045 - Giving Bulk a Brand with Jason Freeman of Farmer Direct Organic

To create a CPG product that is 100% organic, 100% traceable back to the family farm, and 100% tested for pesticides and herbicides is no small feat. In today's episode, we speak to someone who has done just that. Jason Freeman is the Founder and CEO of Farmer Direct Organic, a certified organic supplier of beans, grains, legumes, and all sorts of healthy whole foods to stores across the US and Canada. Today we discuss the challenges of traceable supply chains, affordable plastic-free packaging, finding the right investors, the rise in superweeds, the need for more widely-used environmentally-friendly farming techniques, and the problems of corporations fueling unhealthy addictions that create disease. This episode is jam-packed with valuable insight into a whole range of important issues, so don’t miss it! 

Key Points From This Episode:
How Farmer Direct Organic was established and the principles that it is founded upon. 
The evolution of Jason’s career from BioHemp to Farmer Direct Co-Op, to Farmer Direct Organic, and HempScience.
Jason’s involvement in the early hemp legalization movement.
Jason’s thoughts on democracy in light of the prohibition of cannabis.
Shocking stats about diabetes in America and how corporations pray on unhealthy addictions.
The rise in superweeds that are becoming resistant to GMO technology. 
How Farmer Direct Co-Op became the first national brand to be certified to domestic fair trade standards through the Agricultural Justice Project.
Jason’s hope for the revitalization of rural America through organic farming.
The value of Farmer Direct Organic being consumer-founded and therefore consumer-focused.
The difference between non-GMO and organic. 
How Farmer Direct Organic just became part of Above Food and what this means.
What Farmer Direct Organic is doing to try to eliminate plastic in its packaging.
Jason’s goal to have everything that the company produces approved for a diabetic diet. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Jason Freeman on LinkedIn

Farmer Direct Organic 

"Attack of the Superweeds” - New York Times

Kiss the Ground 

Amy’s Kitchen

Agricultural Justice Project 

HempScience 

Non GMO Project 

Above Food 

rePurpose Global

For a Better World Podcast

Gage Mitchell on LinkedIn

Modern Species

Evolve CPG

Evolve CPG on YouTube

Evolve CPG Community

Evolve CPG email

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