Upcycled, sustainable, ethical. These are ideologies many shoppers look for on the shelf, and our industry continues to put them there. For Alexandre Family Farm, reducetarianism is a lifestyle the company integrates across its portfolio, answering the call as consumers demand healthy and nutritious products to fill their baskets.
“As the only certified regenerative dairy and egg ranch in the United States, we offer people a way to have nutritious milk and eggs in their diet that checks all the boxes for how they want to eat: Certified organic, certified regenerative, and certified humane from a generational family farm that supports their rural community,” Blake Alexandre, Co-Founder, Owner, and fourth-generation farmer, explains to me. “We embrace reducetarianism as a way to mindfully include meat and animal products in your diet.”
Reducetarianism is the practice of eating less meat, dairy, and eggs, but not cutting it out completely. Many do this for health reasons, but others do so for the climate. Regardless, this is a trend on the rise, and one that Whole Foods Market has noted. At Alexandre Family Farms, the family-driven company helps reduce environmental concerns, committing to reversing climate change by starting from the ground up—literally.
“We carry out an intensive management system on our 6,000-acre dairy and egg ranch. Daily rotational grazing of our herd of cows and flock of hens keep our plant height just right so the exudates, or liquid sugars, from the dead roots become food for the soil,” chimes in Stephanie Alexandre, Co-Founder, Owner, and Blake’s wife. “Rotational grazing is one of the cornerstones of regenerative dairy and egg farming. This helps us continuously increase soil health and vitality which, in turn, grows healthier plants that not only have more nutrient density but also draw in more carbon from the atmosphere and lock it in the ground.”
Alexandre Family Farm showcases its certified regenerative seal, Land To Market Verified, on its products to help shoppers looking for products that are Earth-friendly and humane. One product that has shoppers coming back for more is the company’s A2/A2 organic milk.
“Our A2 milk is more digestible and gives many people the freedom to drink milk,” Blake says. “A2 refers to beta-casein, one of the proteins, in milk. For most people, A2 is easy to digest; it is found in human breast milk and sheep and goat milk. However, most dairy on grocery store shelves in the United States has an A1 protein, which is harder for humans to digest. Many people who believe they are lactose-intolerant are actually A1 protein-intolerant. When they switch to our A2/A2 organic milk, they find they can enjoy dairy again.”
My eyes and ears perk up. As one who developed lactose intolerance later in life, being able to enjoy this dairy staple is a dream I’m sure many other consumers have as well.
“Here at Alexandre Family Farm, we try to do the right thing at every turn, which takes us down the path of regenerative management,” continues Stephanie. “Of course, that costs more because it is more intensive and hands-on, but people have a right to pay more to get products that provide nutrient density and a healthier Earth.”
Here for the planet and here for its customers.
Keep reading Deli Market News as we cover those that continue to turn our Earth for a better future.