MEAT BRAND APPLEGATE FARMS SUPPORTS HORMEL FOODS IN REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE DRIVE

Applegate Farms, claimed to be America’s leading natural and organic meat brand, is bringing its expertise to the table of parent company Hormel Foods in support of an aggressive ESG (environmental, social and governance) push to enhance soil health, water and air quality – and sequester greenhouse gases.

In 2018, Applegate began its journey into regenerative agriculture by becoming a Frontier Founder with The Savory Institute’s Land to Market programme, the world’s first outcomes-based verified regenerative sourcing solution. The institute is a leader in holistic land management.

“Regenerative agriculture requires an essential mental shift from the way we currently think about farming – it’s not the cow, it’s the how,” said Gina Asoudegan, who leads the regenerative agriculture initiatives at Applegate.

Hormel Foods, a Fortune 500 global food company, will use Applegate’s know-how in widening support to farmers who employ approved practices such as minimal or no soil tillage, regular crop rotation and cover cropping.

Hormel recently became a major sponsor of an up to 50,000-acre regenerative agriculture pilot in central and southeast Minnesota. Assistance from Hormel and other participants will help provide financial incentives for farmers to participate in the project.

“As we face the daunting challenges of feeding a growing global population while protecting the planet, we believe advancing regenerative agriculture is a smart and responsible choice,” said Mark Coffey, group vice president of supply chain at Hormel Foods.

Lessons from the meat industry

With a reputation for embracing sustainable agriculture, in 2019 Applegate launched The New Food Collective, an explorer brand that uses pasture-raised meats and small-batch production methods to create culinary-inspired products. The brand launched a pilot product featuring fresh sausages made with pastured pork that was the first ever to be certified by the American Grassfed Association.

Most recently, Applegate launched the Do Good Dog hot dog, the first nationally available 100% natural, grass-fed beef hot dog made from beef raised using practices that regenerate the land. The beef in the hot dogs is part of a system that contributes to the regeneration of more than 260,000 acres of soil.

Hormel Foods Corporation, whose other brands include Natural Choice, Planters, Skippy and Spam, has revenue of $11 billion annually across more than 80 countries worldwide.

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