Applegate Commits to Convert All Beef Hot Dogs to Regenerative Sources by End of 2025

March 5, 2024

Natural and organic meat subsidiary of Hormel Foods believes the move could significantly increase the acreage used for regenerative raising of beef.

Andy Hanacek

Applegate, a natural and organic meat subsidiary of Hormel Foods, plans to transition its entire portfolio of beef hot dogs to beef raised on verified regenerative grasslands within the next two years, according to an announcement from the company.

By the end of 2025, Applegate expects to implement this change, which it expects will contribute to the regeneration of six million acres of grasslands and could increase the current regenerative acreage of Applegate suppliers by more than 2,200%, the release noted. The company believes cattle-grazing practices need to improve to meet demand for beef and also protect the environment, and it is committed to supporting practices such as holistic managed grazing, which could help restore soil health, sequester carbon and safeguard the land against drought, wildfires and erosion.

Applegate will work with its network of 250 beef farmers to establish a regenerative standard with third-party verification through certifiers such as Land to Market. In addition, Applegate will work with other partners to ensure the standards are properly aligned with ecology and animal welfare concerns.

The Do Good Dog was launched by Applegate in 2021 as the first nationally available hot dog made with beef raised on verified regenerative U.S. grasslands, the company said, and it helped convert 260,000 acres of grassland to regenerative. The new commitment hopes to build exponentially on that success.

About the Author

Andy Hanacek | Senior Editor

Andy Hanacek has covered meat, poultry, bakery and snack foods as a B2B editor for nearly 20 years, and has toured hundreds of processing plants and food companies, sharing stories of innovation and technological advancement throughout the food supply chain. In 2018, he won a Folio:Eddie Award for his unique "From the Editor's Desk" video blogs, and he has brought home additional awards from Folio and ASBPE over the years. In addition, Hanacek led the Meat Industry Hall of Fame for several years and was vice president of communications for We R Food Safety, a food safety software and consulting company.