ReGen Brands Podcast

On this episode of the ReGen Brands Podcast, AC and Kyle sit down to record together in person for the very first time – and for the final episode of the show. We reflect on the full journey of ReGen Brands, from a spontaneous idea to more than 119 podcast episodes, a growing regenerative CPG community, and the launch of two non-profits dedicated to supporting regenerative brands. Along the way, we share the wins we’re most proud of, the impact the community made possible, and the lessons we learned building organizations to support the movement. We also open up about what didn’t work. From strategy and fundraising challenges to the broader macroeconomic headwinds facing regenerative brands, we walk through the real reasons behind the decision to shut down the ReGen Brands Coalition and the ReGen Brands Institute. Finally, we zoom out to explore the current state of regenerative CPG and where the movement might go next. From retailer incentives and path-to-purchase education to brand collaboration and the future of regenerative claims, we share our honest predictions for what it will take to unlock the next phase of growth.   Episode Highlights: 📈 How far regenerative CPG has come since 2022 🏆 The biggest wins from the ReGen Brands journey 🧩 The real reasons we’re shutting it down 📍 Where the movement stands right now 🔮 Our bold predictions for the future   Links: ReGen Brands Podcast ReGen Brands Coalition ReGen Brands Institute  JellyShot Regenerative Organic Certified® Regenified Land to Market A Greener World Soil Carbon Initiative (SCI) Expo West (Natural Products Expo West) Whole Foods Market Force of Nature Maui Nui Venison Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode, we sit down with Stacy Cushenbery, Senior Manager for Global Regenerative Agriculture at Oatly, to unpack how one of the world’s most recognizable plant-based brands is tackling regeneration at scale. We explore why Oatly chose an “equivalent acres” approach instead of chasing identity-preserved sourcing, and how that decision balances procurement flexibility with landscape-level impact. We dive into why mill partners are the hidden backbone of their program — organizing farmers, shaping agronomy plans, and making regen real on the ground. Stacy shares the nuts and bolts of what practices Oatly is paying farmers to adopt, how much support they receive, and what the company has learned about building trust and iteration into the process. And finally, we go inside the business model — how Oatly calculated program costs down to a cost-per-liter of oat milk and embedded those expenses directly into procurement budgets. It’s a conversation about pragmatism meeting ambition, about turning lofty sustainability goals into operational reality, and about how brands can work across systems to create genuine impact. Episode Highlights: 🌍 Working towards system-level change in their regional supply sheds 🌾 Incentivizing regen practices in their two main sourcing regions 💡 Choosing mass balance impact over a segregated sourcing approach 🤝 Partnering with mills as the backbone of farmer engagement 🧑‍🌾 Supporting farmers with flexible, farmer-choice practice menus 🌱 Incentivizing farmers with per-acre payments for practice adoption 📈 Mapping sustainability costs down to cost per liter of oat milk 🛠 Embedding regen incentive costs into the procurement budget 📺 Educating consumers through authentic farmer storytelling 🎯 Calling for recognition of the true cost of food to drive change Links: Oatly Regrow Grain Millers If you find this content valuable, please consider donating to support our work Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode, we're digging deep into why measuring soil carbon is so essential but so difficult, and what it takes to make it faster, cheaper, and easier. We’re joined by Chris Tolles, Co-Founder and CEO of Yard Stick, a soil carbon measurement company that's helping unlock the data needed to scale regenerative agriculture by affordably and accurately delivering the ground-truth data that proves the ROI of regenerative practices. Chris walks us through the graph that convinced him soil carbon was the climate solution to bet on — and why most current measurement methods are too expensive, too slow, or too inaccessible to meet the moment. You'll learn how Yard Stick's field-based spectroscopy technology changes the game, and why ground-level measurement will always matter more than watching from space. We also explore how Yard Stick is working with carbon project developers, land funds, and food brands — why these partners want the data, how they're using it, and what outcomes its helping them achieve. Plus, Chris tells us what it actually looks like to measure soil carbon on a thousand-acre farm, he gets real about the limitations of consumer demand to spur a regenerative revolution, unpacks the driver behind the underfunding of nature-based climate solutions, and shares his perspective on what the voluntary carbon market might look like in 10 years. Episode Highlights: 🌍 Improving soil carbon measurement to help reverse climate change 🧲 The one powerful graph that created his soil carbon conviction 💰 Why measuring soil carbon costs so much today 🧪 Replacing costly lab analysis with real-time soil spectroscopy 🤝 How they work with project developers, investors, and brands 💪 Reducing supply chain volatility with soil health insights 📉 Why nature-based solutions are still underfunded 💭 What will the voluntary carbon market look like in 10 years? 👀 Unpacking the bearish case for regenerative consumer demand 🌽 Embracing paradox and finding the “both and” Links: Yard Stick   Soil Carbon Capacity + Cost Graph Image Soil Carbon Capacity + Cost Graph Study Yard Stick Probe In Action Video Yard Stick Efficacy Scientific Paper Soil Health Institute’s ECONOMICS of Soil Health Systems on 30 U.S. Farms NYC Climate Week Soil + Ag People Walk/Run Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) Measurement, Reporting, Verification (MRV) Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Soil Health Institute Clear Frontier SLM Partners General Mills Organic Valley Regrow Perennial Maui Nui Sol Simple Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF) Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) Indigo Ag Verra (Carbon Registry) Quantis Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU)   If you find this content valuable, please consider donating to support our work Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode, I’m joined by Kristina Tucker, the longtime Minister of Enlightenment at The Republic of Tea.   We explore the brand’s 30-year journey from launching the first certified Organic tea in 2003 to piloting new Regenerative Organic Certified® SKUs today. Kristina shares how the company sources over 400 teas and herbs from more than 80 growing regions, and what it takes to balance innovation, ingredient integrity, and supply chain complexity at scale.   We dive into how regenerative fits into their historical sourcing evolution — from organic to biodynamic to ROC™ — and why the brand is taking a thoughtful, "wait and learn" approach to rolling out regenerative products across their massive catalog.   You’ll also hear about the product, packaging, and business decisions that have contributed to their success and longevity in the tea category, their super unique fax-based origin story, and their commitment to supporting smallholder farmers across the globe.   So pour yourself something to sip on and get ready to learn about this Republic and its Ministers, Ambassadors, Citizens, and Embassies.   Episode Highlights:   🌿 Launching the first certified Organic tea in 2003 📦 Sourcing 400+ teas and herbs from over 80 growing regions 🌍 Why they have Ministers, Ambassadors, Citizens, and Embassies 🌱 Introducing 3 new Regenerative Organic Certified® SKUs 🧑‍🌾 Supporting smallholder, single-origin herb farmers across the globe 🌾 Navigating volume constraints to responsibly scale regen sourcing 🫖 Delivering 30+ servings per SKU in shelf-efficient steel tins 📊 Offering customizable assortments for retail partners 📈 Launching 10–20 new SKUs annually 👏 Supporting female farmer leadership in Sri Lanka   Links: The Republic of Tea Ministers, Ambassadors, Citizens, and Embassies The Republic of Tea Book Regenerative Organic Certified® Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP) Women of Tea Sri Lanka Program   If you find this content valuable, please consider donating to support our work Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode, we’re talking with Isabel Washington, the founder of Laurel’s, a rapidly growing ready-to-drink coffee brand powered by regenerative A2 dairy.We dive into Isabel’s personal journey, discovering A2 milk, how it transformed her relationship with dairy, and why it became the cornerstone of her brand.You’ll hear how she spotted a massive gap in the RTD coffee aisle — where 90% of products were non-dairy — and why she designed Laurel’s first three SKUs to reflect what people actually order at real coffee shops.Isabel also pulls back the curtain on the scrappy, behind-the-scenes grind of building a CPG brand from scratch — from tying up all her money in the first production run to grinding through 40 demos in 50 days at Erewhon.And we talk about the bigger picture — how content, culture, and motivated moms will determine the future of regenerative food and beverage.Episode Highlights:💡 Isabel’s A2 dairy awakening🥛 Reclaiming dairy for Gen Z and Millennial women🤔 Why RTD coffee had become 90% non-dairy🧃 Moving from idea to shelf in just 8 months🧋 Designing SKUs around what consumers actually drink🏪 Driving early growth with 40 demos in 50 days at Erewhon🌱 Prioritizing regen sourcing, even without marketing claims💵 The complexity and cost of product certifications📈 How social media content will determine regen awareness🛍 Why motivated mothers are the most influential shoppersLinks:Laurel’s CoffeeAlec’s Ice CreamMcKinsey & CompanyErewhonGrünsAlexander Family FarmPainterland SistersJimbo’sIf you find this content valuable, please consider donating to support our workFollow ReGen Brands on LinkedInSubscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode, we’re diving into the incredible origin story of Jasberry with the company’s Co-Founder and CEO, Neil.  You’ll hear how a life-changing high school friendship, a Google search for the world’s best rice scientist, and two years living in rural Thailand all led to a new superfood rice brand that you can now find on shelves at every Whole Foods nationwide. We unpack Jasberry’s mission to tackle generational farmer poverty, the science behind their superfood purple rice, and why organic and regenerative rice farming is actually lowering costs and producing higher yields for their farming partners.  Neil also shares how Jasberry works with 2,500 rice farmers in Thailand who earn 14x more than the national average, why they're focused on expanding into foodservice for their next phase of growth, and how they’re dealing with a new, brutal 19% tariff. Episode Highlights: 🌾 Superfood rice with 40x more antioxidants than brown rice 🌱 Rooting the mission in farmer poverty and social justice 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Living with farm families for 2 years to earn trust and understanding 📉 Confronting a system where farmers were earning just $0.40 a day 🥇 Fueling the brand with breakthrough genetics from Thailand’s top rice scientist 🌍 Working with 2,500 farming families across Thailand 💥 Increasing farmer incomes by 14x above the national average 💸 Taking 7 years to scale and land national retail distribution 🍽️ Focusing on foodservice and direct-to-consumer for future growth 🚫 Wrestling with a new 19% tariff on Thai imports Links: Jasberry Seub Nakhasathien Northwestern Kellogg School of Management Grameen Bank Holy Basil If you find this content valuable, please consider donating to support our work Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode, we sit down with Keith Bearden, CEO of Alter Eco, to unpack one of the most turbulent years in chocolate’s history.  We dive into why cacao prices have more than tripled over the past two years and how a new 39% Swiss import tariff is disrupting their business in ways we have never seen before. Keith shares how Alter Eco is helping farmers transition to dynamic agroforestry systems across Latin America, why regenerative certification doesn’t always pencil out, and what needs to happen to unify the movement so consumers truly understand regen’s value.  Episode Highlights: 🍫 Leading in eco-friendly chocolate for over 20 years 📈 Why cacao prices have skyrocketed the past two years 🌴 Helping cacao farmers transition to dynamic agroforestry systems 💵 Providing direct financial and agronomic support to farmers 🛒 Why Swiss manufacturing is now a core part of brand messaging 🚫 The 39% Swiss import tariff causing major disruption 🤷 Why regen certification doesn’t pencil out right now 🤤 Consumers buy for indulgence, then learn about impact 🗣 The imperative for more harmonized regen certification and communication 🤯 Why we’re headed towards $10 chocolate bars Links: Alter Eco Alter Eco Sustainability Report Cacao Tariffs & Prices Soar Kiss the Ground Regenerative Organic Certified® Fair for Life B Corp Nextworld Evergreen   If you find this content valuable, please consider donating to support our work Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode, we’re joined by Berklee Welsh and Christina Skonberg from Simple Mills — the number one cracker, cookie, and baking mix brand in the natural channel today.   We unpack how Simple Mills is focused on contribution over attribution, working with more than 4,000 farmers on 70,000 acres to build a regenerative supply that doesn’t necessarily translate into product-specific claims.   We talk about product innovation, how underutilized crops like buckwheat and red beans are making their way into cookies and crackers, and why designing for soil health starts with good product design.   You’ll hear how their ingredient-specific regen programs started with a few sunflower growers in the Midwest and have now expanded to almonds, cocoa, and coconut sugar — and how those programs are grounded in listening to farmers, not prescribing to them.   Berklee and Christina unpack how Simple Mills’ regenerative programs drive supply resilience, employee morale, product differentiation, and even ingredient quality — making the case for why Simple Mills invests in this work, even without on-pack claims.   This one is packed with quality insights from two top-notch sustainability pros.   Episode Highlights:   📢 Why regen at Simple Mills is about contribution > attribution 🌾 Agriculture makes up over half of Simple Mills’ carbon footprint 🚜 Farmers need brands to help de-risk regenerative transitions 💰 Paying regen bonuses to sunflower farmers in the Midwest 📦 Their regen programs now span 4 ingredients and 70,000+ acres 🔬 Designing regen into product innovation from day one 📲 Leveraging regen efforts in marketing and what is resonating with consumers 💸 The non-consumer-focused business case for regen investments 🤝 Why scaling regen = more meetings 🎯 How all flourishing is mutual   Links: Simple Mills Future Farmers of America (FFA) General Mills Ferrero Rocher Starbucks Annie’s Cascadian Farm Organic Regenerative Organic Certified® The Almond Project National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) Robin Wall Kimmerer - “The Serviceberry”   If you find this content valuable, please consider donating to support our work Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode, we’re going deep into the forest with Michael Farrell, Co-Founder of The Forest Farmers.  Michael and his team are managing over 10,000 acres of forest in New York and Vermont to produce what they believe to be the most regenerative sweetener on the planet. You’ll hear how The Forest Farmers’ keep forests diverse and thriving, why maple syrup is nutritionally and environmentally superior to more popular, cheap sweeteners, and how brands can integrate maple ingredients into everything from beverages to baked goods. We unpack how maple trees become a full suite of Regenerative Organic Certified® products — from sap to syrup to sugar — and how those ingredients are now powering a new generation of regenerative brands like Recoup, Wild Orchard, and Alec’s Ice Cream.  Michael also shares why only 1% of U.S. maple trees are tapped today, and how shifting consumer demand can change that. Episode Highlights: 🍁 Making maple a leading regenerative organic ingredient 🍭 Maple sugar used to be the dominant sweetener in early American diets 🔍 Today’s mainstream syrups are often entirely artificial with no maple at all 🌳 Regeneratively managing over 10,000 acres of diverse forests 🛠️ Vacuum pumps, tubing grids, & gravity — how tree sap flows at scale 🇯🇲 The skilled Jamaican H2A team farming the forest 🎯 The nutritional and environmental advantage of maple-based ingredients 🧪 Process to taste — neutral sweetness or a bold maple profile for CPGs 💼 Supplying brands like Recoup, Wild Orchard, & Alec’s Ice Cream 🌲 The monster maple opportunity in both supply and demand Links: The Forest Farmers Cornell Maple Research Center Regenerative Organic Certified® Wild Orchard Tea  Recoup Beverages Alec’s Ice Cream International Maple Syrup Institute USDA Maple Syrup Guidelines Burlap & Barrel Spices IFT Show  If you find this content valuable, please consider donating to support our work Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode of the ReGen Brands Podcast, we’re joined by Jason Haas – Partner and General Manager at Tablas Creek Vineyard. Tablas Creek is located in Paso Robles, California, is one of the pioneering wineries in the U.S. for regenerative organic farming, and was the first vineyard to become Regenerative Organic Certified®.   