Simple Mills, Daily Harvest, and Cappello's Announce Trailblazing Partnership to Revolutionize California Almond Farming

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Apr 19, 2022, 09:00 ET

Partners are working with growers at Treehouse California Almonds, organizers at White Buffalo Land Trust, and scientists to research the impact of regenerative soil health principles

WASCO, Calif., April 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Simple Mills, Daily Harvest, and Cappello's announced The Almond Project – a multi-year, farmer-led partnership to make almond farming more sustainable by implementing and evaluating the outcome of regenerative soil health principles. The program will leverage the expertise of third-generation growers at Treehouse California Almonds to lead soil health research in California's Central Valley that will help pave the way towards a more prosperous, resilient future for almonds.

The climate crisis poses a dire threat to almonds and the people who grow them – especially in California, which supplies 80 percent of the world's almonds. Mounting evidence suggests that soil health is key to the long-term viability of all food crops, but practical research remains sparse and the financial risk of adopting these practices often falls solely on farmers.

"If we want to abate the effects of climate change, safeguard farmer livelihoods, and continue to enjoy the nutritional benefits of almonds, we must build a more resilient food system," said Rachel Drori, Founder and CEO of Daily Harvest. "Daily Harvest looks forward to delivering on our mission to reimagine the food system through The Almond Project."

Over the next five years, The Almond Project partners will work with growers to integrate a variety of soil health practices on two 80-acre blocks of farmland – one conventional and one organic. Simple Mills and Daily Harvest, in partnership with Treehouse California Almonds and White Buffalo Land Trust – a 501(c)(3) nonprofit practicing, promoting, and developing systems of regenerative agriculture, are supporting farmers in the adoption of regenerative principles. These practices, which include cover cropping, animal integration, composting and the reduction of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, aim to improve natural soil fertility, sequester carbon, conserve water, and increase biodiversity.

The Almond Project partners will measure outcomes such as soil health, water infiltration, carbon sequestration, and ecosystem biodiversity in comparison to neighboring baselines. The group will share learnings with other almond farmers in the region to assist in the implementation of soil health practices on additional acreage of farmland.

"At Simple Mills, we are committed to advancing the holistic health of people and the planet – and that starts with how we grow our food," said Katlin Smith, Founder and CEO of Simple Mills. "Almonds are a nutrient-dense powerhouse that have always been an integral part of our portfolio and we're thrilled to be a part of this groundbreaking partnership to reimagine almond farming now and for generations to come."

Cappello's is supporting White Buffalo Land Trust through the Savory Institute to trial the Ecological Outcome Verification (EOV) protocol in the almond orchard blocks. EOV is the methodology that measures ecological outcomes on a producers' land. If results trend positive, a verification is granted and the farm is entered into the Land to Market Verified™ Regenerative Supplier Roster. This trial will serve as a vital resource to help establish a verification program for almonds and other perennial crops.

"We view partnering with the farmers who steward this precious land as both a privilege and an extraordinary opportunity," said Stacey Marcellus, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Cappello's. "This project is based on regenerative agricultural practices that involve time, effort, and risk for growers. The resources needed for research are something so worthy of sharing in the responsibility. We all win if we can increase life through the whole ecosystem, from soil to tree to community."

"California almonds are a vital part of the global food system and essential to the communities that grow them," said Joe Gardiner, third-generation farmer and Sales Manager at Treehouse California Almonds. "With a pragmatic approach, we are humbled to connect a diverse group of stakeholders with a unified mission to preserve agricultural resources and livelihoods.''

In the short term, The Almond Project aims to identify climate-smart approaches to almond farming that improve soil health, increase biodiversity, and empower local farming communities. Longer-term, the program seeks to develop proof points to incentivize farmers and food companies to adopt practices that have the potential to regenerate California's working lands, contribute to balancing our climate crisis, and enable the sustainability of farming in the Central Valley for generations to come.

About Simple Mills
Founded in 2012, Simple Mills is a leading provider of better-for-you crackers, cookies, snack bars and baking mixes made with clean, nutrient-dense ingredients and nothing artificial, ever. Celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, the company has disrupted center-aisle grocery categories to become the #1 baking mix brand, #1 cracker brand, #2 cookie brand, and #1 growth driver in bars in the natural channel with distribution in over 25,000 stores nationwide. Its mission is to advance the holistic health of the planet and its people by positively impacting the way food is made. For more information, visit www.simplemills.com. 

About Daily Harvest
Daily Harvest is reimagining how food can nourish both humanity and the planet by making it easy to eat more whole, organic fruits and vegetables every day. Through a combination of data science and a future-focused supply chain, Daily Harvest co-creates food with its community and brings it to market in a rapid and highly personalized way. Launched in 2016 by Founder and CEO Rachel Drori, Daily Harvest works with farmers to support biodiversity and organic farming practices for a more regenerative future. We take care of food, so food can take care of you. For more information, visit www.daily-harvest.com.

About Cappello's
Friends and Co-Founders Ben Frohlichstein and Stacey Marcellus had always shared a love for cooking and feeding people. After Ben and Stacey had parallel experiences working on farmlands, they were inspired to bring a new kind of food into the world that was filled with nutritionally relevant ingredients, and tastes and textures that rivaled the classics. And thus, the world's first almond flour pizzas, pastas and cookie doughs were born. Today, Ben and Stacey lead a team of spirited food lovers, guiding Cappello's on its mission to set a new standard for frozen foods that shift the prepackaged paradigm in a sustainable direction focused on simple, real foods. For more information, visit www.cappellos.com and Instagram.com/Cappellos.

About Treehouse California Almonds
When Treehouse California Almonds was first started in the early 1980's, the mission was clear: deliver premium quality almond products to the baking and confectionary industries – while maintaining respect for bees, farmers and the environment. Through our "farm-to-table" approach, innovative processing techniques and commitment to premium quality – Treehouse has been a leader in the almond industry and providing True Almond Goodness for over 40 years. For more information, visit www.treehousealmonds.com.

About White Buffalo Land Trust
White Buffalo Land Trust practices, promotes and develops systems of regenerative agriculture for local, regional and global impact. We are committed to the evolution of land stewardship and the redesign of our food system to directly address the climate, biodiversity, public health, and food security challenges that we face today. Our 1,000-acre Center for Regenerative Agriculture serves as a living laboratory for education, training, research and the reimagining of agri(culture). For more information, visit https://www.whitebuffalolandtrust.org/.

SOURCE Daily Harvest