Producer Spotlight
Perdue Farms earned their certification in April 2025 and has been a welcomed member of the American Humane Certified™ community ever since. We spoke with Rita Harkless, Senior Director of FSQA Program Compliance – Technical Services to learn more about their mission and dedication to animal welfare.
Tell us a little bit about Perdue Foods – its history and mission
We are a fourth-generation, family-owned, U.S. food and agriculture company. For more than 105
years, we have made it our mission to provide innovative food and agricultural products and
services that advance the quality of life for everyone we touch – consumers, customers, farmers and our
associates. Earning and keeping their trust in the safety and quality of our products is paramount.
We believe in responsible food and agriculture, environmental stewardship and helping our
neighbors. These values have shaped our legacy of quality, innovation and service.
Tell us why and how your company puts the humane treatment of animals at the forefront of your business
Perdue is committed to leading the way in animal care practices in our industry because it is the right
thing to do. We have developed robust internal audit programs that help ensure all the birds in our care
are humanely raised and we continue to challenge ourselves to improve these processes.
For nearly ten years, we’ve taken our action a step further by hosting an annual Animal Care Summit
2025, where we invite a diverse group of stakeholders, including some of our toughest critics, to have transparent, in depth conversations that help move animal care standards forward. After our 2024 summit, we successfully petitioned the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to update its “pasture raised” labeling guidelines.
Why do you value American Humane certification?
While we have diligently developed our own internal audit programs, we recognize customers and
consumers value third-party, independent processes when they are deciding which companies they trust.
American Humane Society’s certification program, which rigorously measures entities against science-based standards of care, closely aligns with Perdue’s existing practices and principles.
Being American Humane Certified is one of many reasons our animal care practices are leading the way in our industry. Certifications like this one are crucial to maintaining trust and transparency – as they show our processes are backed by third-party reviews.
— Rita Harkless, Senior Director of FSQA Program Compliance – Technical Services, Perdue
How has your company evolved to meet changing consumer tastes and an increase interest in humane certified products?
One of our proudest and most defining attributes is that Perdue remains a fourth-generation,
family-owned company, at a scale few can match. What makes us truly unique, however,
is how we’ve evolved. From new products to new leadership, these recent years reflect our
commitment to driving growth and innovation while staying true to our family-driven culture,
with multiple Perdue family members still actively involved in driving the business. We operate differently and deliberately. Our 100% North America-based supply chain is a rare advantage in our category. Every step, from farm to processing, happens right here at home. Our chickens are raised by local and regional family farmers; our feed and food products are processed in company-owned facilities and our vertically
integrated model gives us full control over quality, safety and sustainability.
Is there anything else you would like consumers to know about you or your company?
Animal care is not just a buzz phrase for Perdue– it’s part of a deeply-rooted set of values we’ve
held since the company first started in 1920. Our team of associates involved in the animal welfare
space are incredibly passionate about what they do, and it shows. This certification is a reflection
of the hard work, diligence and accountability behind our practices.
Interested in becoming American Humane Certified? Learn how certification can help your operation build trust, meet market demand and lead with science-based animal care.
