Articles from Niman Ranch

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Des Moines, Iowa, Aug. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Last weekend, Niman Ranch, the pioneering natural meat brand, gathered its network of hog farmers, partners and supporters for its annual Hog Farmer Appreciation Celebration, a tradition that honors the people at the heart of its mission. At the center of the festivities, the Niman Ranch Next Generation Foundation awarded over $280,000 in scholarships and grants to young farmers and future rural leaders, reinforcing its long-standing efforts to help family farms thrive for generations to come.

Niman Ranch Lamb Cooked Live Over the Fire with Wine Pairings for $75

Niman Ranch, the leading natural meat brand renowned for its humanely raised products, recognized the Hundling family of Breda, IA as the 2024 Sustainable Farm of the Year. This accolade honors the Hundlings for their land stewardship and ongoing commitment to the principles of regenerative agriculture.

This week, a new coalition of pork companies, retailers and hog farmers from across the country came together to host a Hill briefing in Washington, D.C. in support of animal welfare and to oppose the highly controversial proposed Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act. In addition to the briefing, the coalition met with members of Congress to share more about the significant risks of the proposed EATS Act to farmers, businesses, voters and consumers.

Last weekend, Niman Ranch, the pioneering natural meat brand, honored its network of over 500 hog farmers and, through the company’s Next Generation Foundation, awarded more than $250,000 in scholarships and grants for young farmers and future rural leaders at the 26th Annual Hog Farmer Appreciation Celebration. First held in 1999, the event brings together Niman Ranch farmers, customers and partners to recognize and thank the brand’s network of independent family farmers and their families.

This week at the Fancy Food Show, Niman Ranch’s Founding Hog Farmer Paul Willis received the esteemed Specialty Food Association Leadership Award for Sustainability. Paul grew Niman Ranch from his one family farm to a network today of over 600 Certified Humane® independent family farmers and ranchers raising pork, beef and lamb sustainably and with no antibiotics, hormones or crates. Niman Ranch meats are served at many of the country’s finest restaurants, at values-driven fast casual chains and in specialty grocers nationwide.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., released the outline of a new farm bill Wednesday that includes language based off the highly controversial Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act, with the goal of rolling back California’s Proposition 12 (Prop 12) and other farm animal protection laws like it across the country. Prop 12 bans the use of gestation crates for pork production on farms in California as well as the in-state sale of certain fresh pork products that do not meet these gestation crate-free standards.

Beginning January 1, 2024, fresh pork sold in California and Massachusetts must be gestation-crate free as the two states’ historic animal welfare laws—Proposition 12 and Question 3—are fully implemented and enforceable. Humane animal care leader Niman Ranch is 100% audited, compliant and ready for implementation with available supply of crate-free, Certified Humane® fresh pork raised sustainably and without antibiotics by independent family farmers.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has released their annual report tracking sales of antibiotics for livestock. Overall, medically important antibiotic sales for meat production increased 4% between 2021 and 2022, with pigs accounting for 43% of sales, cattle 41%, turkeys 12% and chickens 2%.

Niman Ranch recently honored Jeanne McCormack and her husband Al Medvitz of McCormack Ranch in Rio Vista, Calif. for 30 years of partnership, with the ranchers supplying sustainably and humanely raised lamb to the premium meat brand since 1993. Not only is the ranch the first lamb producer in the network, but McCormack and Medvitz were instrumental in the founding of the Niman Ranch Pork Company when they connected their Peace Corps friend and Iowa hog farmer Paul Willis to Bill Niman, a California cattle rancher and Niman Ranch founder who was selling their lamb along with his beef to farm-to-table Bay Area restaurants.

To commemorate Niman Ranch’s 25th annual Hog Farmer Appreciation Dinner, the pioneering natural meat brand’s Next Generation Foundation awarded nearly $250,000 in scholarships and grants for young farmers and future rural leaders in Des Moines, Iowa. First held in 1999, the celebration brings together Niman Ranch farmers, customers and partners to recognize and thank the brand’s network of independent family farmers.

Niman Ranch, the leading natural meat brand renowned for its humanely raised products, has recognized David and Christy Borrowman of Pastvina Acres in Smithville, MO as the 2023 Sustainable Farm of the Year. This accolade honors the Borrowmans for their ongoing commitment to the principles of regenerative agriculture and sustainability.

Niman Ranch, the humane animal care leader, today released the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on Proposition 12.

Premium natural meat brand Niman Ranch has been named to Fast Company’s prestigious list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies. Fast Company recognized Niman Ranch for “using its industry sway to ensure livestock are humanely treated” through advocacy on California’s Proposition 12, the country's strongest law to improve farm animal living conditions, and creating a business model that builds opportunities for small, sustainable family farms.

Niman Ranch, the pioneering leader in humanely and sustainably raised meats, today announced that a broad selection of its fresh and prepared products is now offered at all Mariano’s store locations. Niman Ranch is recognized for its exceptional animal welfare, sustainability practices and award-winning quality and taste.

Yesterday in celebration of World Soil Day, leading natural meat brand Niman Ranch officially announced the Jovaag family of Austin, Minn. as the 2022 Niman Ranch Sustainable Farm of the Year. This accolade honors the Jovaags for their land stewardship and ongoing commitment to the principles of regenerative agriculture.

Elle Gadient (27), farmer advocate for premium meat brand Niman Ranch, has been recognized on the prestigious 2023 Forbes 30 Under 30 Food and Drink list. The annual list features young leaders and entrepreneurs “redefining the way we eat, drink and think about consumption.” This acknowledgement honors Elle’s dedication and passion for supporting independent U.S. family farmers and ranchers and sustainable agriculture.

Niman Ranch, the leading natural meat brand renowned for its humanely raised products, has recognized the Sandquist family of Iowa as their 2022 Farm of the Year. This accolade honors the Sandquists for their dedication to farmer mentorship, humane animal care and helping beginning farmers get started.

The following is a statement from Chris Oliviero, General Manager of Niman Ranch, on the October 11th Supreme Court Hearing of California’s Proposition 12 (National Pork Producers Council vs Ross):

Niman Ranch, the legendary premium beef brand served in the country’s most celebrated restaurants, has launched a USDA-graded, domestic, culinary-driven 100% grass fed and finished beef program. Sourced exclusively from American ranches, the new beef program provides the exceptional marbling, tender texture and consistent, rich flavor Niman Ranch is known for—but with the added health and environmental benefits grass fed beef brings to the table.