Jason shares the incredible origin story of Tablas Creek, born from a partnership between his father and the Perrin family of France. We explore how they brought Rhône varietals to California and why they started a grapevine nursery to supply their own vineyard and the broader wine community here in the US.   We dive into the challenges and opportunities of regenerative viticulture – from managing tillage, to animal integration, to water retention. Jason also unpacks the complexity of managing 270 acres while bottling 29 different wines. Plus, he shares insights on the economics of DTC versus wholesale channels, and how they're balancing high regenerative and organic standards with industry-wide transition support.   If you're curious about how regenerative farming shows up in your favorite glass of vino – and what it takes to make that possible – this episode is for you.   Episode Highlights:   🌱 Pioneering Rhône grape varieties here in the US 🍇 Becoming the first Regenerative Organic Certified® vineyard 🧪 Launching a nursery to grow better vines and accelerate domestic adoption 🌿 How organic and biodynamic laid the groundwork for regenerative 🐑 Grazing sheep to boost soil fertility and water retention 🍷 Bottling 29 different wines a year, the way nature intended 🥂 Growing their “Wine Club” to 11,000 members 📦 How DTC makes up 50% of their volume, but 80% of revenue 💡 Using “neighborhood” blends to help other growers transition to organic 🌍 Collective strategies to scale consumer demand for regen-certified wine   Links: Tablas Creek Vineyard Château de Beaucastel Demeter Biodynamic Certification Regenerative Organic Certified® UC Davis Foundation Plant Services One Block Challenge™ If you find this content valuable, please consider donating to support our work Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode of the ReGen Brands podcast, a voice you know and love is back. Kyle returns after his brief two-episode hiatus, but this time as the guest.    We’re diving deep into a foundational issue facing regenerative CPG: we still have no unified way of tracking how regenerative products are performing at retail.    From disjointed data systems and third-party paywalls to the chaos of unstandardized claims, this episode breaks down why brands, retailers, and certifiers are flying blind when it comes to understanding regen product performance.We explore how syndicated data platforms like SPINS and Nielsen work, why regenerative claims often aren’t tracked, and what that means for brand strategy, buyer decisions, and movement-wide progress.    Kyle also shares why even the best sales data means nothing if you can’t translate it into value. Plus, we break down our two-pronged solution to ensure that regenerative products can be tracked just like organic, keto, or gluten-free items are today. And we detail the coordination effort it will require between certifiers, retailers, data companies, and brands.   Episode Highlights:   📉 Why we don’t actually know how regen products are selling 💸 Retail sales data is paywalled, fragmented, and hard to access 🧩 Each data provider has its own rules for product attribution 🔍 No unified system exists to track regen-specific product claims 📊 Retail buyers rely on data to greenlight trends (regen’s nearly invisible) 🤝 A unified attribute across platforms could unlock new retail wins 🧪 More regen data = better decisions, faster learning, less greenwashing 🔐 Data providers are open to change, but need an ROI to justify it 🛠️ We need industry consensus on regen claim and data governance 🏆 The holy grail = data that unlocks point of sale causation   Links: SPINS NielsenIQ Circana Whole Foods Market Kettle & Fire Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC™) Land to Market (EOV) Regenified A Greener World Slingshot CPG If you find this content valuable, please consider donating to support our work Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode of the ReGen Brands podcast, we're joined by Joe Miller from Kalona SuperNatural — a 20-year veteran of the dairy world and a passionate advocate for organic and regenerative farming. We dig into Kalona’s unique vertically integrated ecosystem (that includes 19 different businesses!), the brand’s deep partnerships with family dairy farms, and all the ways regenerative is shaping their efforts from soil to shelf.   Joe shares the story of how a group of farmers took matters into their own hands when the local co-op abandoned the organic market — and why practices like low-temp pasteurization and non-homogenization are helping differentiate their “almost raw” dairy offerings.   We also discuss the challenging questions — how regenerative dairy can thrive and scale in a landscape dominated by consolidation, consumer confusion, and razor-thin margins. And Joe gives a heartfelt case for why organic and regenerative matters more than ever — to the land, to the farmer, and to the person drinking the milk.   Episode Highlights:   🌱 Kalona was born to save organic dairy farms that got left behind 🚚 Their Iowa-based ecosystem includes 19 different entities 📍 Buying from small family farms, many with just 35–40 cows 🌾 Leveraging Land to Market certification for agronomic improvement 🥄 “Almost Raw” milk via low-temp pasteurization & non-homogenization 📊 How regen affects their marketing efforts in-store and post-purchase 🧠 Scaling to national distribution while maintaining local and regional impact 📈 The rise, stall, and hopeful revival of organic dairy in America 🤯 648,000 to 24,000: Why 95% of U.S. dairy farms disappeared 🥛 How regenerative agriculture can help make family dairy viable again   Links: Kalona SuperNatural Open Gates Group Kalona Regenerative Network Land to Market Oasis Hummus The Tipping Point If you find this content valuable, please consider donating to support our work Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode of the ReGen Brands Podcast, we're talking with Carrie Richards – the fourth-generation rancher behind Richards Regenerative.  Carrie takes us through her incredible journey from scrappy beef sales out of a friend's freezer to supplying over 40 school districts and major retailers like Sprouts. We dive deep into the challenges and contradictions of building a regenerative beef business – from dealing with misleading country-of-origin labeling and predatory brand partnerships to navigating the real math behind carcass utilization, processing costs, and wholesale margins. Carrie also shares her hopes in the future use of nutrient density data, her fears about the future of the cattle market, and the launch of Harvest Path – a software platform purpose-built to help small and mid-sized ranchers thrive. Episode Highlights: 🐄 Transitioning their family’s 6,500 acre ranch to regenerative 🛠️ “We had to build a meat company to become a finishing operation” 🌾 Rotating animals across three regions in California 🥩 Their unique model which is 90% wholesale 🏫 Serving 40+ school districts via Beef 2 Institution 👎 “The big brands use us as a marketing piece – and then disappear.” ⚙️ Harvest Path: their custom system that became a software business 📉 Concerns related to a booming cattle market and cheap imports 🔍 The hope in nutrition data and working with Edacious 💡 Musings on the state of the movement and where we’re headed Links: Richards Regenerative American Grassfed Association TomKat Ranch Savory Institute Cream Co. Meats Delivered Cold Edacious Nutrient Density Alliance UC Davis Health White Buffalo Land Trust Harvest Path CarnivoreMD (Paul Saladino) If you find this content valuable, please consider donating to support our work Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode of the ReGen Brands podcast, we’re closing a major chapter and celebrating everything that’s made it so powerful. Kyle is officially stepping away as the show’s regularly scheduled co-host. In this heartfelt conversation, Kyle shares what’s driving this decision, and we both reflect on the journey to date. You’ll hear behind-the-scenes stories, favorite moments, some laughs (of course), and a lot of love. And although I’m losing my co-host for the podcast, Kyle isn’t saying goodbye to the regenerative movement - he’s just shifting how he plans to contribute. Plus, you already know I’m recruiting him back for as many guest co-host episodes as possible, so this is definitely not the last time you’ll hear his voice on the show. Tune in as we mark this moment, say thank you, and look forward to what’s next, together. Episode Highlights: 🎤 Kyle signs off as co-host after 105 episodes 🙏 Gratitude for the Regen Brands community and listeners 🔥 The new ways Kyle plans to support regen 💼  How the pod inspired Kyle’s next moves 😂 AC already recruiting Kyle back for guest, co-host episodes   Links: Kettle & Fire Maui Nui Venison If you find this content valuable, please consider donating to support our work Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode, we have Eric Smith who is the Founder and CEO of Edacious. Edacious offers radically easy lab testing and intuitive nutrition software for food system professionals. They’re working on turning nutrition data into actionable insights for people and planetary health. Eric's on a mission to redefine food quality using hard data. Through his work at Edacious, he's helping brands measure, benchmark, and communicate the nutritional value of their products so consumers can truly understand what they’re eating. We explore:   Why the current Nutrition Facts Panel fails us How nutrient density can drive real market demand for regen products What kinds of data regenerative brands should be gathering now And how Edacious is building a first-of-its-kind food quality benchmarking system You’ll hear Eric break down complex concepts like bioavailability and phytochemicals in clear, actionable ways – plus explain how regenerative brands can use this data to differentiate themselves in a crowded market. If we weren’t already super bullish on how nutrient density can create increased demand for regenerative products, then we definitely are now. Episode Highlights: 💪 Why Eric left climate investing to go all in on nutrition 📉 Most nutrition panels are wrong and based on outdated USDA data 🔎 Many “healthy” foods are nutrient-poor due to depleted soils and genetic dilution 🔥 The five steps every brand can and should take right now 🧾 Why regulatory risk goes away when you have third-party data 💥 Regen products often contain 10x or more of certain key vitamins 🥩 Ground-breaking insights from the recently released Beef study 👀 What brands are doing a good job marketing their nutrition data? 📊 Building the first public database of food quality benchmarks 🚀 How their Nutrition Profiling Score could change food forever Links: Edacious Grantham Foundation Bionutrient Food Association USDA FoodData Central Kettle & Fire Food Fix by Dr. Mark Hyman Stefan van Vliet (Utah State) TomKat Ranch Bruce Ames Maui Nui Venison Force of Nature Maple Hill Creamery Alexander Family Farm Wildfarmed Function Health If you find this content valuable, please consider donating to support our work Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode, we have Mary Purdy who is the Managing Director of the Nutrient Density Alliance.   The Nutrient Density Alliance’s purpose is to ignite awareness and mobilize action around the nutritional benefits and improved food quality of soil-building regenerative agriculture to drive demand for a more sustainable food system and improve human health outcomes.   You’ve heard us talk a lot about how the increased nutrient density of regenerative foods will be a powerful marketing mechanism to increase demand for regenerative products and spur more adoption of regenerative agriculture. Well, Mary and her team at the NDA are at the forefront of those efforts.   In this episode, Mary shares powerful insights on the science linking healthier soil to more nutrient-dense food, the urgent need for research and clinical trials, and why dietitians, farmers, and brands must work together. We explore the regulatory landscape, the importance of using clear consumer language, and how the industry can avoid greenwashing while advancing nutrient density claims.   We also tackle some big questions: Why aren’t dietitians and food service professionals being trained to understand the connection between farming practices and nutrition? What practical steps can brands take to communicate nutrient density without regulatory risk? And how can regenerative brands get healthcare influencers involved to drive demand?   We’re talking phytochemicals, phytonutrients, flavonoids, and all things at the intersection of soil health, human health, and regenerative marketing. Episode Highlights:   🔬 The science backing up regen’s nutrition advantage 📝 “Healthy soil equals healthy food” is a sound bite we can all use 💡 Why brands should make “statements” and not “claims” 🤝 Partnering with dietitians to increase credibility and influence 🍅 Consumers don’t know about ‘nutrient density’ - yet 🚀  Building an undeniable case through research and case studies 👎 Why healthcare pros don’t learn about ag’s connection to nutrition 🎯 Increasing awareness while maintaining integrity 👀 What can brands do? (right now) 🏆 Why linking regen to healthcare is the holy grail   Links: Nutrient Density Alliance NDA Research Repository NDA Learning Lab NDA Regen Protein Project Soil & Climate Alliance Soil & Climate Initiative Squeeze Citrus Diestel Family Ranch Edacious Western Sustainability Exchange Recipe for Health (California) 4Roots Farm (Florida) Fresh RX Oklahoma Think Regeneration Applegate Sodexo Aramark If you find this content valuable, please consider donating to support our work Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode, we’re joined by Joseph Cassinelli, who is the Founder and President of El Nacho.   El Nacho is supporting regenerative agriculture with their line of tortilla chips made with certified regenerative corn.   In this episode, Joe shares how El Nacho was born during the pandemic and how it turned him from a seasoned restaurateur to a new CPG Founder. He details the importance of their clean ingredients, ancient processing techniques, and intentional sourcing decisions to produce a bold, flavorful chip that is better for eaters, farmers, and the planet.   We get a behind-the-scenes look at their brand inspiration and desire to bring storytelling and joy to the snack aisle with their bold lucha libre-inspired characters like El Nacho, Ms. Mango, and El Diablo. Joe also gives his hot takes on how we can increase consumer demand for regenerative products, and shares some top-secret information about their innovation pipeline.   Grab some chips and guac and dial in on this one.   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 lets El Nacho tap 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   Links: El Nacho Painted Burro Restaurant Group Expo West AGW Certified Regenerative Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) Land to Market Regenified Siete Foods Zack’s Mighty If you find this content valuable, please consider donating to support our work Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode, we’re joined by Brady Barnstable, Co-Founder and COO of Seven Sundays. Seven Sundays is a breakfast brand on a mission to restore human and planetary health, one cereal bowl at a time.  Brady takes us back to the early days of muesli inspiration in New Zealand, which inspired him and his wife, Hannah, to leave fast-paced careers in NYC and bootstrap a new CPG brand. We get deep into the hard realities of sourcing regenerative and upcycled ingredients, the missing middle of processing infrastructure, and what it takes to scale a direct trade program at the farm level. Brady also shares how Seven Sundays has resisted the temptation to “certify and shout” — instead focusing on building long-term, meaningful grower relationships and systems-level impact. You’ll hear why they’re bullish on sunflowers, oats, and sorghum in the Midwest, how they're navigating club and conventional retail, and what their new “Come Afield With Us” campaign is doing to bring consumers along their regenerative journey. This episode is packed with candid insight, supply chain wisdom, and big-picture optimism.  Episode Highlights: 🥣 Honeymoon to whole grains – how a bowl of muesli sparked a new cereal brand. 🌾 The cereal aisle of 2011 vs. today – and why Seven Sundays had to evolve to survive. 🔄 Why pivoting from product purity to consumer familiarity was key to growth. 🧑‍🌾 Building regenerative supply chains by starting with the processor, not the farmer. 🚛 Truckload volumes = regenerative scalability. Why size matters in supply planning. 🧼 Food safety friction – an underdiscussed barrier to more direct trade, regen sourcing 🌻 The Midwest sunflower model – 2,000+ acres and growing around a regional processor 🥄 Why Seven Sundays avoids certification-led regen claims on-pack (for now) 📦 Channel mix strategy – how club retail like Costco helped unlock profitability 🚜 “Come Afield With Us” – the brand’s new campaign to share their regenerative journey Links: Seven Sundays Whole Grain Milling Co. Lakewinds Food Co-op Sustainable Food Lab Soil Carbon Initiative (SCI) Kiss the Ground (Film) Practical Farmers of Iowa Heavenly Hunks / E&C Snacks Quinn Snacks If you find this content valuable, please consider donating to support our work Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

