Eggs have been maligned in recent years as an unhealthy food. However, a single chicken egg has 13 essential nutrients, including protein, iron, choline, folate and zinc—and has just 75 calories. In 2007, a comprehensive study from the Medical Science Monitor revealed that consuming eggs each day did not increase a person's risk of heart disease or stroke. In fact, eggs may be linked decreased blood pressure. Besides, your customers love eggs.

As a food business owner, you have ample choices for purchasing fresh eggs. Not only are there a number of distributors providing farm fresh eggs, but there is a nice variety of egg types to choose from. Some of the most popular are chicken, duck and ostrich eggs. When considering buying eggs for your restaurant or other food business, follow these steps:

1. Decide which types of eggs you wish to offer your customers.

2. Research organic egg production, farm eggs and wholesale eggs.

3. Buy quality fresh eggs from the best egg distributor for your needs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find great sources for chicken egg production

Chicken eggs are at the heart of any commercial kitchen. Whether you serve them by themselves or in baked goods or cooked dishes, quality fresh eggs make a big difference in the taste of your finished product. Fortunately, there are many excellent sources for fresh chicken eggs, including free range and organic varieties.

I recommend: Saunder's Quality Eggs offers a nice selection of chicken eggs wholesale (including organic eggs). Grass Fed Farms is an egg producer offering free-range chicken eggs with a freshness guarantee.

Discover great sources for duck egg production

Duck eggs are similar in flavor to fresh chicken eggs, and they have a more rich nutrient value. In particular, they have more protein. Duck eggs are most frequently used in baking because this extra protein gives more 'loft' to baked goods. However, you can prepare duck eggs in any of the ways you prepare chicken eggs.

I recommend: DuckEggs.com offers fresh duck eggs either for single orders or on a subscription basis; scroll down the page for ordering information. Stiebrs Farms is an organic egg farm selling fresh duck eggs. Their ducks eat a 100% vegetable diet, free from antibiotics, pesticides and hormones; click on the "Duck Eggs" link in the left-hand menu for more information.

Splurge on ostrich eggs

Ostrich is an up-and-coming meat, as many people in the food industry know. But what about ostrich eggs? They are the largest egg available, running about the size of a cantaloupe. A single ostrich egg equals about 20 to 24 chicken eggs and is perfect for making a large batch of omelets or scrambled eggs.

I recommend: O.K. Corral Ostrich Farms sells fresh medium or large ostrich eggs. 1-800-Exotic Meats.com also sells fresh ostrich eggs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you find your business has over-bought fresh eggs, freeze them. Simply free them from their shells, lightly beat them and place in a freezer-safe container.