American Humane Association, the country's first national humane organization and creator of the first and largest third-party farm animal welfare certification program, announced that Arkansas-based producer Ozark Mountain Poultry has met its rigorous farm animal welfare standards and achieved certification through the American Humane Certified program. Ozark Mountain Poultry currently produces approximately 4 million pounds of poultry products a week for its consumer brand Forester Farmer's Market and the restaurant industry.

"We take great care in how we raise and process our chickens, and we think it makes a big difference in the taste and overall quality of our products," said Ed Fryar, President of OMP Foods. "We feel that becoming American Humane Certified is the best way to communicate our commitment to humanely raising birds to our customers and consumers."

American Humane Association's most recent survey shows overwhelming popular support for the humane treatment of farm animals.Its Humane Heartland Farm Animal Surveypolled 5,900 Americans and more than nine in ten (94.9%) said they are "very concerned" about farm animal welfare, up from 89 percent in American Humane Association's 2013 study. More than three-quarters (75.7%) stated that they are very willing to pay more for humanely raised eggs, meat, and dairy products, up from 74 percent in 2013.

"More and more Americans are demanding humanely raised foods, and with 10 billion animals raised on America's farms and ranches every year, it is our duty to treat them humanely," said Dr. Robin Ganzert, American Humane Association's president and CEO. "We are pleased that Ozark Mountain Poultry has made the humane choice and achieved certification through our American Humane Certified program."

More information about the American Humane Certified program can be found at www.humaneheartland.org. Information about Ozark Mountain Poultry may be found at www.OMPFoods.com.

Source: AHA