As energy around the topic of sustainability continues to swell, an unfamiliar phrase has begun to circulate—regenerative farming, also called regen ag. Some may assume it’s merely the latest product of the sustainability buzzword pipeline, but you might be surprised to learn this agricultural mindset predates contemporary farming entirely. What exactly is regenerative farming, and how is it practiced today?
While many modern regenerative practices were developed more recently, the origins of the movement go back millennia. Since time immemorial, Indigenous Americans have farmed using a holistic framework that considers all parties in the agricultural process: soil, water, animals, and humans alike. Just ask Marvin Record, Head of Orchard Operations at Rainier Fruit Company; a 1961 copy of How to Grow Vegetables and Fruits by the Organic Method by regen ag advocate J. I. Rodale sits prominently on his office shelf. Rainier achieved Regenerative Organic Certified® on 230 acres as a verified seal on company-wide practices, but for Record, regenerative farming is simply a mindset—“leave it better than you found it!”
Through regenerative farming practices such as on-farm green composting and integrated pest management, Rainier Fruit actively fosters soil microbes and native insect populations in its orchards. These practices, combined with the inherent sustainability of growing permanent crops with ground cover vegetation, keep both plant and soil healthy and naturally resilient. Not only do these methods make an impact in the field, but on the final product as well—Rainier believes fruit grown from healthy plants tastes and stores better thanks to stronger nutritional balance, helping enable a year-round supply of United States-grown organics.
People are a key pillar of the regenerative farming framework. For growing fruit, this is especially relevant given the labor-intensive nature of planting, training, pruning, and harvesting orchards all by hand. Company Founder Bill Zirkle built Rainier Fruit on the principle of respecting and supporting every person in the operation regardless of position, which is why the company embraced the Equitable Food Initiative’s certification standards for workforce practices with plans to reach 6,800 certified acres by 2024. Just as a well-sustained tree rooted in healthy soil yields quality fruit, well-supported people yield quality work. 
