#98 - The Original Regenerative Brand

Episode Highlights:

• 🔥 Was White Oak Pastures the first regenerative brand?

• 💥 160 Years, 5 Generations, & A Bold Return To Giving A Damn

• 👀 How White Oak Pastures almost had a different name

• 💡 Will’s journey from industrial to regenerative agriculture

• ♻️ Vertical integration, endless enterprises, and zero-waste processing

• 🍗 Why White Oak produces and sells unprofitable poultry

• 🚀 How COVID and being on Rogan boosted their business

• 📚 Why Will wrote a book and how its been received

• 🥩 Domestic vs imported beef and dumb labeling laws

• 🛒 Why food system change must be consumer-led

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

• Check out the recap! 🙃 

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

We’re celebrating 100 episodes—and inviting you to power what’s next.

Three years ago, we launched the ReGen Brands Podcast to spotlight the brave brands choosing regeneration over profits at all costs.

97 episodes later, thanks to your support, this mission has become a movement — connecting farmers, brands, and allies across the regenerative landscape.

Now, for the first time ever, we’re asking for your support. A generous donor is matching every dollar up to $25,000 to help grow the ReGen Brands Institute — your hub for education, community, and action in regenerative CPG.

Give today and your impact doubles. Help us hit $50K by April 11th!

With gratitude,

Kyle & AC

🌱 Join Climate Collaborative and Alisa Knapp (Grows Together) for an interactive 90-minute session exploring how food and grocery companies can integrate climate-resilient crops into their supply chains. With growing supply chain challenges, this workshop provides actionable strategies to enhance innovation, resilience, and sustainability in ingredient sourcing.

The event is on Tuesday, April 15th at 1:00 - 2:30 PM Eastern and is virtual

🍎 Join us at RegenerativeNYC on April 22nd and 23rd for two action-packed days of conversations, connections, and community—all centered around growing the regenerative movement!

Join in the fun and get 20% off using code "REGENBRANDS" at checkout:

🥜 Philosopher Foods Is Raising Money On WeFunder!

• Philosopher Foods is revolutionizing gut health snacks with Gut Nuts™ — the first and only fermented nuts! Tangy, umami-packed, and crunchy, these snacks support digestion while delivering bold flavor.

• Revenue grew 28% to $1.1M (2023-2024), with a 53% repeat customer rate and projected 200% growth in 2025.

• Products are already in 400+ stores (Whole Foods, Amazon, Thrive Market, and more), with Sprouts approval pending and a patent-pending process to protect innovation.

👉️ Check out the investment opportunity here

^{_{This communication is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, an offer, or a solicitation to buy or sell any securities. Any investment carries risk, and you should do your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.}}

Many of the biggest brands in the world have made regenerative agriculture commitments.

But what does that really mean…?

🌍 68 of the world’s largest CPG companies have made commitments to regenerative agriculture, covering a massive 40.5 million acres (CREO, 2023).

🔄 While 63% of CPG firms have made regenerative commitments, only a small fraction have the data and financial systems to truly support farmer transition (FAIRR Initiative, Sept 2023).

We’re aggregating all the most important research on big CPG commitments to regen ag in our new Research Hub.

🌭 Applegate Beats 2025 Regenerative Goal, Transitions All Beef Hot Dogs to 100% Certified Regenerative Beef

• Applegate surpassed its 2025 regenerative goal nine months early, transitioning all beef hot dogs to 100% certified regenerative beef and impacting over 10.8 million acres of grasslands.

• The shift includes certification from leading organizations—Regenerative Organic Certified®, Land to Market, and Certified Humane® — ensuring high standards for animal welfare, soil health, and ecosystem restoration.

• This move positions Applegate as a regenerative pioneer in the meat industry, using an everyday product — the hot dog — to drive large-scale agricultural change and inspire industry-wide transformation.

🍗 Force of Nature Meats has launched a new chicken line sourced from pasture-raised, organic-fed, slow-growth breeds that live twice as long as conventional birds. By prioritizing animal welfare, environmental stewardship, and nutrition, the brand aims to set a new standard for regenerative poultry sourcing. (Meat + Poultry ↗)

🥃 Sapling Spirits, Brother’s Bond, Fielden, Arbikie, and Maker’s Mark are leading a growing movement in the spirits industry by embracing regenerative agriculture—from heritage grains to climate-positive gins and bourbons made with regeneratively grown grain. As major players like Diageo and Pernod Ricard begin pilot projects and map sustainable “terroirs,” it's clear the sector is starting to see regenerative farming not just as an ecological imperative, but as a business one too. (The Spirits Business ↗)

🍟 McCain and McDonald’s are teaming up with Waitrose and the UK’s Sustainable Markets Initiative to launch “Routes to Regen,” a pilot program supporting farmers in transitioning to regenerative agriculture. With backing from major financial institutions and agrifood players, the initiative aims to simplify adoption by bundling technical, financial, and peer-to-peer support into one accessible package. (AgFunder News ↗)

🫘 SIMPLi is leading the charge in regenerative organic foods, with founder Sarela Herrada building a transparent, farmer-first supply chain that now spans over 3,000 retail and restaurant doors nationwide. With new partnerships like Patagonia Provisions and a nationwide launch in Sprouts, SIMPLi is proving that clean, traceable ingredients are the future of plant-based food. (Vegconomist ↗)

🍷  Maison Mirabeau has launched One Day, Provence’s first wine to earn the Certified Regenerative by A Greener World (AGW) label, now available at Whole Foods Market UK. Sourced from organic, regeneratively farmed vineyards, this rosé marks a bold step toward scaling nature-positive farming in the global wine industry. (Retail Times ↗)

🥩  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