California-based Diestel Family Ranch became the first turkey brand to receive certification for its regenerative agriculture practices from a leading third-party verifier, joining a growing number of food producers looking to adopt the label as a way to signal their sustainability commitments to consumers.
The small, family-owned producer secured Regenified certification, one of the leading third-party verification programs recognized by the Department of Agriculture, for its whole turkeys. The farm, founded in 1949, focuses on bird health and thoughtful farming, incorporating organic practices and pasture-raised techniques for decades, Heidi Diestel, a fourth-generation farmer who manages Diestel Family Ranch, said in an interview with Agriculture Dive.
As part of the certification, Diestel sourced more than 650 tons of regenerative corn certified by Regenified for feed use. The farm has also planted over two miles of trees, grasses and shrubs to promote biodiversity.
While many consumers are likely unaware of what regenerative agriculture is today, Heidi Diestel said that’s likely to change in the “next 15 to 20 years” as more education and products are introduced in the market.
At least 50 of the world’s leading food companies have targeted regenerative agriculture as a pathway to reduce emissions, though environmental groups have called out many of those commitments for a lack of details or dedicated funding. To qualify for Regenified certification, companies must meet requirements around soil health, adaptive stewardship and ecosystem processes, according to the program’s website.
Beyond whole turkeys, Diestel plans to get other products certified in the coming months, including its ground turkey and deli meats, as regenerative practices scale to more farms within its poultry grower network.
“Sometimes efficiency isn’t always the winning prize. We have to acknowledge the biology of the Earth and support it so that it can continue to give back in the future years,” Diestel said.
Diestel’s regenerative, pasture-raised turkey is set to be available online or at Whole Foods stores nationwide.
“Diestel is leading the industry into the future," Salar Shemirani, CEO of Regenified, said in a statement. "Their commitment to regenerative agriculture extends beyond the farm and the environment, positively impacting the entire supply chain through off-farm purchases of regenerative feed.”
