#47 - Jason Freeman @ Farmer Direct Organic - Building Regen Organic Grain Rotations

On this episode, we have Jason Freeman who is the CEO of Farmer Direct Organic.

Farmer Direct Organic is supporting regenerative agriculture with its oats, beans, lentils, and pea products that are all certified organic with a growing selection transitioning to Regenerative Organic Certified®.

In this episode, we learn about the brand's journey from being the sales arm of a three-farmer Canadian Co-Op to a nationally distributed brand working with more than 60 organic farmers in Canada, the US, and Mexico. Jason gives a peak behind the curtain on organic grain production and how their brand is partnering with farms to transition acreage to Regenerative Organic Certified®.

Episode Highlights:

🧑‍🌾 Starting out as a 3-farmer Canadian Co-Op

📈 Becoming a national brand sourcing from 60+ farmers in 3 countries

🏛️ How working on hemp policy reform led him to sell organic food

🚀 Building a business off of demand from Whole Foods’ bulk bins

😯 Why the Great Recession inspired their pivot to retail

😂 Jason saying no to Whole Foods and what changed his mind

💥 Exiting the brand as an employee, acquiring it, and then selling it

😡 The massive problems with organic fraud

💰 Supporting farmers transitioning to Regenerative Organic Certified®

😍 Their current ROC® SKUs and what is coming next

Links:

Farmer Direct Organic

Biofach

Agricultural Justice Project

Whole Foods Market

Regenerative Organic Certified®

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