BEDMINSTER, NJ. — One year ago, Applegate Farms LLC, a subsidiary of Hormel Foods Corp., set out to transition all its beef hot dogs to being sourced from verified regenerative farms by the end of 2025. This week, the company announced that it achieved its goal nine months earlier than anticipated.

Applegate’s commitment helped transition 10.8 million acres of grasslands to certified regenerative — 80% more than its initial goal set in March 2024.

“Since its founding, Applegate has been at the forefront of meaningful industry change and, at our core, we believe animals raised right can be a force for good in a healthy food system,” said Joseph O’Connor, president of Applegate. “From leading the raised-with-no-antibiotics-ever movement to becoming a pioneer in organic and regenerative meat, Applegate continues to raise the bar for how food is produced and consumed. Meeting — and beating — this goal demonstrates Applegate’s zeal for change and commitment to leading the meat industry forward.”

Now, every Applegate beef hot dog — which includes Applegate Organics The Great Organic Uncured Beef Hot Dog and Applegate Naturals Beef Hot Dog — is sourced from farms certified by Regenerative Organic Certification, Land to Market and Certified Regenerative endorsed by Certified Humane.

“It is exciting to see Applegate Organics hot dogs transition to 100% beef from Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) Grasslands,” said LaRhea Pepper, interim chief executive officer and vice-chair ROA Board of Directors. “ROC programs start with the best practices from USDA Organic, Fair Trade and animal welfare standards and build in layers of protection for land, water, flora and fauna. We hope Applegate's commitment to regenerative organic standards will inspire others to follow their lead and drive global environmental impact."

Applegate natural and organic beef hot dogs made with regeneratively sourced beef will start shipping in March without any impact to pricing. The Applegate Do Good Dog hot dog, which served as a pilot to gauge consumer interest in regeneratively sourced beef, is being discontinued.

“The humble hot dog has long been our way of demonstrating how simple, accessible foods can meet high standards,” said Carolyn Gahn, senior director of mission and advocacy at Applegate. “By choosing Applegate beef hot dogs, consumers are supporting a strong, sustainable food system that keeps cattle on pasture, nurturing soil, healing the land and enriching rural communities.”

Founded in 1987, Applegate produces hot dogs, bacon, sausages, deli meats, cheese and frozen products with natural and organic claims. In 2015, Applegate became a stand-alone subsidiary of Hormel Foods.