Last updated on June 13th, 2024
Applegate Farms LLC, a natural and organic meat company based in Bridgewater, New Jersey, has a new brand, “The New Food Collective,” that uses pasture-raised meats and small-batch production methods. The launch will feature a line of fresh sausages that is the first pork to be certified by the American Grassfed Association (AGA).
The AGA standard mandates that hogs have maximum access to the outdoors, allowing them to forage and roam in woods and pasture and that, during the grazing season, they gather most of their food outside. It also requires farmers to develop a pasture-management plan to support biological diversity, natural resources and soil fertility.
“The American Grassfed Association standard is a leap ahead of anything else out there,” said Gina Asoudegan, Applegate’s VP of mission and innovation. “The organization’s name focuses on pasture, and these new sausages deliver on that. But AGA also stands for no antibiotics, no genetically modified feed and the highest animal-welfare standards. You’d need five separate logos to replace what AGA does.”
The New Food Collective brand sources meat from small farms in Georgia, Kentucky and Missouri that use regenerative agricultural practices, which are designed to improve soil, water retention and biodiversity. Applegate also is working with the Savory Institute to assess farm practices and create proof-of-impact metrics that can be shared with the public.
“At Applegate, we want to change the meat we eat, and this launch propels that mission forward,” said John Gingho, Applegate president. “We’re making a big bet on regenerative agriculture as one of the paths to show the world that raising animals and eating meat doesn’t have to be problem. Animals can and do play a vital role in a healthy food system.”
The New Food Collective line will be sold at select Whole Foods stores in the Chicago metropolitan area.
Products include:
- Sweet Italian Pork Sausage: laced with fennel, sea salt and pepper
- Hot Italian Pork Sausage: a combination of fennels seeds, chili flakes and cayenne
- Ginger-Scallion Pork Sausage: fresh and zesty, ideal on a bun or in dumplings and curries
- Breakfast Sausage: a classic, elevated with the balance of salt, sweet and heat
The New Food Collective products are made with 100 percent pasture-raised animals that are allowed to roam and foraging in the woods and pasture. The animals never receive antibiotics, and their diets are supplement with only non-GMO grain. The contain simple ingredients and no artificial ingredients, preservatives or added colors.
“Applegate is committed to investing in scaling up systems and production methods that raise animals right,” added Asoudegan. “Our products are made by food lovers for food lovers, and food lovers know that flavor starts on the farm.”
Founded in 1987, Applegate Farms, LLC produces natural and organic hot dogs, bacon, sausages, deli meats, cheese and frozen products. Our products are made without GMO ingredients.
Applegate Farms, LLC became a stand-alone subsidiary of Hormel Foods in July 2015.