What’s up, y’all - welcome to a very special episode of the ReGen Brands Podcast. This isn’t just another episode—it’s episode 100. That’s right… triple digits.  And today, Kyle and I are taking a moment to reflect on everything this show has become since that first conversation back in 2022. We’re talking about where the regenerative CPG space was when we started and just how far it’s come—more brands, more awareness, more momentum.  We’ll share the behind-the-scenes stuff too… the quirks, the laughs, the chaos, and the little rituals that have shaped our journey. We’re giving out some fun awards—like grittiest guest, sweatiest guest, best background, and most listened-to episode—and yes, we roast ourselves a bit too. We’ll also be sharing the regen products we’ve been loving lately and making some bold predictions about what’s going to happen between now and episode 200. But most importantly, we’re taking stock of what we’ve learned, where the industry’s headed, and why we’re still all-in on this work. Whether you’ve listened to one episode or all one hundred, we’re so grateful you’re here.  Episode Highlights:   🎉 100 episodes in! Our journey from “do we even have enough brands?” to a thriving regen CPG ecosystem. 🌱 Regen CPG growth: From curiosity to conviction — how the landscape has transformed since 2022. 🧠 Learning out loud: Reflections on building expertise while staying humble and accessible. 🛠️ Industry transparency: Nearly every guest has said, “we’re an open book,” and that’s helped shape the show’s impact. 📈 Consumer trends are strong: People want better, healthier food — and regen products are gaining ground. 😂 Funniest podcast moments: From tree-climbing kids to backdrop bloopers and breakfast on air.   🧂 The Roast Is On: Self-aware burns, verbal quirks, podcast habits — and all the inside jokes. 🏆 Regen Awards: Toughest guest, coolest background, sweatiest guest, and even best facial hair. 🌍 Global reach: From listeners abroad to farm visits on honeymoons—this show’s community is wide and deep. 🔮 What’s next: Predictions, hopes, and big questions for the next 100 episodes and the future of regen CPG. Links: All Podcast Episodes (Searchable) Alexandre Family Farms Kefir Kalona Supernatural Sour Cream Big Picture Foods El Nacho Tortilla Chips Philosopher Foods Little Sesame Preserved Lemon Hummus Wild Idea Bison Filet Maui Nui Meat Sticks If you find this content valuable, please consider donating to support our work Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode, we’re joined by Carolyn Gahn who is the Senior Director of Mission & Advocacy at Applegate.   Applegate has just announced that they’ve achieved their ambitious goal to source 100% of the beef in their beef hot dogs from certified regenerative grasslands. By implementing this change, Applegate is helping to transition 10.8 million acres of grasslands to certified regenerative.   Carolyn leads Applegate’s regenerative agriculture initiatives, and she joins us to share how the brand has gone from a single experimental product to transforming its entire hot dog portfolio to be certified regenerative.   We explore what made Applegate double down on regen even when consumers didn’t fully understand it, and how this shift reflects the brand's long-standing mission of “changing the meat we eat.” Carolyn gives us a transparent look at the supply chain complexity, the multiple certifications chosen, and how Applegate’s position within Hormel is actually helping move regen efforts forward at scale.   We also dig into Applegate’s nutrient density testing and human health trials, their efforts to create true market signals for farmers, and how storytelling is evolving to make regen accessible and meaningful for everyday consumers.   Episode Highlights:   🌭 Applegate went all-in: The entire beef hot dog portfolio is now certified regenerative—ROC and a custom standard for non-organic lines.   🤯 Consumer confusion ≠ deterrent: Despite low consumer understanding of “regen,” Applegate committed to the transformation anyway.   💡 Do Good Dog learnings: Applegate's first regen product provided critical consumer insights—even if the SKU itself wasn’t the final solution.   🧬 Nutrient density & health trials: Applegate is conducting a human health study to compare regenerative vs. conventional beef on health biomarkers.   🧠 Consumer education strategy: The team is shifting toward messaging rooted in proxies like grass-fed and biodiversity—not soil science lectures.   🏆 Hormel backing regen: Carolyn confirms Hormel is fully supportive—proving big food can be part of the regen solution.   🧩 Collaborative supply chain: From aggregators to fashion brands, Applegate is working across sectors to support whole-animal utilization.   🌱 Farmer-first mindset: The team is focused on building systems that work with long-term supplier relationships and localized solutions.   🔍 Certification clarity: Applegate requires third-party certifications for all claims—driving integrity while acknowledging standard complexity.   📈 Beyond beef: Applegate is carefully evaluating pork, poultry, and feed systems to expand regen thoughtfully and meaningfully.   Links: Applegate Applegate Beats 2025 Regenerative Goal, Transitions All Beef Hot Dogs to 100% Certified Regenerative Beef Hormel Foods Regenerative Organic Certified Land to Market Hickory Nut Gap Kettle & Fire EOV (Ecological Outcome Verification) Bionutrient Food Association The Hormel Institute If you find this content valuable, please consider donating to support our work Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode, we are joined by Cole Mannix who is the Founder and President of Old Salt Co-Op.   Old Salt Co-Op is supporting regenerative agriculture with a collection of vertically integrated businesses bringing regeneratively raised meat to consumers. The Old Salt brand was created by a group of family ranches in Montana to provide a better food system and future for their land, their animals, and their customers.   Old Salt sells meat direct-to-consumers online, they operate two restaurants in Helena, Montana, and they’re also operating and acquiring meat processing facilities in the region. All with the goal of selling damn fine Montana meat based on one simple idea: land is kin.   In this episode, Cole details why these family ranches created Old Salt in search of a better alternative to the commodity market, why their focus is to turn consumers into citizens, and how their model can eventually triple rancher margins by creating equity upside for producers.   We chat with Cole about the why and how behind the complex Old Salt ecosystem of enterprises, the legendary Old Salt Festival coming up in June, why he wants to start a grain-finished program, and so much more.   Episode Highlights:   🤝 Why 3 ranching families united to start the brand 💥 Their unique corporate structure and multiple businesses 🔥 Why land and community are the same thing 🐺 How their ranching partners co-exist with wolves 💭 Building an experiential brand not tied to claims or certifications 👀 Their plans to add a grain-finished beef offering 🤯 Why downstream consolidation is the problem - not production 👎 Regulatory and financial barriers preventing regional meat processing 💯 Turning customers into citizens 👉 Their plans to triple rancher margins   Links: Old Salt Co-Op Old Salt Festival Savory Institute Holistic Management International Ranching For Profit Le Pigeon Lazy Susan Carman Ranch Cairnspring Mills Range Revolution Dorito Effect End of Craving Meat Eater Steward If you find this content valuable, please consider donating to support our work Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode, we are joined by Will and Jenni Harris from White Oak Pastures, which may very well be the original and very first regenerative brand. White Oak Pastures is a 160-year-old, zero-waste, regenerative farm that raises 10 species of animals living in symbiotic relationships with each other and the land. Starting in 1995, the farm transitioned away from industrial agriculture techniques and began operating their farm as a living ecosystem.  As a brand, White Oak has been a pioneer in American grass-fed beef production, selling both Publix and Whole Foods their first domestic-supplied grass-fed beef over a decade ago. Today, White Oak operates a myriad of businesses at their home ranch in Bluffton, Georgia with a team of 160 people and their products are sought out by customers in 48 of the 50 states. In this episode, Will shares his journey from industrial cattleman to regenerative innovator, Jenni details how the business has shifted from grocery to e-commerce, and both of our guests share their story with their trademark transparency, humility, and Southern charm. Will and Jenni highlight the need for consumer-driven change in agriculture, Jenni shares how being on The Joe Rogan Experience has affected their business, and Will takes us behind the scenes of producing his book, A Bold Return To Giving A Damn. 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 Links: White Oak Pastures A Bold Return To Giving A Damn The Center for Agricultural Resilience (CFAR) Internship Program FOND Bone Broth Figure Ate Joe Rogan Experience #2062 - Will & Jenni Harris Joe Rogan Experience #1893 - Will Harris Donate to support our work Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode, Kyle and I are flying solo to bring you some updates and thoughts coming out of Expo West. What are the latest industry trends we’re tracking? What was the state of regenerative at this year’s Super Bowl of CPG? What were the biggest regen wins from the Pitch Slam, to NEXTYs, to fundraising announcements? We dive into all the most important regen CPG topics including certification presence, new product highlights, and new information on increasing consumer awareness and demand for regenerative products. We break down the activation of the “I ❤️ REGEN” campaign and celebrate the success in building community. Plus, we offer some key insights and stats you can’t get anywhere else. Whether you were at the show or not, drop us a note with your major takeaways or other topics you’d like to see us discuss. Episode Highlights: 🔥 Regen was well-represented at the show 👉 Why ROC™ is the leading regen certification 💥 Recoup & Wild Orchard dominate the Pitch Slam 💰 GoodSAM raises $9M Series A 🏆 11 regen brands and 6 regen products win NEXTYs 🤤 Our favorite new regenerative products ❤️ Spreading the love with I ❤️ REGEN 📈 Our top non-regen trends and insights 🚀 Promising new data for increasing consumer demand 🗣️ Powerful soundbites we saved to share Links: Recoup Beverage Wins Expo West Pitch Slam GoodSAM Foods Secures $9M Series A 2025 Expo West NEXTY Award Winners Brain Energy (book) Down To Earth w/ Zac Efron RegenerativeNYC I ❤️ REGEN Gallant International Function Health Edacious Growing Success At Retail Session (Regenified Consumer Data) RegenScore Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

