Editing Free-range eggs (section)

====Growth====
The popularity of cage-free eggs in the United States has significantly increased in recent years. In 2012, approximately 5% of U.S. egg-laying hens were kept in cage-free systems. As of March 2024, this figure had risen to 40%. While cage-free systems are not without their challenges, the industry appears to be transitioning towards this model as the dominant standard. Several U.S. states have enacted or are considering legislation banning the sale of eggs from conventionally caged hens. California, for instance, has already implemented such a ban. Major industry players, such as [[Cal-Maine|Cal-Maine Foods]], the largest egg producer in the U.S., are investing heavily in cage-free production. Cal-Maine has allocated $40 million to expand its cage-free operations and plans to build five new facilities to house 1 million cage-free hens by the summer of 2025.<ref>{{cite web | last=Zimmerman | first=Sarah | title=Cal-Maine plans $40M investment to expand cage-free egg production | website=Food Dive | date=2024-10-15 | url=https://www.fooddive.com/news/cal-maine-cage-free-egg-expansion/729827/ | access-date=2024-10-25}}</ref>