#105 - Tortilla Chips Reimagined Through Lucha Libre & Regen Ag

Episode Highlights:

• 🍴 How El Nacho was born in a chef’s kitchen during COVID

• 🧑‍🌾 Why regenerative corn offers more nutrient density and flavor

• 🎨 Lucha libre branding tapping into nostalgia, culture, and community impact

• 🌱 Building supply from the ground up — including planting regen blue corn for fall

• 🇲🇽 Latino influence is rising, and Mexican cuisine is set to go mainstream

• 💬 “It takes a village” - The need for retailer, buyer, and consumer alignment on regen

• 🧪 Ancient wisdom meets modern flavor — the art and science of nixtamalization

• 🛍️ Educating buyers — most don’t have a high “Corn IQ”

• 💣 Why we need to see regenerative tortilla chips in 7-Eleven

• 👀 An exclusive sneak peek at what flavors are coming next

• Don’t have time for the full episode? 😵‍💫 

• Check out the recap! 🙃 

• Everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes. 🥳

⚖️ The Great Regen CPG Divide

As regenerative agriculture gains momentum, the divide between Big Food and emerging brands becomes more pronounced.

Both sides are driving change in the food system, but in different ways.

So, what do we need to understand about this great divide?

🍦 Alec's Ice Cream Launches Culture Cup Nationwide; a Gut-Loving, Clean-Label, Low Sugar Ice Cream That's Almost Too Good to Be True

• Alec’s Ice Cream debuts Culture Cup, a gut-boosting, low-sugar, single-serve ice cream line made with grass-fed A2/A2 dairy, prebiotics, and over a billion live probiotics.

• Each cup is a clean-label indulgence with under 160 calories, no gums or seed oils, and 90% regenerative organic ingredients.

• Available in five craveable flavors, including a Whole Foods exclusive, Culture Cup launches nationwide this May at major retailers like Target and Wegman’s

🌿 Nature's Path Introduces Brother Nature in Bold New Campaign Celebrating the Delicious Side of Organic

• Nature's Path launches “Brother Nature”, a bold new campaign using humor and personality to spotlight the delicious side of organic breakfast foods and the brand’s long-standing commitment to sustainability.

• The campaign emphasizes connection over convenience, responding to data that shows over half of Americans eat breakfast alone or skip it entirely, by inviting people to reconnect around the breakfast table.

🍵 Wild Orchard has landed its regenerative, full-sun matcha on shelves at all Sprouts locations across Southern California. Grown wild on Jeju Island and celebrated for its bold, complex flavor, the matcha could expand nationwide if it performs well by July. (LinkedIn ↗)

🐮 Painterland Sisters is redefining what dairy can do – not by chasing trends, but by saving their family farm through high-protein, lactose-free, organic skyr yogurt. Now producing 300,000 yogurts a week and sourcing from 25 local farms, the brand has turned rural roots into national retail success across 5,000 stores. (Food Navigator ↗)

🥩 Singing Pastures is transforming an old Maine dairy farm into a thriving, multi-species regenerative operation producing juicy, slow-smoked meat sticks using traditional fermentation and real hickory wood. With national distribution, upcycled animal feed, and a new product launching in August, the brand continues to scale its impact in sustainable meat production. (YouTube ↗)

🍃 Oatman Farms has become the Southwest’s first Regenerative Organic Certified® farm, transforming barren land in Arizona into a thriving ecosystem through cover crops, hedgerows, and Indigenous-informed practices. With increased soil organic matter, rotational grazing, and native crop cultivation, the ranch is emerging as a model for climate-resilient farming in arid regions. (Civil Eats ↗)

🌿 Organic India has earned the Regenerative Organic Certified® seal across multiple teas and supplements, building on decades of regenerative practices rooted in traditional Indian farming. By partnering directly with thousands of smallholder farmers and emphasizing soil health, biodiversity, and fair trade, the brand continues to redefine herbal wellness through a deeply integrated, values-driven supply chain. (Forbes ↗)

🍷 Bonterra Organic Estates, Donum Estate, Robert Hall Winery, Booker Wines, and Tablas Creek Vineyard are turning to Regenerative Organic Certified® practices to fight climate change and improve wine quality from the soil up. With measurable gains in biodiversity, soil health, and resilience to extreme weather, these producers are proving that regenerative viticulture can elevate both environmental impact and the final product in the glass. (The Drinks Business ↗)

🌱 Lotus Foods and Diaspora Co. are proving that mission-driven brands can thrive by aligning profit with deep environmental and social impact. Backed by RSF Social Finance, these companies are scaling regenerative rice farming and decolonizing the spice trade — building a more resilient and equitable economy in the process. (Sustainable Brands ↗)

🌾 Wildfarmed, the UK-based regenerative grain, is gaining momentum with products now in Waitrose, Tesco, Nando’s, and partnerships with Tribe and Jubel. Built on a model that prioritizes soil health, biodiversity, and farmer collaboration, Wildfarmed now works with 150 UK farmers and is reshaping perceptions of farming as both cool and climate-smart. (The Times ↗)

👕 Imogene and Willie spent four years creating a fully traceable, single-origin T-shirt grown, spun, knit, and sewn entirely within 400 miles in the U.S. The Cotton Project showcases the challenges and potential for regenerative agriculture and regional supply chains to power sustainable, American-made apparel. (Inc ↗ + Sourcing Journal ↗)

💇‍♀️ Davines is redefining sustainable beauty by integrating regenerative agriculture into its ingredient sourcing through its European Regenerative Organic Centre (EROC) in Parma, Italy. Partnering with the Rodale Institute, the brand is training local farmers and embedding soil health, biodiversity, and long-term stewardship into the foundation of its globally beloved haircare products. (Wallpaper ↗)

☕️ TechnoServe has released a landmark report showing that regenerative agriculture could boost smallholder coffee farmer incomes by 62% and cut 3.5 million tons of CO₂e annually across nine key producing countries. Backed by Nestlé, Nespresso, and JDE Peet’s, the study calls for $4 billion in investment over seven years to scale regenerative practices and secure the future of sustainable coffee. (Daily Coffee News ↗)

🫘 SIMPLi is hiring a Business Development Manager, Supply Planner, & Director of Marketing

🛢️ La Tourangelle is looking for a Marketing Intern

🥩  Force of Nature is hiring a Field Sales Manager, Product Marketing Manager / Director, Creative Director & Product Safety & Quality Analyst

🐮 Painterland Sisters is looking for a Senior Events & Partnerships Manager, Social & Marketing Coordinator, Graphic Designer, & Customer Experience Manager

🧠 Healthier Food Systems Start With The Health Of Our Farmers

This Mental Health Awareness Month, Farmer’s Footprint is digging deep to support the well-being of those who grow our food.

They are raising $50,000 this May to fund mental health support for farmers.

Why it matters:

• 💚 Farmers face immense mental health challenges — from climate chaos to financial stress and social isolation.

• 🛠️ These funds will go toward resources and care pathways for farmers who need support.