In this episode, Kyle and I are flying solo to cover the latest and greatest from the world of regenerative CPG. We kick things off with Kyle sharing some insights from recent conversations he’s had with retailers, and we unpack recent changes Whole Foods has made to their regenerative standards.  We break down all the things Expo West, including regenerative brands exhibiting, sessions we’re looking forward to, NEXTY finalists, where you can find regen on the agenda, and how ReGen Brands is showing up at the event. Secret sneak peek - we’re launching our first awareness campaign for ReGen Brands Coalition member brands and products, so be sure to check that out and listen to the full episode for more details. We touch on the early effects of the new federal administration change, specifically, the current federal funding freeze that is bringing some issues, and the optimism around change that could stem from the MAHA movement. We close things out with some fun and good news for the regenerative movement which you’ll find at the very end of the episode. Episode Highlights: 👍 Promising recent retailer interactions ✅ Whole Foods’ changing their regen standards 👉 Expo West preview and primer 👀 What regenerative brands are exhibiting + speaking? 🌎 Breaking down Climate Day, sessions, and interests 💰 Industry issues stemming from the federal funding freeze ❓ Is the MAHA optimism warranted? ⚖️ The pain and opportunity in political uncertainty 🖤 Introducing the “I ❤️ REGEN” campaign 👏 Kiss The Ground & Common Ground streaming on Prime Links: ReGen Brands Primer + Booth Guide - Expo West 2025 A Greener World & Whole Foods Announcement Natural Products Expo West Climate Day at Expo West 2025 Edacious Trump’s Funding Freeze Creates Chaos and Financial Distress for Farmers Alec’s Culture Cups Named NEXTY Finalist  Sustainable Herbs Initiative Kiss The Ground Film Common Ground Film Documentaries Public Watch Party Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode, we have Loren Poncia who is a rancher and the owner at Stemple Creek Ranch. Stemple Creek is supporting regenerative agriculture with their regeneratively-raised beef, lamb, pork, and chicken products mainly sold via their website directly to consumers and also available via select farmers' markets, restaurants, and retailers. Stemple Creek’s home ranch in Northern California stretches over more than 1,000 acres and their overall operation manages more than 8,000 acres of land.  In this episode, Loren details the family’s journey from conventional dairy to regenerative beef production, why they ended up starting a brand even though he “never wanted to be in the meat business,” and how they’ve grown to a multi-million dollar regional brand over the past decade. Stemple Creek’s commitment to honesty, transparency, and quality was very apparent as Loren shared the story of managing their ranch, developing their brand, and growing their business. He shared his three keys to cracking the code on premium quality and taste in grass-fed beef, how their brand is approaching regenerative certification, and the challenges of maintaining a fresh meat program year-round. Episode Highlights: 🥩 Building a $10M regional regenerative meat brand 💰 Rotational grazing for profitability - not product claims 😯 Operating 15 enterprises on their home ranch 💃 Why regenerative is a “constant dance with Mother Nature” 🔑 3 major keys for the highest quality grass-fed beef 🍽️ How Bay area restaurants boosted their business ☑️ Being “first person certified” instead of third-party certified 🦆 The 55 migratory bird species that live at the ranch 👉 Pricing difference for domestic vs imported grassfed beef 🔮 Succession planning and long-term employee ownership Links: Stemple Creek Ranch The Omnivore’s Dilemma Chez Panisse Sunday Marin Farmers Market Zuni Café American Wolf U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Force of Nature Meats Ranching For Profit Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode, we have Jason & Kristina Walker who are the Founders and Owners of Starwalker Organic Farms. Starwalker Organic Farms produces various beef, pork, and chicken products on a 3,000-acre Regenerative Organic Certified® farm in Northern California. They’re one of the biggest producers of organic pork in the United States, and they sell their regenerative organic products wholesale, direct-to-consumer, and through their branded CPG SKUs. The family also owns and operates a certified organic processing facility with slaughter, cut, and value-added operations serving their farm and many others in the community. In this episode, Jason and Kristina give us the low down on how they’re producing the world’s first Regenerative Organic Certified pork, educate us on how essential processing is in building market access for regenerative farmers, and share the inside scoop on what is coming from their family of operations in the future. Safe to say the Walkers are doing a lot, and we really enjoyed getting the behind-the-scenes view into all the ways they’re pushing to produce, process, and market regenerative food.   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 Links: Starwalker Organic Farms Regenerative Organic Certified® The Dorito Effect Mad Capital Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode, we have Sara Delaney who is the Founder and CEO at Sarilla. Sarilla is supporting regenerative agriculture with its lineup of ready-to-drink spritzers that are all made with organic and regenerative ingredients. Sarilla sources the majority of its ingredients via direct trade relationships with farmer cooperatives in Rwanda that are USDA Organic and Fair Trade Certified and pursuing regenerative certification. In this episode, Sara shares how she was inspired to launch the brand to further her work supporting the people of Rwanda in their ongoing recovery from the Rwandan Genocide in 1994, and she shares how Sarilla has grown over time to find the right name, SKUs, and product positioning. Sara’s personal story is one of resiliency, empathy, and community and is definitely very alive in the Sarilla brand. She subscribes to the Rwandan wisdom that “to be alone is to die” - which underpins Sarilla’s social impact mission and should serve as good advice for all of looking to increase collaborative efforts in regeneration. Episode Highlights: 🙏 How supporting Rwanda sparked a CPG brand 💔 The Rwandan genocide and need for trauma healing 🌿 Why tea was the pathway to economic impact 🧘 Sourcing from legendary, regenerative Rwandan tea gardens 👉 Positioning SKUs as sober safe and non-alcoholic 👍 Why RTD beverage can be such an impactful category for regen 🎯 Finding the right brand name, SKU mix, and positioning over time 🔥 Why sometimes “rejection is protection” and “asking who not how” 🥤 Building in foodservice, hospitality, vending, and grocery 🫶 How community is the antidote to despair Links: Sarilla Sara’s TED Talk The Rwandan genocide Africa Healing Exchange Vistar Dobra Tea Asheville 1% For The Planet Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund Foodbuy Cheney Brothers RangeMe Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode, we have Tim Cornie who is a farmer and the Co-Owner of 1000 Springs Mill. Tim is supporting regenerative agriculture as a farmer managing more than 800 acres of regenerative organic land in Idaho, by owning and operating a processing facility sourcing from many farmers in his region, and by selling CPG products in the 1000 Springs Mill brand that contain regenerative organic ingredients. In this episode, Tim shares how his regenerative efforts are inspired by the healthcare challenges that his family and community have faced, how a trip to Europe inspired him to “stop feeding cows and start feeding humans,” plus what it’s like to farm, process, and brand regenerative organic foods. Tim is super optimistic that new ag-tech solutions are going to help more farmers adopt regenerative practices, he sees great growth opportunities in making regenerative products more convenient, and he’s a firm believer that it all comes down to creating market demand. Episode Highlights: 🔥 Farming regenerative organic land fed by 1,000 springs 😮 How a German horse trainer inspired Tim’s farming style ⚡ Why we need to get Cybertrucks on the farm 🩺 How our health depends on changing the way we farm 😯 The powerful benefits of BARLEYmax™ ⚙️ Running a 250,000-square-foot processing facility 👉 How private label sourcing can support regenerative 🍸 The two booze brands sourcing their grain ⏰ Making regenerative food convenient 🎯 Why market demand always comes first Links: 1000 Springs Mil Regenerative Organic Certified® Kiss The Ground Common Ground BARLEYmax™ Farmer’s Gin American Harvest Vodka Why One Spirits Company Is Betting On Regenerative Ag And Farmers In Idaho (Forbes) Expo West Lil Bucks Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode, we have John Strohfus who is the Founder and CEO of Field Theory and Minnesota Hemp Farms Incorporated. John is supporting regenerative agriculture as a row crop farmer managing 1,000 acres in Minnesota, by working as a broker and supply chain builder with multiple brands, and by selling CPG products in the Field Theory brand that contain regeneratively grown ingredients. In this episode, John educates us on what really matters to farmers, gives his take on conventional regenerative versus regenerative organic, and breaks down what it takes to find, aggregate, and broker regenerative ingredients for other brands. This was a super fascinating conversation and a great one to start of the new year. John’s three-pronged perspective as a farmer, broker, and brand builder really unlocked some amazing insights. We were pumped to have him join us and hope you learn as much as we did. Episode Highlights:   🔥 Perspective from a farmer, broker, and brand builder 🌱 Bringing hemp back to Minnesota in 2016 🚜 What’s holding farmers back from going regen? 🎯 Why we need more demand for “conventional regenerative” 👏 The lasting impact of Simple Mills’ direct trade sunflower program 🏆 What John likes about the Soil & Climate Initiative verification ⚙️ Building new direct trade regenerative supply chains 😯 Why linking regen practices to nutrient density might not work 🤔 Is CPG harder than farming? 🚀 How private label demand could help boost regen adoption   Links: Field Theory Minnesota Hemp Farms Incorporated NETZRO Simple Mills Ardent Mills Bay State Milling PACHA Regenerative Organic Certified Soil & Climate Initiative Regenified Roots Potato Chips MN Soil Health Coalition Seven Sundays Bob’s Red Mill Nutrient Density Alliance Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

