20.11.2011

A division of Minnesota-based Land O’Lakes Inc. (Land O'Lakes subsidiary, California-based Moark LLC.)  is taking over operations at three Maine egg farms formerly run by DeCoster Egg Farms. Moark markets and processes about 2.4 billion eggs a year.
Last year, DeCoster's Iowa egg farm operations were associated with the nation's largest outbreak of salmonella and the recall of more than 380 million eggs.
Austin “Jack” DeCoster is leasing out farms he owns in Maine as well as those in Iowa, the ones responsible for the outbreak and nationwide egg recall last year.
Moark LLC of Fontana, Calif., said it has agreed to lease Quality Egg Farm of New England in Turner, Dorothy Egg Farm in Winthrop and Mountain Hollow Farms in Leeds for 10 years. After the 10-year lease period, Moark will have the option to buy the facilities.
Maine will continue to be the nation’s largest producer of brown eggs in the nation.