Pederson's Natural Farms supports California animal welfare law, already exceeding minimum space requirements.

Pederson’s Natural Farms fully supports California’s Proposition 12. The proposition, known as the Farm Animal Confinement Initiative, has gone before the Supreme Court. The ruling is due by the end of June.  

If passed, Proposition 12 would ban the sale of pork in California from producers both in-state and out-of-state that do not meet a required square footage for their animals. Currently, gestation crates for sows are 14 square feet at minimum. Prop. 12 would require these crates to be a minimum of 24 square feet, giving the animals space to move around more freely. 

Proposition 12 aligns with Pederson’s standards of humane treatment of animals. Pederson’s pigs come from farms that already meet the minimum square footage requirements. We believe that animals deserve to be treated humanely and live good lives, and we only work with farmers who believe as we do. 

The pigs are housed in deeply bedded open pens. Their living quarters are temperature controlled with outdoor access. And they are never given growth promotants, hormones, steroids, or antibiotics. 

If passed, Proposition 12 would be a big step in the right direction for animal welfare. If the Supreme Court finds the law unconstitutional, it could not be fully implemented, and pork producers will be free to continue their current operations and use gestational cages. 

Headquartered in Hamilton, Texas, Pederson’s Natural Farms has been committed to ethically sourcing and producing the highest quality fresh and smoked natural meat products since 1992. Today, with products sold in stores globally, the company strives to continue to keep its finger on the pulse of the ever-changing trends in the industry. Pederson’s Natural Farms is known for being one of the first to market with an entire line of no sugar added, Whole30 and Paleo approved pork products. Pederson's Natural Farms produces bacon, sausage, ham, and fresh pork.