In this episode, we’re bringing you into the new year with a first-of-its-kind format covering current events, new consumer research, and industry news. Kyle and I spend time talking about Trump winning the presidency and what that means for regenerative brands and the regenerative movement. How will tariffs affect cost of goods? Will mass deportations affect labor and cost of goods? Is MAHA for real and what impact will it have? Will the new administration fulfill their promises on inflation and the economy resulting in higher velocities of premium regen products and more investment into their businesses? We chat about the cultural implications from the election and how we think that will affect where regen goes over the next 4 years. How will all this anti-establishment energy affect change? What does the rejection of woke ideology mean for brands marketing the sustainability benefits of regenerative products? We cover Regenified’s recently released consumer report that highlights high interest in regenerative agriculture and growth opportunities for brands and retailers. What can we learn from the findings of this 850-person study? Regenified’s key findings highlighted rising consumer awareness and interest, the criticality of certifications, consumers prioritizing health and nutrient density, and consumer willingness to pay a premium for regenerative products. We unpack it all and share our perspectives.  We share some big news from brands like Painterland Sisters, Long Table, Recoup, Little Sesame, and Diestel Family Ranch covering new products and retailer partnerships, big industry pitch slam wins, and new nutrient density analysis.  Lastly, Kyle and I share some of the regenerative products we’re gifting to friends and family this holiday season. We’re pumped to bring you this new format and excited to do more episodes like it in 2025, so let us know what you think and want to hear us chat about next!   Episode Highlights: 🇺🇸 What does Trump 2.0 mean for regenerative brands? ↗️ Will tariffs drive up COGS significantly? 👀 Is MAHA for real? What are we expecting? 💰 Will brand investment increase like it did in the first term? 😡 What Trump's win tells us about current consumer sentiment 💭 How anti-woke energy might affect marketing sustainability 📊 Key findings from Regenified’s new consumer research 👉 Why regenerative awareness is still so low 🚀 BIG recent wins from regenerative brands 🎁 Our regenerative gifts for the holidays   Links: Food & ag organizations respond to Trump victory What a Trump Presidency Means for US Agriculture by Connie Bowen MAHA Food Fix Undaunted Courage California Food & Agriculture officials wrestle with regenerative agriculture definition Regenified's 2024 Consumer Report Recoup Takes Title as New Beverage Showdown 28 Winner Long Table wins big at SKU Fall Showcase Painterland Sisters debuts new Passion Fruit flavor Painterland Sisters is now available in all 1,300+ Publix Super Markets Little Sesame Launches First-To-Markets Kids Hummus Cups Nutritional Analysis of Diestel Regenerative Turkeys Dadascope Communications Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode, we are talking about all things related to our recently released State of Regenerative CPG Report. Many of you have already checked out the report or at least heard us talk about it briefly on Episode 81 where we unpacked the launch of our new ecosystem. The report synthesizes ReGen Brands' proprietary learnings from almost three years of studying regenerative CPG, including 80 podcast episodes interviewing brand founders, executives, and other key ecosystem stakeholders.  It is designed to help you understand the ways regenerative brands are winning today along with the key challenges they face on the road to additional progress. This report is a super easy read but it's definitely dense, so we wanted to unpack ALL of it for you on this episode. So go download your copy and follow along or just listen in as we dive deep into our comprehensive state of the industry.   Episode Highlights: 💭 Why we wrote the report 💡 What we learned along the way 🚀 Unpacking how regen brands are winning today 🛑 Breaking down key challenges and calls to action 🏗️ What we’re building to help solve problems   Links: State of Regenerative CPG Report Ramping Your Brand NOSH Live Newtopia Now The Gap and The Gain Carol Sanford TIG Brands Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode, we have Camilla Marcus who is the Founder & CEO at west~bourne. West~bourne is supporting regenerative agriculture with their chef-driven snacks and pantry staples - all impeccably sourced, utilizing regenerative, sustainable, and organic ingredients. The brand’s ethos is 'eat well. do better. gather often.' In this episode, Camilla shares her journey from chef to brand Founder, the philosophy behind west~bourne’s unique model, the challenges and triumphs of leading with sustainability in the CPG space, and how Camilla is driving impact far beyond the plate.  We talk about west~bourne’s new Regenerative Holiday Box, Camilla’s new cookbook, My Regenerative Kitchen, and celebrate their big recent win with The Fresh Market. Episode Highlights: ❤️ Food is our common love language 🍽️ How restaurants influence popular culture 🚀 Making regenerative cool through food 🤝 Partnering with Glossier for their first CPG product 👩‍🍳 Building a chef-curated brand and product portfolio 🎯 Why climate solutions that aren’t health solutions aren’t solutions 🗞️ Trade media’s role in advancing the regen conversation 🔥 Their Regenerative Holiday Bundle & My Regenerative Kitchen cookbook 👏 Taking their avocado oil national with The Fresh Market 💥 Why radical collaboration is our rocket fuel Links: west~bourne My Regenerative Kitchen Cookbook Union Square Hospitality Group The Third Plate Glossier Oishii The Business of Fashion Stella McCartney Pangai Baldor Specialty Foods Canyon Coffee Mad Agriculture Lil Bucks Lundberg Family Farms Alexandre Family Farm Alec’s Ice Cream Patagonia Provisions Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode, we have Ryan Pintado-Vertner who is the Founder and CEO at Smoketown. Smoketown is a boutique brand consultancy that helps visionaries, mission-driven brands and nonprofits maximize their growth and positive impact without one compromising the other. They use empathy to help solve complex marketing challenges for their clients who are creating more justice, generosity, equity, and regeneration in the world. Smoketown is supporting regenerative agriculture with their recently released white paper: Unlocking Demand for Regenerative - A Crowdsourced Blueprint for Accelerating Consumer Demand for Regenerative Agriculture It will come as no surprise to anyone who has listened to this show before to hear that we are convicted in our belief that we need to figure out how to improve our ability to increase consumer awareness and demand for regenerative products. Well, Ryan shares that conviction with us and this white paper was his attempt to explore that concept and share his findings with the community. And boy did he deliver. The white paper is full of really insightful takeaways and recommended actions to take, and Ryan is here with us today to break it all down. You’ll also learn about his background as an activist and big-CPG brand builder, his previous work at Sometown with mission-driven brands, and his regen awakening that led to him producing this blueprint for driving change. Join us as we break down how the regenerative community can 1) Increase Consumer Empathy, 2) Refine the Messaging Frame, 3) Double Down on Loyalty and Share of Wallet, and 4) Boldly Collaborate for Big Awareness. Episode Highlights: 🙏 How his spiritual practice sparked a regen awakening ❤️ Why collaboration has to be a superpower 🎯 Making marketing decisions based on consumer empathy ❌ The limits of sustainability-themed messaging 📈 Why self-interest always outsells altruism 💣 The BIG need for more consumer research 🤝 How cross-promotion can help brands boost regen ROI 🧪 What we can apply from the proliferation of probiotics 🛒 Why retailers have to help drive high-level awareness 💪 How linking regen to nutrition is the biggest unlock Links: Smoketown Unlocking Demand for Regenerative - White Paper Trailhead Capital Julia Collins State of Regenerative CPG Report Kiss The Ground Lundberg Family Farms SIMPLi Applegate Regenified Consumer Research Purdue Consumer Food Insights Edacious Bionutrient Food Association Nutrient Density Alliance Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) RFSI Europe Omie Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode, we have Eric Gutknecht who is the President and CEO at Charcutnuvo. Charcutnuvo is supporting regenerative agriculture with their Regenerative Organic Certified® beef sausages and they are working to transition their entire product portfolio of beef, chicken, and pork sausage products to ROC™. In this episode, Eric gives us the real scoop on “how the sausage is made.” We cover his family’s five-generation history in sausage making, his sausage-making training in Europe, and what processes the brand implores that set them apart from the competition.  Eric also gives us the lowdown on the regenerative organic beef they’re sourcing, how adding the ROC™ certification to their products has boosted velocities, plus what it’s going to take to see more regenerative sausage at your favorite retailer. Episode Highlights: 🌭 Five generations of sausage-making ↗️ Going from natural to organic to regenerative organic 🏆 What it takes to make better sausage 🍖 Maximizing carcass value and utilization 🦘 Sourcing ROC™ beef from Australia 🤑 Their 25% sales increase post-certification 💪 How Natural Grocers supports regen brands 🔥 New regen products coming in 2025 🥳 Securing ‘menu mentions’ to increase regen awareness 🎯 Why regen potential is equal to retailer commitment Links: Charcutnuvo Regenerative Organic Certified® Natural Grocers Hewitt Foods National Restaurant Association True Food Kitchen Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode, we have Heidi Diestel who is a fourth fourth-generation turkey farmer and executive at Diestel Family Ranch. Diestel Family Ranch has been raising turkeys since 1949, and they’re supporting regenerative agriculture with their Non-GMO, regeneratively raised turkeys that are certified Regenified™. In this episode, Heidi schools us on their family’s journey raising turkeys and how their practices and products have evolved over the years, she gives us an in-depth look at how they raise their regenerative birds and source regenerative feed, plus she breaks down how they think about product innovation and what is coming in the future from Diestel. Listen folks, that calendar says November, so it is time to start thinking about that Thanksgiving turkey. We went in-depth for a big-time Turkey 101 with Heidi today, and we were fascinated by everything we learned. We hope you enjoy this one as much as we did, and more importantly, we hope you’re serving a regenerative turkey at your holiday meal here in a few weeks. Episode Highlights: 🦃 Four generations of turkey farming 🔪 Going from butcher shops to natural retailers 😂 Kyle’s obsession with Diestel turkey 3️⃣ The turkey farming trifecta: breed, feed, and time ⁉️ What’s a regenerative turkey? ✌️ Why regen turkey takes both fowl AND feed 🌽 Sourcing 650 tons of Regenified corn ↗️ Diversifying the product portfolio in the last decade 🍗 Creating products for the Thanksgivings of the future 🔥 A three-pronged playbook for regen poultry to scale Links: Diestel Family Ranch Regenified™ Diestel Becomes First Certified Regenified™ Turkey Brand Global Animal Partnership Smoketown Report: Unlocking Demand for Regenerative Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode, we have Kyle Sullivan & Jesse Smith from Figure Ate Foods and the White Buffalo Land Trust. Kyle serves as the Director of Marketing and Communications while Jesse serves as the Director of Land Stewardship. Figure Ate is supporting regenerative agriculture with their persimmon vinegar and beef biltong products, and the Figure Ate brand is a part of the larger White Buffalo Land Trust non-profit that is stewarding the 1,000-acre Jalama Canyon Ranch and serves as a global hub for regenerative land stewardship, ecological monitoring, research, education, training, and enterprise development.  In this episode, we learn about why developing demand-building enterprises supporting ecological stewardship is a major key to regenerative success, Kyle and Jesse share the journey of launching the brand, formulating the initial products, and selling across multiple sales channels, plus we learn about some new projects and products they have in the works. Episode Highlights: 🌎 Creating a global hub for regenerative agriculture ⁉️ Why does a non-profit have a food brand? 👉 Building enterprises that support ecological stewardship 🤯 The ecological complexity at the Jalama Canyon Ranch 🍶 Why persimmon vinegar was product #1 🔥 Developing domestic Elderberry supply + new products 😡 Dealing with legal and regulatory challenges in marketing 💪 Leading with nutrition claims on packaging 👀 New biltong flavors coming soon 💫 The quorum of energies that will scale regenerative Links: Figure Ate White Buffalo Land Trust Richard’s Regenerative Sandhi Wines Ventura Spirits Value-Added Producer Grants Good Food Awards Land To Market™ White Oak Pastures Thousand Hills Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities State of Regenerative CPG Report Good Energy by Casey Means Outstanding In The Field Bionutrient Food Association Nutrient Density Alliance Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode, we have Benina Montes who is the Founder and Co-Owner of Burroughs Family Farms. Burroughs Family Farms is supporting regenerative agriculture with their regenerative organic farm producing almonds, olives, and walnuts while raising pastured sheep and poultry. Their brand predominantly sells almond-based products like various nut butters and their new almond concentrate, along with whole-snacking almonds offered in various formats and flavors.  In this episode, we learn about the Burroughs family's long history in farming and with food brands, Benina details their regenerative journey and how they became the first almond farm in the world to be Regenerative Organic Certified®, and we learn about why they launched their own brand and how it has grown over the last few years. Benina and her family are proving firsthand on their more than 1,000 acres that almond farming can be both regenerative and productive - leading to big wins in water infiltration, farm profitability, crop nutrient density, and more. They even host an Annual Regenerative Almond Field Day to share their efforts with other farmers, brands, retailers, researchers, and more. Episode Highlights: 🧑‍🌾 The Burroughs family’s history with farming and brands 🫙 Why they created their own brand 😡 How the entire almond industry incentivizes bare ground 🌳 Why farming in California is so different 🏗️ How new harvesting equipment enables regen practices 🔥 Their Annual Regenerative Tree Nut Field Day 🐑 The challenge of building off-take for both crops and livestock 🏆 Their NEXTY-winning Almond Milk Concentrate 🥈 Why they have two regenerative certifications 🛒 How retailers and distributors can support regen Links: Burroughs Family Farms 2024 NEXTY Award Winners 4th Annual Regenerative Tree Nut Field Day Ecdysis Sustainable Groundwater Management Act Undaunted Courage Rick Clark State of Regenerative CPG Report Regenerative Organic Certified® Regenified™ Naturland CDFA Defining Regenerative Agriculture Alice Waters Institute Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode, we are celebrating some very big news. This week, we launched a new unprecedented, multifaceted support ecosystem for CPG brands supporting regenerative agriculture including two new non-profit organizations and one future for-profit organization. The three entities are called: ReGen Brands Institute, ReGen Brands Coalition, and ReGen Brands Capital. We’ve shared bits and pieces of our work on all of this over the past year, but we have not really given our audience a full update since August of 2023. And there’s a reason for that, as we’ve been quite hard at work building this new ecosystem.Please check out the updated website, read our inaugural State of Regenerative CPG report, and view the press release to get a nice, concise, articulate download of what we’re doing. In this episode, we wanted to give you a peek behind the curtain on what went into shaping this vision, building the inaugural entities, hitting some key milestones, and where we go from here. Long story short, if you want to know what the future of our work looks like, then this is a must listen. We’re so proud to take this massive step forward and we couldn't have done it without your support. We hope you’re as energized by this milestone as we are.   Episode Highlights: 🎉 The new ReGen Brands ecosystem 🤯 How we got here ↗️ Where we’re headed ❓ Why this new approach 🏫 Introducing, ReGen Brands Institute 📚 Our new research and education programming 🤝 Introducing, ReGen Brands Coalition 🔥 Our new trade association for regen brands 💰 Introducing, ReGen Brands Capital 🙏 Values-aligned capital for regen brands   Links: ReGen Brands New Ecosystem Announcement State of Regenerative CPG Report  ReGen Brands Institute ReGen Brands Coalition ReGen Brands Capital ReGen Brands Weekly Newsletter JellyShot Follow ReGen Brands on LinkedIn Subscribe to the ReGen Brands Weekly newsletter

