West Liberty Foods LLC announced that it has entered into an agreement to purchase the assets of Crystal Lake Farms, which includes its line of slower-growing chickens called Free Ranger. The acquisition will include both breeding stock and processing plant assets to allow West Liberty Foods to produce free-range, slower-growing chickens.

“The acquisition of Crystal Lake Farms and Free Ranger is another exciting step for West Liberty Foods,” said Ed Garrett, chief executive officer for West Liberty Foods. “This expansion of our business will allow us to meet the growing consumer demand for humanely grown, pasture-raised poultry.”

The Crystal Lake Farms broilers carry a Step 4 rating from Global Animal Partnership (GAP), a nonprofit alliance that seeks to improve farm animal welfare through its 5-Step Animal Welfare Rating Program.

“I am excited about the transaction and with West Liberty Foods and the manufacturing expertise they deliver,” Blake Evans, president of Crystal Lake Farms, said. “The company will continue to innovate around the breed, feed and growing environment.”