3021 78th St. Norway, IA 52318
1-844-550-6200 | Mon-Fri 7a–6p CT
Guatemala cardamom farmer

Why Regenerative Organic?

Frontier Co-op believes firmly that regenerative agriculture should inherently require organic practices, and Regenerative Organic Certified® represents the highest standard for organic agriculture in the world. By purchasing Regenerative Organic Certified® products, individuals can connect with a full suite of important values and know at-a glance that their purchase makes a positive impact at every level: environmentally, ethically, and socially.

peppercorns

REGENERATIVE IS IN OUR NATURE

At Frontier Co-op, we’re not just committed to organic agriculture; we’re dedicated to fostering a world where both people and the planet can thrive. Beyond organic, we’ve always been committed to treating our sourcing partners with fairness and integrity. In 2009, we became among the first to sell Fair Trade Certified™ spices, herbs and flavorings at retail in the US.

This commitment to both people and planet has recently coalesced on a global scale into what’s now known as ‘regenerative agriculture’. While there’s still ongoing debate about its exact definition and requirements, the world is increasingly recognizing the importance of treating our farmers fairly and ensuring the health of our soil, water, and air. These fundamental tenets of environmental health, resilience, and fairness have been central to our co-op since its inception, and we’re excited to see and participate in this global transition toward a more regenerative economy.
Smallholder peppercorn farmer in Sri Lanka

ENSURING SMALLHOLDER FARMERS DON’T GET LEFT BEHIND

There’s a lot of work being done in the regenerative space today, but there’s a lot more still to do. As the world moves toward a more regenerative model, we’re determined to ensure that the smallholder farmers who play such a vital role in our global food system and our spice supply chain specifically don’t get left behind.

We’re working hand in hand with our sourcing partners around the world to understand their challenges and identify solutions that work for them. We’re starting with the 33,000 farming families associated with our partner, FEDECOVERA, in Cobán, Guatemala. Our aim is to ensure they receive recognition for the regenerative practices they’re already utilizing and to assist them in navigating the formal certification process. Moreover, we’re dedicated to identifying and overcoming any unique financial or logistical challenges that they face. This includes assisting with certification costs and committing to long-term contracts among other measures.
Frontier Co-op Regenerative Organic Certified spice launch

LAUNCH OF FIRST REGENERATIVE ORGANIC CERTIFIED® SPICES

We are thrilled to announce that our entire Frontier Co-op® Fair Trade Organic product set will be transitioning to become the first Regenerative Organic Certified® spices this fall!
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Peppercorn farmer in Sri Lanka

Three Pillars of Regenerative
Organic Certified®

Soil Health

  • Builds Soil Organic Matter
  • Conservation Tillage
  • Cover Crops
  • Crop Rotations
  • No GMOs or Gene Editing
  • No Soilless Systems
  • No Synthetic Inputs
  • Promotes Biodiversity
  • Rotational Grazing

Animal Welfare

  • Five Freedoms
    • - Freedom from discomfort
    • - Freedom from fear & distress
    • - Freedom from hunger
    • - Freedom from pain, injury or disease
    • - Freedom to express normal behavior
  • Grass-fed / Pasture-Raised
  • Limited Transport
  • No CAFOs
  • Suitable Shelter

Social Fairness

  • Capacity Building
  • Democratic Organizations
  • Fair Payments for Farmers
  • Freedom of Association
  • Good Morning Conditions
  • Living Wages
  • Long Term Commitments
  • No Forced Labor
  • Transparency and Accountability
ROC Guatemalan cardamom farmers

REGENERATIVE ORGANIC CERTIFIED®

Regenerative Organic Certified® is an agricultural certification for food, fiber, and personal care ingredients. Based on three pillars, it requires farmers to go above and beyond by practicing agricultural techniques that ensure healthy soil, the ethical and humane treatment of animals, and fairness for farmers & workers. It was created to address the climate crisis, soil degradation, biodiversity loss, factory farming, and fractured rural economies globally.

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Regenerative Organic Certified graphicRegenerative Organic Certified graphic