On this episode, we have Samuel Taylor who is the Founder and CEO of Long Table. Long Table is supporting regenerative agriculture with their pancake and waffle mixes made with regeneratively grown heirloom grains.  In this episode, we learn how Samuel went from actor to CPG Founder due to the combination of a pancake obsession and an acrobatic love interest. He details how the brand went from the farmers market to appearing on Shark Tank, and he shares why regenerative, stone-milled, heirloom grains are a game-changer in terms of flavor, nutrition, and environmental impact. Lots of great stories in this one folks! Samuel didn’t land a deal on Shark Tank, but he scooped up the next best thing: “the best pancakes I’ve ever had” compliment from all the sharks and a million-dollar sales bump. A little over a year later, he’s looking to build out this brand both online and in retail while being a key purchaser supporting the regenerative grain shed of the upper Midwest.   Episode Highlights: 🥞 Next-gen pancakes from regeneratively-grown, heirloom grains 🎪 The acrobatic love interest that inspired the brand 🍿 Inventing popcorn flour pancakes 🦈 Going on Shark Tank with David Schwimmer 🤯 Doing $1M in sales the 6 weeks after Shark Tank 🌾 Building supply chains with the Artisan Grain Collaborative 🤤 Why stone-milled, heirloom grains are better 📈 Capital-efficient, omnichannel growth 🏅 Working towards Regenified™ certification 💰 Why regen brands need more investment   Links: Long Table Artisan Grain Collaborative Long Table On Shark Tank Seedhouse Design Janie’s Mill Meadowlark Organics Regenified™ Follow Kyle and AC on LinkedIn

