business, and even physical spaces. An empty commercial building for years, The Ice House was a perfect home for SVO after renovations were completed.
SVO starts the retail division
With production far exceeding initial projections, SVO begins to sell their product locally and regionally, finding a strong desire from customers for chickens that are raised ethically and humanely, and are unlike those produced in large scale enterprises.
SVO products become available in 500 stores
The quality of SVO's product is immediately noticed, and as more farmers join with the company, SVO is able to expand from local and regional markets in to national ones, selling their product up and down the Atlantic seaboard.
SVO transitions into 100% organic grow out and production
SVO chickens are raised with the highest quality standards in mind. All of our chickens are certified as non-CMO, certified humanely raised, and certified USDA organic. We believe that poultry can and should be raised in the most humane way possible, and doing so creates better product for consumers and growers alike.
After much anticipation, SVO launches the new vacuum skin oack (CSP) tray packing,
Yielding new retail opportunities for the farmer focus brand.
Like the original packaging, the new VSP tray is eco-friendly and includes the FARM ID, but in addition, it presents better in a meat case and reflects the high quality, premium chicken it contains.
