NYC’s First Organic Live Poultry Coming To Bensonhurst

Carlo Formisano's not afraid of ruffling a few feathers (photo credit: Adam Warner from The Brooklyn Rail)

Who would have thought Bensonhurst would be ahead of the curve for organic chicken products? The Brooklyn Rail ran a great story yesterday featuring neighborhood live poultry market La Pera Brothers. Writer Adam Warner included anecdotes on 24 years in the business from manager Carlo Formisano, as well as an interesting perspective on the current rebellions in the Middle East from La Pera staff member Abdul Hamid Algabari.

Another monumental, albeit more local, change that’s mentioned in the article is Formisano’s plan to begin carrying organic chickens. It would make La Pera the first live market in New York City to sell the fancy fowl.

Formisano, who oversees 3,000 pounds of chicken a day – plus a Noah’s Ark of livestock from lamb to partridge, told Warner he’s been  “pushing for organic poultry for years now, and the dream is finally coming true.” Bensonhurst’s La Pera proves to be miles ahead of Northern Brooklyn in terms of both idea and execution.

Their chickens, which are currently free range, come from small and medium sized family farms in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, not under the Manhattan Bridge.

La Pera Brothers is located at 1373 61st Street between New Utrecht and 13th Avenues.

The Brooklyn Rail: in Bensonhurst, There’s a Chicken in Every (Melting) Pot