Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 77

Breeds apart
Expanding niches to processing
heritage and game birds gives
Eberly Poultry a competitive edge

Most of birds produced for Eberly
Poultry Inc. are raised by small
growers in north central and
south central Pennsylvania.
Photos courtesy of Eberly Poultry

By Bernard Shire
meatpoultry@sosland.com

I

f it is true that in a world where more
businesses are finding success in
the marketplace by becoming bigger, then it is certainly true that smaller businesses compete and succeed by
doing something completely different.
That seems to be the case, whether the
business produces meat, poultry or any
other product. And it's certainly true in
the case of Eberly Poultry Inc., a small
specialty poultry slaughterer, processor
and retailer based in the tiny hamlet of
Stevens, in Lancaster County, Pa.
Brothers Bob and George Eberly, the
owners, are succeeding as small players in the world of giant poultry processors by jumping on two trends. One
84

I

MEAT&POULTRY

I

January 2008

I

is a bandwagon many poultry firms are
climbing on: the production of natural
and organic poultry products. The other
trend Eberly is capitalizing on is a spe-

"I think the consumer
concern about how
their food is made is
long-term."
cialization few others in the industry
have pursued: the production and processing of specialty-type birds.
"Actually, right now, each of those
specialties makes up about half of our

www.MEATPOULTRY.com

business, although the organic and
natural processing has become a little
larger, maybe 60 percent," Bob Eberly
says. "But the specialty-bird part of our
business is about 40 percent. It's not
quite as big as it used to be because of
the tremendous growth in organic and
natural chicken and turkey.
Eberly Poultry has come a long way,
with many changes, since Bob and
George's grandfather, Harvey Eberly,
began the business at its current location. "My grandfather killed chickens
and sold them to John Martin Meats,
which is nearby. Both Martin and my
grandfather sold our products at six
farmer's markets not far from here in



http://www.MEATPOULTRY.com

Meat + Poultry - January 2008

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Meat + Poultry - January 2008