On this episode, we have Ben Mand who is the CEO at Guayakí. Guayakí is supporting regenerative agriculture with their various yerba mate-based products that are farmed in regenerative organic systems.  Yerba mate is a tree of the holly family that is native to the Atlantic Forest of South America, and the consumption of yerba mate is related to the unique relationship between Indigenous Peoples and their forest environments developed over millennia. On this episode, we learn how Ben has satisfied his appetite for impact across a wide array of brands, and he shares more about Guayakí’s Market Drive Regeneration™ approach - detailing what that means for their farming partners, their business, and their consumers.   Episode Highlights: 🍃 Creating the yerba mate category 🧉 The traditional gourd circle practice of sharing mate 📈 Going from incremental to exponential impact in CPG ❤️ Guayakí’s Market Driven Regeneration™ 🙏 Partnering with Indigenous communities 🤝 Farmer price premiums and infrastructure investment 👉 Making responsible business the new norm 🔥 Nailing the brilliant basics to tell the regen story 🔮 Future-proofing their product portfolio 🎯 How retailers should support regen brands   Links: Guayakí Yerba Mate 101 Market Driven Regeneration™ Harmless Harvest #73 - Allie O'Brien @ Harmless Harvest Regenerative Organic Certified® World Bank Follow Kyle and AC on LinkedIn 

On this episode, we have James Arthur Smith who is the Founder and CEO of Seatopia.   Seatopia is supporting regenerative aquaculture with its direct-to-consumer business building consumer demand for innovative aquaculture practices in hopes of scaling a truly regenerative seafood supply chain to feed the planet and restore our oceans.    In this episode, James breaks down the massive problems with current commodity seafood systems, how Seatopia is pioneering aquaculture 3.0, and why integrated multi-trophic aquaculture in the ocean is the same thing as regenerative agriculture on the land.   If you’re ready to take a deep dive (pun intended) into marine ecosystems and planet-positive commercial-scale food production then this episode is for you.   Episode Highlights:   🌊 James’ lifelong love affair with the ocean 🐠 Why wild caught isn’t necessarily better 👉 The parallels between agriculture and aquaculture 🐟 How Seatopia is championing aquaculture 3.0 🎣 Why we can’t feed the world with just wild-caught seafood 🔥 Sourcing from integrated multi-trophic seafood farms 🙅 Why regenerative doesn’t drive dollars 🔬 Using testing and transparency to boost product claims 😯 Fish isn’t actually supposed to smell ‘fishy’ 📈 Leveraging R&D for more whole-fish utilization   Links: Seatopia California Coastal Commission The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) AltaSea Follow Kyle and AC on LinkedIn

On this episode, we have Jacob Muise who is a Co-Founder and the CEO of Maui Nui Venison.   Maui Nui Venison is supporting regenerative agriculture with its lineup of venison products made from wild-harvesting the invasive Axis deer population on the island of Maui.   Maui Nui Venison is the most nutrient-rich, and protein-dense red meat on the planet. Their stress-free, wild-harvesting methods ethically and responsibly manage the invasive Axis deer population of Maui in an effort to restore ecological balance to the island.   In this episode, we learn how Jake went from surfing the frosty waters off of Nova Scotia to the warm waters of Hawaii, the ecological imperative for managing the Axis deer population in Hawaii, and how Jake turned his obsession for Axis deer into the powerhouse brand that Maui Nui is today.   Now look, this is a little ‘outside of the box’ application of the term regenerative agriculture, and that may not fly for some of you purists out there. But guess what, we don’t really care. Because Maui Nui’s outcomes in terms of ecological benefit, human nutrition, and community benefit are unquestionably regenerative. And this is the first of two episodes in a row where we feature a brand with a nuanced take on regen somewhat outside of the norm.   And the word on the street is there are multiple top-secret reveals buried deep in this episode, so I think you’ll want to listen until the very end.   Episode Highlights:   🛶 How Axis Deer came to Hawaii 🏄 Jake’s journey from Nova Scotia to Maui 🦌 Why Axis Deer populations increase so rapidly 🍖 Turning a removal project into a meat business 🤯 Their unique, stress-free, night-time harvesting process ⚙️ Building USDA-approved processing for Axis Deer 😮 Ecological and economic imperatives for eating Axis Deer 🎯 Accidentally creating the ‘perfect meat triangle’ 🔥 Why taste and quality Always. Comes. First. 💥 Their upcoming broth collab with Kettle & Fire   Links: Maui Nui Venison Hawaiʻiʻs Axis Deer - From invasive species to food source Peter Attia Tim Ferriss Follow Kyle and AC on LinkedIn 

On this episode, we have Jessica Rubino and Douglas Brown from New Hope Network. Jessica serves as the Vice President of Content and Douglas serves as a Senior Retail Reporter & Analyst.   New Hope Network’s purpose is to cultivate a prosperous high-integrity CPG and retail ecosystem that creates health, joy, and justice for all people while regenerating the planet. New Hope Network is at the forefront of the natural, organic, and conscious products industry. With solutions for the complete supply chain, including manufacturers, retailers, distributors, service providers, ingredient suppliers, media, and investors, New Hope Network offers a robust portfolio of content, events, data, research, and consultative services.   Most of you listening probably know New Hope best for their seminal, annual event, Natural Products Expo West, which Kyle and I broke down on Episode 66.   In this episode, we are talking all things Newtopia Now, which is New Hope’s newest event designed for buyers to discover their next best-selling conscious products through facilitated connections, deepened relationships, and actionable and inspiring content.   The unique floorplan at Newtopia Now is built around 4 neighborhoods, with one being ‘Regenerate’ showcasing brands building more regenerative supply chains and overall business models.   We get a special sneak peek preview into the event overall, what retailers and regenerative brands can expect when attending Newtopia Now, and I ask both Jessica and Douglas for their thoughts on the hottest topics in the world of regenerative CPG. Because I know y’all are tired of just hearing Kyle and I talk about them…   This was a super fun episode, and I’m looking forward to seeing many of you at Newtopia Now in August.   Episode Highlights:   💫 Introducing, Newtopia Now! 🤝 New experiences for brands & buyers 🚶 Strolling the neighborhoods and shopping the market 🍝 Creating new and deeper connections at curated dine arounds 💭 Translating customer feedback into product development ⚡ The exciting early potential of the regen movement 🤔 How almost all regen claims are 3rd-party validated 🔮 What will regen CPG claims look like in the future? 💪 Is nutrient density the silver bullet for regen demand? 🎯 Embracing empathy, interconnectedness, and deeper connection Links: New Hope Network Newtopia Now The Natural List Natural Products Expo West Marketing regenerative: How three ROC brands sell agriculture Black Cat Organic Farm The Wolf’s Tailor Colorado Grain Chain Pastaficio Moxie Bread Co Mad Agriculture Nutrient Density Alliance Patagonia Provisions SIMPLi Alec’s Ice Cream GoodSAM Foods Lundberg Family Farms Ancient Nutrition Dr. Bronner’s Follow Kyle and AC on LinkedIn

