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Diestel Family Ranch becomes first Certified Regenified turkey brand
Diestel sourced more than 650 tons of Certified Regenified corn as part of the regenerative verification process. Find out more.
July 16, 2024
4 Min Read
Diestel Family Ranch, the family-owned, Sonora, California-based producer of sustainably raised turkeys, is the first turkey producer to achieve Regenified certification, a global leader in regenerative agriculture verification.
The ranch announced the news today.
Regenified’s seal is the first third-party regenerative program to be recognized and accepted by USDA Food Safety and Inspection Services for single and multi-ingredient products. As part of this certification, Diestel sourced more than 650 tons of Certified Regenified corn earlier this spring.
Heidi Diestel is part of the fourth generation to farm on her family’s ranch in Sonora, California.
“We pursued Regenified certification because it was very clear early-on in our conversations that they would be committed to helping us scale and improve our program for the long-term,” Heidi Diestel, a fourth-generation farmer on her family’s ranch, told New Hope Network.
Since Diestel Family Ranch was founded in 1949 by Grandpa Jack Diestel, the family has always prioritized the health of their birds and thoughtful farming practices. In 1999, Diestel was one of the first poultry farms to incorporate organic farming practices.
Today, they continue to set the bar high earning the Regenified certification which marks another important milestone to lead the industry forward.
“Regenified came to our farms and really got into the weeds about what could be possible. As a turkey producer, the feed that we give our turkeys is incredibly important to not only the birds’ health, but the climate too,” Diestel said. “Regenified helped source our regenerative feed, which we believe is a critical step in impacting the greatest number of acres.”
Diestel Ranch expects to have hopes to have Regenified Certified whole turkeys available across the country before Thanksgiving. Credit: Canva
To achieve certification, Diestel met Regenified’s rigorous 6-3-4 Standards, which include six principles of soil health, three rules of adaptive stewardship and four ecosystem processes. Regenified’s certification process will help Diestel track its progress in advancing regenerative principles to improve biodiversity, soil health, water quality, and nutrient density.
“Every aspect of being a farmer impacts the world around us and feed is a critical part of raising poultry. If we ignore the animals’ feed sources, then we can’t solve for the future,” Diestel said in a press release. “Addressing how the feed is being grown will bring the entire system closer to a regenerative state that supports the future of farming and our planet. We want to support the next generation now because their future depends on it, both ours and yours.”
Among the regenerative practices Diestel Turkey Ranch follows, the brand highlighted these four:
Certified Regenified feed for bird and soil health—Regenerating the soil at Diestel starts by feeding the birds corn grown by local U.S. farmers. Earlier this spring, Diestel sourced 650 tons of Certified Regenified corn. The brand has set a goal to replace half of its feed with Certified Regenified corn by 2035.
Natural habitat for birds—In their natural habitat, turkeys prefer to roam amongst the trees in deeply shaded forests. Diestel has begun work to replicate this environment giving all birds access to open land and has planted over two miles of evergreen, perennial shrubs, grasses, and flowering trees to promote biodiversity. These plants attract beneficial insects, improve water quality and are a key component to creating a diverse landscape as well as restoring ecosystem function.
Compost for soil health—Diestel turns its organic waste into valuable, nutrient-dense compost diverting 2,117 tons annually from landfill and producing roughly 6,350 tons of compost for local use. The compost creates a healthy, diverse environment for microbiology to thrive no matter where it’s used.
Probiotics over traditional chemicals—Diestel’s farms use beneficial biology (probiotics) which eliminates the need for traditional chemicals such as chlorine while improving bird health and supporting a healthy ecosystem on the farm and beyond.
"Diestel is leading the industry into the future," said Salar Shemirani, CEO of Regenified. "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."
The Diestel family has a long-standing commitment to the environment, Heidi Diestel said in the press release.
“For 75 years, my family has committed to more holistic agriculture practices that not only support the best habitat for turkeys raised on our farms, but also consider the impact on the land used.
“Regenified certification is an important recognition of what has always differentiated Diestel turkeys from mass-produced poultry products. We lead with the strictest animal welfare and environmental standards in the market to produce the leanest, cleanest, and most delicious birds.”
Before the holidays, Diestel said, the company hopes to have Regenified Certified whole turkeys available across the country. “We plan to roll out our regenerative program to our ground turkey and deli meats in the near future,” she told New Hope Network.
Source: Diestel Family Ranch
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