Modesto-based Comfort Coop in shops statewide

MODESTO -- J.S. West & Cos. has reached statewide distribution of its Comfort Coop eggs, produced by hens with increased cage space.

The Modesto-based company launched the brand in 2010, soon after converting a small portion of its operation in an effort to comply with Proposition 2's space standards.

The brand started at O'Brien's Markets in Modesto and Riverbank. It slowly has spread and now can be found at the Save Mart, Safeway, Raley's, Bel Air, Lucky, Nugget and Nob Hill chains.

The new housing, near Livingston, nearly doubled the cage floor space per hen and includes separate areas where the birds can nest, perch and clean themselves.

J.S. West was the first company to build housing designed to comply with the state ballot measure, which passed in 2008 and will take effect in 2015.

The egg industry and the Humane Society of the United States had disagreed on how much space the measure requires. They agreed in 2011 on a compromise that could be carried out nationally through legislation pending in Congress.

Bee staff writer John Holland can be reached at jholland@modbee.com or (209) 578-2385.