On this episode, we have Ladd Wahlen who is a fourth-generation potato farmer and Co-Owner of Roots Potato Chips.    Roots Potato Chips is supporting regenerative agriculture with its lineup of single-origin, regeneratively farmed potato chip products.   In this episode, we learn how a college research project catapulted Ladd into his regenerative journey, how radically different his farming operation is from his conventional potato peers, and what its been like to go from farmer to also potato chip manufacturer and CPG brand operator.   Ladd’s farm is proving that you can build a regenerative model for commercial-scale potato production with the farm boasting 10 times the diversity of conventional farms, a 75% reduction in tillage versus conventional farms, and ground cover 90% of the year versus an average 33% of the year for conventional farms.   The Nature Conservancy has made the Wahlen’s farm a demonstration site to help other Idaho potato growers adopt regenerative practices and Ladd and his family hope that the Roots brand can become a commercial engine that incentivizes those same farmers to adopt these practices and while being paid for their efforts.   Episode Highlights:   🥔 Single-origin and regeneratively-farmed potato chips 🤩 Fourth-generation farmer + first-generation CPG founder ✍️ How a college research paper sparked Ladd’s regen curiosity 😯 The stark contrast between their farm and conventional farms 🥇 Being a demo farm for The Nature Conservancy 🚜 The impossibility of eliminating tillage in potato production 🤯 Starting the brand with 25 initial SKUs 👎 Why don’t retail buyers care more about regen? 🤝 Working with Soil & Climate Health Initiative Verification 🔥 Using the brand as a tool to convert potato farmers to regen   Links: Roots Potato Chips Idaho farm offers model of regenerative potato farming The Nature Conservancy Soil & Climate Initiative (SCI) The End of Craving Follow Kyle and AC on LinkedIn 

On this episode, we have Johnny Hunter who is a third-generation farmer and the President of Castor River Habitat & Farm.   Castor River Habitat & Farm is supporting regenerative agriculture with its lineup of rice products grown on their own farm and produced in their on-farm milling facility.   In this episode, we learn about the Hunter family’s deep agricultural roots, how Johnny was forced to go regen after ‘hitting rock bottom’ in 2012, and how the brand has grown since its inception in 2018.   Johnny is a masterful storyteller and this episode had a little bit of everything: thoughts on why we need to keep regenerative farmer-focused and rooted in reality, stories of collaborative commercialization with some of their retail and foodservice partners, plus what is ahead for Castor River including achieving Regenified certification and expanding sourcing beyond their home farm.   Episode Highlights:   🧑‍🌾 The Hunter family’s agricultural legacy 🤯 Committing to farming at 10 years old 💥The rock bottom year that sparked a regen transition 🎰 Why farming is like gambling and the house always wins 👏 Starting a brand to capture de-commoditized value 😂 Breaking into retail selling door-to-door at Hy-Vee 🤝 Their unique partnership with Just Salad 🦆 Why are they a habitat and a farm? 🔍 Onboarding with Regenified™ 🍚 Sourcing from other farms to fuel future growth   Links: Castor River Habitat & Farm Ray Archuleta The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin Hy-Vee Just Salad Regenified™ Gabe Brown Missouri Delta Soil Health Alliance Follow Kyle and AC on LinkedIn 

On this episode, we have Allie O’Brien who is the Vice President of Marketing at Harmless Harvest.   Harmless Harvest is supporting regenerative agriculture with its Regenerative Organic Certified® coconut supply chain which is now making its way into label claims across their product portfolio.   In this episode, we learn about Harmless’ unique supply chain in Thailand sourcing the nam hom coconut, their work implementing regenerative practices on the ground through their ReCAP program, how their regenerative organic sourcing is coming to life in product marketing today and in the future, plus the support their receiving from their parent company, Danone.   Get your notepads out folks because Allie was dropping knowledge on this episode. It was super interesting and informative to have our first VP of Marketing on the show and Allie went in-depth on all things related to creating meaningful marketing strategies for regenerative claims whether we’re talking certifications, packaging design, claims hierarchy, pricing architecture, in-store promotion, channel-specific execution and so much more.   Episode Highlights:   🩷 What makes their coconut water pink + unique? 🥥 Why they only use nom ham coconuts 🌴 Canal-based, smallholder coconut farms in Thailand 😮 Why there’s no organic premium for their partner farmers 🤝 Creating the ReCAP program to increase regen ag adoption 💰 How Danone is supporting their regen work 🥤 Bringing regenerative claims to their bottles 🎯 Why regen is about retention and not purchase 👍 How retailers and certifiers can boost consumer education 🤩 “It’s the right thing to do AND better for business”   Links: Harmless Harvest Harmless Harvest’s Regenerative Agriculture Harmless Harvest's 2023 Impact Report Harmless Harvest’s ReCAP Program Danone Danone Ecosystem Fund Regenerative Organic Certified®B-Corp Follow Kyle and AC on LinkedIn 

On this episode, we have Alison Czeczuga and Zach West from Gaia Herbs. Alison serves as the Director of Social Impact and Sustainability while Zach serves as the Farm Operations Manager.   Gaia Herbs is supporting regenerative agriculture with their 250-acre Regenerative Organic Certified® farm in North Carolina and their more than 200+ SKUs that contain various Regenerative Organic Certified® ingredients.   In this episode, we learn how this natural channel supplement leader has developed, implemented, and expanded their regenerative strategy plus how they’re betting that tying regen to product quality and consumer wellness will be a winning commercial strategy.   We talked farmworker housing, composting programs, herbal extraction, product label claim challenges and so much more in this one. Tons of insights and of course some good laughs along the way.   Episode Highlights:   🤯 Integrating regen into their 200+ SKUs 🚜 Their 250-acre Regenerative Organic Certified® farm 🧪 How Gaia’s herbs & botanicals become supplements 🧑‍🌾 Their legendary H-2A visa farmworker crew 🏠 Gaia’s new state-of-the-art farmworker housing ♻️ Upcycling their ‘herbal marc’ into compost 🤔 The challenges of producing fully ROC™ SKUs 🤝 Working with other brands on the Sustainable Herbs Program 🧘 Why tying regen to wellness is the winning strategy 🗣️ How they’re approaching messaging and label claims   Links: Gaia Herbs Regenerative Organic Certified® Rodale Institute H-2A Temporary Agricultural Workers Meet Your Herbs SXSW Regenerative Healthcare Conference B-Corp Sustainable Herbs Program Follow Kyle and AC on LinkedIn 

On this episode, we have Dana Ehrlich who is the Founder of Verde Farms.   Verde Farms is supporting regenerative agriculture with its lineup of 100% USDA organic and grass-fed and grass-finished beef products. They have recently begun working with Land to Market to transition their supply to fully regenerative and have begun certifying certain SKUs.   In this episode, Dana shares the health and tourism journey that led him to South American grass-fed beef plus how they’ve grown the brand over time very unconventionally through private label business and branded sales to conventional and mass retailers.   Verde Farms is growing 50% year over year with category-leading velocities and recently took on its first major investment while also transitioning to self-manufacturing.   Tons of fun topics in this one on all things CPG plus Dana shares the behind-the-scenes look at getting their farmers to adopt more regenerative practices. Here’s a hint - the incentives have to do with boosting on-farm profitability.   Episode Highlights:   🔌 Going from semiconductors to CPG 🌍 How health and travel inspired the brand 🏗️ Building supply chain before brand 🤯 Landing their big break with Wegman’s & Costco 🥩 Moving all of their volume over to branded sales 🧑‍🌾 Transitioning their supply chain to regenerative 🤠 Why quicker time to slaughter weight is key for rancher adoption 🎯 Consumer first > Customer first 😯 Pivoting to self-manufacturing right before COVID 🚀 Partnering with Manna Tree to fuel future growth   Links: Verde Farms The End of Craving Land to Market™ Pasturebird Manna Tree Partners Follow Kyle and AC on LinkedIn

On this episode, we have Briana Buckles who is the Global Senior Sustainability Manager at Yogi Tea.   Yogi Tea is supporting regenerative agriculture with 9 global projects dedicated to increasing regenerative agriculture adoption in the supply chain for their Yogi Tea and Choice Organics brands.   Yogi has been around for more than 50 years, produces over 70 SKUs, and sources more than 150 ingredients from over 40 different countries. Their products are stocked across thousands of retailers in North America and Europe.    In this episode, Briana shares her 5-year journey trailblazing new regenerative agriculture initiatives at Yogi and how they are increasing regen ag adoption through a three-pronged supply chain visibility, intervention, and expansion approach. Plus, she shares the details on one of their projects in Rwanda with details on how they select farmers to support, partner with local technical assistance providers, and fund the work itself.   Episode Highlights:   💫 The original Yogi recipe 🤯 Sourcing 150+ ingredients from 40+ countries ✍️ Building a Sustainability program from scratch 🌍 Their 9 global regen ag projects to date 🔍 Why it all starts with supply chain transparency 🧑‍🌾 Their work with tea farmers in Rwanda 💲 How they think about the ROI of regenerative 😧 The challenges of certifying their complex supply chains ⚙️ How Yogi designs, implements, and funds their regen projects 🤩 Why every supply chain link needs to benefit from regen   Links: Yogi Tea Yogi Tea’s Annual Sustainability Report Dr. Bronner’s Fair Trade Certified For for Life FairWild Foundation Rainforest Alliance Regenerative Organic Certified Follow Kyle and AC on LinkedIn

On this episode, we have Matthieu Kohlmeyer who is the Founder and CEO of La Tourangelle.   La Tourangelle is a French-American family-owned & operated culinary oil maker. They’re currently supporting regenerative agriculture with their Regenerative Organic Certified® Sunflower Oil and their soon-to-be-released regenerative olive oil.   In this episode, Matthieu shares La Tourangelle’s 20-year history as a CPG brand and 150-year history producing artisan oils, he shares what makes their production and packaging unique from other players in the category, and he also details their future plans to support regenerative agriculture.   Matthieu is a wealth of knowledge in all topics oil-related and he was nice enough to weigh in on the current seed oil debates, existing issues with counterfeit oils in the market, and why scaling regen in oil products might look a lot different than other categories.   Episode Highlights:   🗝️ Artisan oil-making dating back to 1867 🇺🇲 How Matthieu brought the brand to the US 🥫 Why tin packaging is better for the oil and the earth ✨ What makes La Tourangelle’s oils unique? 😦 Current fraud issues in culinary oil manufacturing ♻️ The added upcycling complexity in oil supply chains 🧑‍🌾 Farmer feedback on regenerative & organic ❤️ Why emotion > education for selling food 👀 What’s the truth about seed oils? 👏 Educating kids in their community garden   Links: La Tourangelle Regenerative Organic Certified® Sunflower Oil Regenerative Organic Certified® The Codex Alimentarius The Dorito Effect Regenified™ Follow Kyle and AC on LinkedIn