US poultry processor Foster Farms has added branded organic and antibiotic-free ranges to its portfolio in a bid to meet rising consumer interest in the categories.

The privately-owned processor has produced organic lines on a small scale but it has decided to put its brand on two ranges.

Foster Farms Certified Organic and Foster Farms Simply Raised antibiotic-free chicken are on sale at retailers including Wal-Mart, Kroger and Raley's stores in California, Oregon and Washington state.

"Foster Farms has extensive experience with organic poultry, having produced organic chicken for almost 15 years. We first began producing organic products on a small scale for select customers in 2002 and in 2011 began taking the steps to update our business strategy to significantly grow this portion of our business under the Foster Farms brand.This introduction is the first official debut of full organic and antibiotic-free product lines sold under the Foster Farms brand name," the company told just-food.

Bringing organic and antibiotic-free poultry under the Foster Farms brand is the next logical step given growing consumer demand and the long-standing consumer trust in the Foster Farms name. We are now bringing leadership to the organic and antibiotic-free category."

The launch of the branded antibiotic-free range sees Foster Farms become the latest US processor to try to tap into consumer interest in products from companies using less antibiotics in their supply chains.

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Foster Farms said antibiotic-free "means no antibiotics ever" adding: "At no point do our Simply Raised flocks receive antibiotics."

The company said it has eliminated "critical" antibiotics and gentamicin from its supply. It is "working to eliminate the use of all antibiotics used in human medicine".

The new organic range also comes from flocks raised without antibiotics, Foster Farms added.