A mindful eating lifestyle often begins with understanding where our food comes from and how it is grown. The path from seed to table can be influenced by practices affecting our health and the environment. Beyond cultivating crops, regenerative farming is a way of growing food that seeks to revitalize the health of the soil. This ethical approach creates more sustainable food and nutrient-rich produce and helps maintain a healthy earth for future generations.

In this episode, Jen talks with Benina Montes, Owner and Managing Partner of Burroughs Family Farms. Benina started farming almonds with her father in 2002. In 2006, she started transitioning the first almond blocks to organic, and by 2015, the whole farm was certified.

Jen and Benina talk about regenerative farming principles, the challenges and benefits of maintaining high-quality produce, and how Burroughs Family Farms produces almonds, olive oil, and organic meats using sustainable farming practices.

In this episode:

• [02:01] - Burroughs Family Farms' products
• [04:07] - Benina's thoughts on grocery store products
• [06: 14] - Principles and benefits of regenerative farming
• [11:52] - Benina's thoughts on pesticides
• [15:41] - Certifications for regenerative agriculture
• [17:53] - How to identify high-quality olive oil
• [21:41] - The benefits and uses of regenerative organic almond butter

Quotes

[07:14] - "Sustaining is not necessarily making anything better. It's just not making it worse. And we want to leave things better than we found them." ~ Benina Montes

[09:02] - "It's all about having healthy soil. Healthy soil, healthy plants. Healthy products, healthy people. That's what our goal on our farm is." ~ Benina Montes

[10:58] - "We're big advocates of having more and more people try regenerative farming. It's not just good for the farmers. It's good for the consumers as well." ~ Benina Montes

Links

• Benina Montes on LinkedIn
• Burroughs Family Farms
• California Olive Oil Council

Connect with Jen

• Jen on Instagram
• Jen on Facebook
• Recipes & Swaps

Subscribe and stay in touch

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Use the code “wakeup” to get a 20% discount on Burroughs Family Farms' products.