ST. LOUIS, MO – In a time where mandatory labeling of domestically produced food (from production to consumption) continues to elude commodities such as American cattle and beef producers, one organization has recently launched it’s own ‘U.S. Farmed Certification and Packaging Seal.’
Qualifying products for the seal are those that derive at least 95 percent of their agricultural ingredients from farms in the United States. Introduced by the American Farmland Trust (AFT), a national nonprofit that helps keep American producers on their land, the label aims to transform the way consumers identify and shop for domestically sourced products.
By harnessing the potential of U.S. sourced goods across the entire CPG industry, the U.S. Farmed certification aims to create a far greater impact for American agriculture than any one company could alone.
The U.S. Farmed certification comes at a critical moment for American agriculture. According to AFT, within the next 15 years, ownership of over 30 percent of our nation’s agricultural land could be in transition as the current generation of farmers prepares to retire. At the same time, farmland loss threatens the very foundation of domestic agricultural capacity, and new and beginning farmers are often challenged to secure the capital needed to enter agriculture. The U.S. Farmed certification will address this challenge head on by providing growers with access to the direct support needed to pursue options for maintaining and protecting farmland, as well as innovative strategies for transitioning land to the next generation of farmers.
“For over four decades, American Farmland Trust has worked tirelessly to ensure the land that sustains us remains in farming and its soils stay healthy and productive. Now, with the launch of the U.S. Farmed certification, we’re taking a bold step to help secure the future of American agriculture and create both a movement and a market niche that celebrates and supports our nation’s farmers,” said Beth Sauerhaft, PhD, AFT Acting President and CEO. “Each U.S. Farmed certification has the potential to open new opportunities for farmers to receive assistance with succession planning, farmland protection tools for their operations, and other useful tactics to safeguard their land – our nation’s food systems.”
Anheuser-Busch, the nation’s leading brewer, announced that it is the first-mover in adopting the U.S. Farmed certification and seal for several of its industry-leading beer brands. This industry-wide effort will be supported by an Anheuser-Busch led campaign, “Choose Beer Grown Here,” to encourage consumers to seek the U.S. Farmed certification and seal when shopping for products.
Aimed at transforming the way consumers identify and shop for domestically sourced products, the seal will first appear on Anheuser-Busch’s Busch Light beer this May, and Budweiser, Bud Light and Michelob ULTRA beers have also obtained U.S. Farmed certification. Consumers are empowered to purchase U.S. Farmed certified products to benefit American farmers and invest in the future of domestic ingredient sourcing, helping to ensure a vibrant and thriving agricultural sector in America for generations to come.
“American farmers are the backbone of this country, and Anheuser-Busch has been deeply connected to the U.S. agricultural community and committed to sourcing high-quality ingredients from U.S. farmers for more than 165 years – that’s who we are,” said Anheuser-Busch CEO Brendan Whitworth. “We source nearly all the ingredients in our iconic American beers from hard-working U.S. farmers – many of whom we have worked with for generations. The U.S. Farmed certification takes our commitment to the next level, and we are proud to lead the industry in rallying behind American farmers to ensure the future of U.S. agriculture, which is crucial to our country’s economy. We look forward to other companies joining us in seeking U.S. Farmed certification for their products so that together we can make an even greater impact and show our support for American farmers.”
Luke Adams, Timm Adams Farms, shared, “As a third-generation barley farmer, my family has been growing high-quality ingredients for companies like Anheuser-Busch for decades – but until today, consumers couldn’t see that. I’m thrilled to see AFT launch the U.S. Farmed certification and proud to grow for the first company to join the effort. Knowing that consumers can choose to support not just me, but all farmers across our country, means a lot to my family and to the people on my farm whose jobs rely on their purchases.”
“USA Rice maintains a strong partnership with Anheuser-Busch, the largest end user of rice in the U.S. The launch of U.S. Farmed – a new initiative that promotes American-grown commodities like rice – is an exciting new opportunity for our U.S. rice growers and industry partners around the country,” said Peter Bachmann, President and CEO, USA Rice Federation. “Our nation’s rice farmers, rice millers, merchants, and manufacturing customers are each proud to play a critical role in our domestic supply chain and broader economy. U.S. Farmed will help highlight the importance of our U.S manufacturing base, as well as the important contributions that U.S. rice growers bring to American restaurants, bars, and kitchen tables each day.”
“Efforts like this are a testament to the quality products that come from America’s farms each and every year,” said Minnesota corn farmer and National Corn Growers Association President Harold Wolle. “We appreciate the recognition of the hard work put in by hundreds of thousands of farmers to produce an abundant and reliable corn crop.”
Companies across the consumer-packaged goods (CPG) industry are encouraged to join the effort by obtaining U.S. Farmed certification for their domestically-sourced products. AFT will use funds raised through those certifications to expand programs and provide U.S. farmers across all 50 states with free resources and expert advisory services to help them access, protect, and maintain American farmland.
