#91 - The First ROC Pork & Special Edition Wines

Episode Highlights:

• 🏗️ Building vertically integrated regen organic beef & pork value chains

• 😯 Raising 4,000 pigs on pasture

• 🐷 Producing the 1st Regenerative Organic Certified® pork

• 🛒 Launching their ROC™ beef jerky in Sprouts nationwide

• 🚀 The one big contract that changed everything

• 😡 The difficulty in finding certified organic meat processing

• ↗️ Going from wholesale to DTC to CPG

• 💰 Working with Mad Capital to fund their farming operations

• 👀 New ROC™ pork and beef products coming soon

• 👉 How distributors and retailers need to step up for regen

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

• Check out the recap! 🙃 

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

🤝 How Certifiers Can Work Together to Grow the Regenerative Movement

Certification organizations are crucial stakeholders in the regenerative movement.

However, the number of different certification programs (almost ten with active on-pack claims) drives confusion and results in more time spent debating the definition of regenerative agriculture than working to advance the movement.

But there are ways these organizations can work together to advance the movement, and a recent session at the Sustainable Foods Summit indicates the certifiers want to collaborate more.

Here’s where they should start:

🙏 Quick favor my friend — if ReGen Brands has helped or inspired you, could you share a quick written testimonial about your experience?

We’re putting together something special and would love to include your story.

Consumer awareness of “regenerative” is growing but is not driving purchasing decisions.

Despite surveys showing consumer preference for sustainable products and some consumers using these claims as a “tie-breaker,” there is no real evidence that regenerative product claims are driving any material change in everyday purchasing decisions for a significant number of consumers.

1️⃣ Regenerative is not (and will not be) the main reason why a consumer buys a product

Our first takeaway for “Key Challenges Facing Regenerative Brands”

👉 Learn more in our inaugural report: The State of Regenerative CPG – Successes, Challenges, and Opportunities for Collective Action

🍷 Two Iconic Wineries Join Forces to Champion Regenerative Organic Farming Through their Re-Generation Cabernet Sauvignon

• Grgich Hills Estate and Spottswoode Winery have joined forces for the first time to create the exclusive 2023 Re-Generation Cabernet Sauvignon

• Only 10 cases of this unique Cabernet Sauvignon have been produced, blending Grgich Hills’ complexity with Spottswoode’s finesse to create a balanced, age-worthy wine that honors both their founders’ enduring friendship and dedication to regenerative practices.

☕️ Salt Spring Coffee has been acquired by Artigiano, making Artigiano the second-largest organic coffee roaster in Canada and the nation's only roaster of Regenerative Organic Certified coffee. (Cision ↗)

🍌 Artisan Tropic is shaking up the snack scene by launching their new regenerative plantain flour crackers in Sea Salt, Chile Lime, and Tomato Herb flavors. (Perishable News ↗)

🥤  Recoup, the pioneering organic beverage company known for its gut-healthy hydration drinks has been named a finalist in the prestigious Expo West Pitch Slam competition. (BevNet ↗)

🤝 Patagonia Provisions has partnered with SIMPLi to create its new Organic Multiseed Crackers. The new snack features Simpli’s Regenerative Organic Certified quinoa and chia from Peru and Patagonia’s ROC wheat from Washington state. (Nosh ↗)

🍗 Diestel Family Ranch is leading the way in regenerative turkey production, with their regen turkeys showing improved nutritional profiles and environmental benefits thanks to regenerative farming practices. (Farm To Table Talk ↗)

🌾 Better Earth has launched the Farmer's Fiber Retail Collection, introducing the first retail tableware line made from regenerative farm-sourced fibers, offering compostable, PFAS-free plates and bowls crafted in the U.S. (Yahoo Finance ↗)

🍞  Eurostar Commodities has rolled out a line of regenerative flours which includes a Strong White Flour and All Purpose Flour. Named Rise Re:Gen, the range is farmed in collaboration with The Green Farm Collective (GFC), a group of British farmers dedicated to regenerative principles. (British Baker ↗)

🫖 Kirin Holdings is enhancing the sustainability of Sri Lankan black tea farms through the newly launched Regenerative Tea Scorecard, developed in partnership with the Rainforest Alliance. This tool will help tea farmers assess and improve their practices, supporting the transition to regenerative agriculture across one large estate and 30 small farms by the end of 2025. (Business Wire ↗)

🌱 Kiss the Ground has launched Regenerative Agriculture Essentials, a 90-minute on-demand course designed to make regenerative agriculture accessible to everyone, from industry professionals to curious consumers. This self-paced course offers engaging modules on soil health’s impact on wellness, water, and climate, featuring insights from leading voices in the Regenerative Movement. (Globe Newswire ↗)

⭐️ California has officially defined "regenerative agriculture" as an integrated approach focused on soil health, biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience to guide state policies and programs. While the definition aims to support sustainable farming practices, critics argue its broad scope may lead to confusion and greenwashing without clear verification standards. (Civil Eats ↗)

🚀  Edacious has raised $8.1 million in seed funding to scale its rapid testing and data insights platform for measuring nutrient density in whole foods. The platform aims to break the cycle of food commoditization by providing affordable, high-throughput nutrient analysis and actionable data for producers and consumers. By linking farming practices, soil health, and nutrition, Edacious seeks to empower regenerative agriculture and create market incentives for higher-quality, nutrient-dense foods. (AgFunder ↗)

🥩  Force of Nature is hiring a Creative Director & Product Safety & Quality Analyst

🫘 SIMPLi is looking for an Accounting Manager

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

🍺 Patagonia Provisions is looking for a Digital Lead

🍚 Lundberg Family Farms is hiring a Finance Director

🍷 Check Out Figure Ate Foods’ Limited Edition Pinot Noir

• Each year the regenerative vineyard at Jalama Canyon Ranch produces grapes for a limited-edition Pinot Noir, crafted in partnership with their neighbors, the talented and passionate team at Sandhi Wines.

• Only 300 cases exist, so grab a bottle or case before they’re gone.