Farming
Empowering Uganda’s Small Farmers, One Regeneratively Grown Pineapple at a Time
The sweet, golden pineapple is beloved worldwide, but in Uganda, farmers grow the fruit in ways that protect the environment while also supporting the future of their communities. According to the International Trade Administration, 68% of Uganda’s working population is employed in agriculture, producing staple crops like coffee, sugar, corn, beans, and fruit. However, much ...
Talking Biodynamic Farming (and Perfect Pork Chops) with Molly Chester of Apricot Lane Farms
Molly Chester is a farmer—a real-deal farmer, with 234 acres and the pigs to prove it—but like many people, she started out with just a tiny apartment and a tomato plant. Chester is a traditional foods chef and the co-founder of Apricot Lane Farms, the center of the 2018 documentary “The Biggest Little Farm“. In ...
Thrive Market’s New Organic Pork Program Puts Animal Welfare First
Expanding on our assortment of ethically sourced meat and seafood, we’re excited to announce Thrive Market’s brand new organic pork program. And this isn’t just any pork: ours comes from small family farms that take care of their animals, their workers, and the environment in tandem. Read on to learn more about how we source ...
How a Family-Run Farm Nurtures its Animals and its Community
When David Pitman says he intends to “brainwash his kids” into poultry farming, he’s joking…kind of.
Regenerative Brand Roundup: How Regenerative Agriculture Supports a Better Food Future
While it is possible for individuals to make change, it’s a whole lot easier when people band together. When it comes to something as impactful as changing our long-standing food systems, more and more forward-thinking brands know that regenerative agriculture is our best bet for a sustainable food future — and by forming organizations like ...
Here’s Why Fair Trade Coffee is the Best Choice for National Coffee Day
When you order a cup of coffee at your local cafe, the beans used to make it likely traveled thousands of miles, passed through countless hands, and required an impressive effort to grow, process, roast, and, finally, to brew. Though coffee has been part of the global culture for thousands of years, as the coffee ...
Farmer Cee of Green Heffa Farms Grows Organic Hemp with Heart & Soul
If you visit Clarenda Stanley, AKA Farmer Cee, at her farm in Liberty, North Carolina, you might hear the soulful sounds of Erykah Badu or Bill Withers drifting across the field. Or, you might hear something a little more…spirited. Stanley plays music for her plants, and like any skilled farmer, she knows exactly what they ...
Organic vs. Non-Organic: What’s the Difference?
Ask three people why they bought organic groceries, and you’re likely to get three different answers. One person might want to shrink their carbon footprint, while another insists that organic baby food offers the best nutrition for little ones. The perceived benefits of organic food are pretty much endless, making it harder to separate what’s ...
Grecian Gold: Our Search for the Best Olive Oil
When Jeremiah McElwee first sampled what would become Thrive Market’s best-selling Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, it was with a sense of ceremony. Having received a sample fresh off the production line in Greece, he opened the jar and poured a puddle of oil—vibrant green, with an earthy aroma—into a small white plate. He tore ...
Can Regenerative Agriculture Help Heal the Planet?
Stocking your kitchen with organically grown, ethically sourced food is a noble endeavor — not only for your well-being, but for the good of the planet and its people. Unfortunately, it can also be pretty confusing, thanks to marketing efforts (commonly known as “greenwashing“) that seek to give products a halo of health through the ...
These Macadamia Nuts are Empowering Kenyan Farmers
At the base of Mount Kenya, the volcanic soil is orange-red and rich with nutrients. Small-scale farmers have grown macadamia nuts in this region since the 1970s, but they haven’t always received a fair price for their buttery, crunchy, nutrient-rich product.
Dr. Bronner’s Sources 100 Percent of Its Organic Hemp Seed Oil From U.S. Farmers—Here’s Why That Matters
On June 9, 2020, Dr. Bronner’s announced that 100 percent of their organic hemp seed oil for its soaps and other products is sourced in the U.S. We chatted with Nancy Metcalf, Marketing Campaign Manager at Dr. Bronner’s, about this incredible accomplishment.
Meet Moringa: Kuli Kuli’s Superfood Addressing Climate Change
Kuli Kuli’s Moringa is more than just a superfood. In addition to its nutritional value, moringa is one of the most climate-smart crops—the trees grow quickly, are resilient to drought and climate change, can regenerate soil nutrients, and contain leaves that are packed with protein and amino acids. We chatted with the Kuli Kuli team ...
Understanding Regenerative Farming Compared to Biodynamic & Organic
Certified organic. Regenerative farming [1]. Biodynamic certification [2]. If you’ve been on the pulse of the food movement in recent years, you’ve likely heard about each of these practices and maybe even made an effort to shop for them when you can. But what’s the difference between regenerative farming versus Biodynamic, or Biodynamic versus organic? ...
How Rodale Institute Turns Veterans Into Farmers
Ever since we started stocking our online shelves, making healthy food accessible to everyone has been a priority. That’s why through Thrive Gives, every paid membership provides a free membership to someone in need—specifically teachers, low-income families, students, and veterans.
Dr. Bronner’s Transforms Farmland in Ghana With Dynamic Agroforestry
Dr. Bronner’s is known for the high standards it applies to ingredients inside every product, and since 2005, the brand has included organic and fair trade certification of all major ingredients. Now, the brand is pursuing Regenerative Organic Certification, too, and piloting a new farming practice in Ghana that has the potential to make a ...
The U.S. Needs More Organic Farmland—Kashi Has a Plan
Less than 1 percent of farmland in the United States is organic. Really. We were surprised, too, but we’re happy to report that Kashi isn’t just lending a hand, it’s starting a movement to help farmers transition from conventional to organic agricultural practices.
Can Urban Farming Revitalize Detroit’s Lower East Side?
The Great Recession was tougher on some cities than others. Take Detroit, for instance.
The Simple Reason Junk Food Is So Cheap
Hate paying taxes every year? Trade in your suit and tie for a pair of overalls. Instead of handing over part of your hard-earned paycheck every April, you could get a handsome sum of money from the government if you become a corn farmer.
Old MacDonald? That’s Mrs. MacDonald These Days
If your idea of American agriculture is American Gothic—the classic painting of a farmer, his wife, and a pitchfork—it’s time to think again. These days, it might be more accurate to paint an image of a farmer and her husband.
Overalls and Instagrams: Small Farmers Get Social Media-Savvy
Farmers are certainly not strangers to technology. From the invention and adoption of complex harvesting mechanisms decades ago to iPads in the fields tracking weather and crop yields, farmers have been using technology for eons.
Bad News for Consumers: DARK Act Moves Closer to Passing
America has spoken, but (surprise!) Congress isn’t listening. A whopping 93 percent of Americans favor a law requiring foods containing genetically modified organisms to be labeled. But instead, lawmakers are marching forward with a bill that actually makes it illegal for states to pass labeling laws.
Why Stone-Ground Flour is Making a Major Comeback
If you lived 200 or 300 years ago, bread would most likely have been an integral part of your diet. The lower your social class, the more you relied on bread—it was cheap, full of calories, and tasty.
Liquid Eggs Turn Into Liquid Gold In The Wake Of Avian Flu
The last time you hit the grocery store, did the exorbitant price of eggs make your eyes pop out of their sockets? You’re not the only one—bakeries, fast-food chains, and restaurants are also feeling the pain of the avian flu outbreak that has been decimating entire flocks of chickens since late last year.