Contents
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 1
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 2
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 3
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - Contents
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 5
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 6
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 7
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 8
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 9
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 10
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 11
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 12
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 13
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 14
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 15
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 16
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 17
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 18
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 19
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 20
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 21
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 22
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 23
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 24
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 25
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 26
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 27
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 28
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 29
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 30
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 31
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 32
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 33
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 34
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 35
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 36
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 37
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 38
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 39
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 40
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 41
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 42
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 43
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 44
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 45
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 46
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 47
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 48
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 49
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 50
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 51
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 52
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 53
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 54
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 55
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 56
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 57
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 58
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 59
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 60
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 61
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 62
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 63
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 64
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 65
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 66
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 67
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 68
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 69
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 70
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 71
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 72
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 73
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 74
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 75
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 76
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 77
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 78
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 79
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 80
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 81
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 82
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 83
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 84
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 85
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 86
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 87
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 88
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 89
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 90
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 91
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 92
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 93
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 94
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 95
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 96
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 97
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 98
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 99
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 100
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 101
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 102
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 103
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 104
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 105
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 106
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 107
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 108
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 109
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 110
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 111
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 112
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 113
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 114
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 115
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 116
Meat + Poultry - January 2008 - 117
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-april-2024
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-march-2024
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/special-supplement-bacon-trends-technology-march-2024
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-february-2024
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-january-2024
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-december-2023
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-november-2023
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-october-2023
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-september-2023
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-august-2023
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/special-supplement-ground-meat-trends-technology-july-2023
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-july-2023
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-june-2023
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-may-2023
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-april-2023
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/special-supplement-bacon-trends-technology-march-2023
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-march-2023
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-february-2023
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-january-2023
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-december-2022
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-november-2022
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-october-2022
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/special-supplement-ground-beef-trends-technology-september-2022
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-september-2022
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-august-2022
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-july-2022
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-june-2022
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/special-supplement-meat-alternative-trends-and-technology-may-2022
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-may-2022
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-april-2022
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/special-supplement-bacon-trends-technology-march-2022
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-march-2022
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-february-2022
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-january-2022
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/-meatpoultry-december-2021
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-november-2021
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-october-2021
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/special-supplement-ground-meat-trends-technology-october-2021
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-september-2021
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-august-2021
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-july-2021
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-june-2021
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-may-2021
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/special-supplement-meat-alternatives-may-2021
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-april-2021
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/meatpoultry-march-2021
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2021_02_01
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2021_01_01
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2020_12_01
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2020_11_01
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2020_10_01
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2020_09_01
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2020_08_01
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2020_07_01
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2020_06_01
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2020_05_01
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2020_04_01
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2020_03_01
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2020_02_01
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2020_01_01
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2019_12_01
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2019_11_01
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2019_10_01
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2019_09_01
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2019_08_01
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2019_07_11
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2019_06_01
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2019_05_01
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2019_04_01
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2019_03_01
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2019_02_01
https://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2019_01_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2018_12_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2018_11_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2018_10_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2018_09_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2018_08_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2018_07_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2018_06_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2018_05_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2018_04_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2018_03_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2018_02_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2018_01_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2017_12_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2017_11_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2017_10_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2017_09_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2017_08_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2017_07_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2017_06_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2017_05_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2017_04_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2017_03_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2017_02_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2017_01_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2016_12_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2016_11_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2016_10_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2016_09_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2016_08_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2016_07_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2016_06_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2016_05_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2016_04_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2016_03_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2016_02_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2016_01_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2015_12_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2015_11_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2015_10_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2015_09_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2015_08_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2015_07_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2015_06_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2015_05_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2015_04_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2015_03_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2015_02_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2015_01_01_mp
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2014_12_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2014_11_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2014_10_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2014_09_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2014_08_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2014_07_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2014_06_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2014_05_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2014_04_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2014_03_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2014_02_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2014_01_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2013_12_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2013_11_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2013_10_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2013_09_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2013_08_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2013_07_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2013_06_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2013_05_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2013_04_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2013_03_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2013_02_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2013_01_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2012_12_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2012_11_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2012_10_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2012_09_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2012_08_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2012_07_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2012_06_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2012_05_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2012_04_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2012_03_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2012_02_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2012_01_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2011_12_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2011_11_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2011_10_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2011_09_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2011_08_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2011_07_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2011_06_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2011_05_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2011_04_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2011_03_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2011_02_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2011_01_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2010_12_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2010_11_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2010_10_01
https://www.nxtbook.com/sosland/mp/2010_09_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2010_08_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2010_07_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2010_06_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2010_05_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2010_04_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2010_03_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2010_02_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2010_01_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2009_12_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2009_11_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2009_10_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2009_09_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2009_08_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2009_07_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2009_06_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2009_05_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2009_04_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2009_03_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2009_02_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2009_01_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2008_12_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2008_11_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2008_10_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2008_09_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2008_08_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2008_07_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2008_06_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2008_05_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2008_04_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2008_03_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2008_02_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2008_01_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2007_12_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2007_11_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2007_10_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2007_09_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2007_08_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2007_07_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2007_06_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2007_05_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2007_04_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2007_03_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2007_02_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2007_01_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2006_12_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2006_11_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2006_10_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2006_09_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2006_08_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2006_07_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2006_06_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2006_05_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2006_04_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2006_03_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2006_02_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2006_01_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2005_12_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2005_11_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2005_10_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2005_09_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2005_08_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2005_07_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2005_06_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2005_05_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2005_04_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2005_03_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2005_02_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2005_01_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2004_12_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2004_11_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2004_10_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2004_09_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2004_08_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2004_07_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2004_06_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2004_05_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2004_04_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2004_03_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2004_02_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2004_01_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2003_12_01
http://digital.meatpoultry.com/sosland/mp/2003_10_01
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com