Republic of Panama

Our farm, Biogranjas is located in the small community of Los Pollos de Rio Hato in the Coclé province, one and one half hour drive from Panama City. This is a 150 acre property acquired about 5 years ago.

Our main operation is pasture poultry broilers of the cornish breed. Because of the climate of our country we market broilers all year around. Currently we are doing 300 birds per week and as of the middle of next year we will be doing twice that amount.

Our broilers first go thru a period of 18–21 days in a brooder house before they go to the field in movable cages of 75 birds each. The pasture used is a legume by the name of arachis pintoi commonly known as perennial peanut. This legume contains 23% protein and is 71% digestible. Additionally, our ration consists of soybean, corn, oats, probiotics from Conklin, Fertrell Poultry Nutribalancer, Kelp and fishmeal. We mix our ration ourselves at the farm.

Our broilers are sent to market at about 58 days weighing an average of 7.5 pounds. Dressed weight is about 4.25 pounds. Our price is $1.90/pound. We butcher our chickens at a Ministry of Health approved plant. There a government veterinary confirms the quality and health of our birds. Our farm has recently been certified by Certified Humane, raised and handled. This makes us the only poultry farm in our country that has qualified for this internationally recognized certification which is an honor for us all.

We sell our chickens locally to retail customers (Riba Smith Supermarkets, Organica Stores) as well as to hotels (Hotel Plaza Paitilla Inn, Hotel Venetto) and fine restaurants (La Posta, Ten Bistro, Manolo Caracol, Charlie Collins). Recently, we received the visit of Biolatina who are international organic certifiers. We hope to have our certification for organic production of broilers in about 6 months.

Additionally, we grow organic vegetables and micro greens, white yams and otoe.

Biogranjas, Jesus Armenteros and Mercedes Villavicencio,
PO Box 0835-00454, Zona 10, Republica de Panama.  Telefax: (507) 260-6584. Cellular: 6-680-6346. E-mail: biogranjas@hotmail.com.