Tag: ROA

  • Alexandre Family Farm Becomes The First Certified Regenerative Organic Dairy Farm In The US

    Alexandre Family Farm has become the Regenerative Organic Alliance’s first and only Regenerative Organic Certified dairy farm in the United States. The Alexandre Family Farm is also the first dairy to obtain Ecological Outcome Verification certification by the Savory Institute. These certifications acknowledge that the farm’s practices go far beyond sustainability to continuously improve soil biology as well as the entire ecosystem – water, land, air and animals.

    “When we began farming this way 30 years ago, we weren’t intentionally trying to have an impact on climate change,” says founder Blake Alexandre. “We were focused on the health of the soil and manage our pasture by having our animals graze our land. When you increase organic matter in soil, you also capture carbon. We soon came to realize that healthy soil not only has positive effects on our pasture, our cows and their milk, but it has a profound effect on our planet as well. Over the years, we’ve become increasingly proud of producing food that’s not only good for your body but good for the earth.”

    The Savory Institute’s Land to Market Program tracks outcomes in soil health, biodiversity, and ecosystem function through the Ecological Outcome Verification (EOV) protocol, which collects scientific data over time to prove regenerative outcomes.

    “We strongly believe that regeneration must be measured. By using empirical data, the Alexandres show foresight and initiative in managing land with an ecological approach,” says David Rizzo, COO, Land to Market. “This is a major step forward for dairy, and we are excited to see these verified products in the marketplace that meet the consumers desire to know their purchase is supporting the shift to regenerative agriculture.”

    The Regenerative Organic Certified (ROCTM) program is based on strict standards for soil health and land management in addition to animal welfare and farmworker fairness. Alexandre Family Farm was one of only 21 farms selected globally to be a part of the ROC Pilot Program, and joins leading brands Patagonia, Dr. Bronner’s and Nature’s Path in attaining certification.

    “Dairies face unique challenges to earning a certification as rigorous as ROC. The Alexandres’ achievement of this high-bar seal is a true testament to their commitment to ecological, humane and ethical practices across the board.” says Elizabeth Whitlow, Executive Director of the ROA. “We are so proud to welcome them into the ROC family!”

    Regenerative Organic A2/A2 Milk Becomes Available Nationwide On February 1st, 2021

    Milk is an efficient superfood and a great source of energy, vitamins, electrolytes and protein. Milk protein is made up of whey and casein. Traditionally, the beta casein in cow’s milk was the same as the primary protein in human milk called A2/A2. This protein is easily digestible and is similar to breast milk, sheep and goat milk. However, over time, a genetic mutation resulted in the introduction of the A1 protein –which is difficult for humans to digest and linked to stomach upset and inflammation.

    In fact, many people who believe they are lactose intolerant are actually A1 intolerant. After Blake and Stephanie Alexandre learned about this genetic mutation, they started to carefully crossbreed their cows to remove the A1 protein from their gene pool. After two decades, they now have the only regenerative dairy herd of 100% A2/A2 cows in the U.S.

    Starting February 1st, Alexandre Family Farm milk will become the first 100% A2/A2 regenerative organic milk to be distributed nationwide. Alexandre cartons (59 oz) will be available at Whole Foods and other retailers throughout the country.

    About Alexandre Family Farm

    As fourth generation dairy farmers with over 40 years of experience, Blake and Stephanie Alexandre founded Alexandre Family Farm in Crescent City, California in 1988, and began bottling under their brand in 2017. Along with their five grown children and spouses, they operate the only certified regenerative organic and 100% A2 dairy and mobile coop egg ranch in the United States. Their products include 59 oz. eco-carton milks, distributed nationwide, and eggs, bottled milks and yogurts available west of the Rockies.

  • Regenerative Organic Certified™ (ROC™) Standard Is Open For Business

    The Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA), a group of experts in farming, ranching, soil health, animal welfare, and fair trade, is proud to announce that the Regenerative Organic Certified(ROC) certification standard for food, fiber, and personal care products has completed its pilot phase and is now open for general certification. Additionally, the ROA is thrilled to announce the availability of the first ROC products in the marketplace.

    Before being eligible for ROC, farms must first hold USDA organic certification. ROC then adds further criteria to ensure soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness, making it the highest standard for organic agriculture in the world. By choosing an ROC product, consumers can know at a glance that their purchase supports farm workers, soil health and pasture-based animal welfare. The new certification also has three levels—bronze, silver, and gold. The levels require farms and businesses to phase in more rigorous regenerative organic practices over time.

    The Regenerative Organic Alliance was formed in 2018 to promote regenerative organic farming as the highest standard for agriculture around the world. ROA exists to heal a broken system, repair a damaged planet, and empower farmers and consumers to forge a brighter future through better farming. And the time is now: COVID-19 has quickly revealed the underlying risks and inequalities in the global food system. Many farmers, doctors, and scientists agree that fixing our broken food system and adhering to regenerative organic practices is one of the tools we have to improve human health, as shown in a new white paper recently released by Rodale Institute and The Plantrician Project.

    The ROA first established the Regenerative Organic Certified standard in 2018, then conducted a pilot program the following year to test the standard on real farming operations around the world. The intent of the pilot was to gather participants’ feedback in order to improve the process and the standard’s criteria. With the initial pilot program completed, the ROA will increase the number of approved certifiers and will begin certifying new brands, effective immediately in partnership with their program manager, NSF International.

    “The journey to become Regenerative Organic Certified has been unique for each of our pilot program participants, with significant learnings along the way,” said Elizabeth Whitlow, Executive Director of the Regenerative Organic Alliance. “The success that these leading, regenerative organic businesses have achieved in only one year is proof that ROC is not only a viable and attainable certification, but that indeed we are shaping the future of agriculture supply chains and consumer demand for truly regenerative organic products. I look forward to growing the certification in the years ahead with many more brands.”

    Consumers can now find the first group of Regenerative Organic Certified products wherever organic products are sold. In addition, PatagoniaProvisions.com has shifted their website to now serve as the definitive e-commerce source for ROC products, ROC pilot products, and products “on the road” to becoming certified, from many different brands and product categories.

    Several participants from the 2019 ROC Pilot Program have earned the first ROC designations, demonstrating their commitment to the environment, soil health, animal welfare and fair labor standards. The first brands and farms to display the Regenerative Organic Certified label include:

    • Apricot Lane Farms: Avocado Oil from Moorpark, CA
    • Dr. Bronner’s: Regenerative Organic Coconut Oil from Serendipol Ltd. in Sri Lanka
    • Nature’s Path: Oats from Legend Organic farm in Saskatchewan, Canada
    • Grain Place Foods: Popcorn and Cornmeal from Marquette, NE
    • Patagonia Provisions: Regenerative Organic Chile Mango from Sol Simple, Masaya, Nicaragua
    • Lotus Foods: Brown and White Basmati Rice from Rohini, India
    • Sol Simple: Banana from Masaya, Nicaragua
    • Other farms and businesses that received certification with products forthcoming:
      • Tablas Creek Vineyards: Paso Robles CA
      • Herb Pharm: Williams OR
      • Guayaki Yerba Mate: Misiones, Argentina