Homegrown Meats grass-fed beef jerky

Company: Homegrown Meats

Introduced: September 2018

Distribution: National

Suggested Retail Price: $8.99

Product Snapshot: San Diego-based artisan beef jerky producer, Homegrown Meats, has announced that four flavors in the brand’s flagship jerky line—Joel’s Traditional, Western Mesquite Barbeque, Cracked Black Pepper and Paleo—will debut nationwide through Whole Foods Market stores. Homegrown Meats has developed a loyal following in the Southwest Pacific region for its handcrafted, grass-fed and grass-finished jerky and is a go-to for those seeking a healthy, yet supremely tasty jerky option. Crafted to ‘fuel the journey,’ Homegrown jerky uses the cleanest ingredients and strives to supply health-conscious, environmentally aware jerky lovers across the country with a sustainable, delicious and healthy protein snack.

“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to extend our footprint nationwide with Whole Foods Market,” says Thad Benshoof, co-founder of Homegrown Meats. “This is an exciting opportunity for the Homegrown Meats family, positioning us as a leading brand in the all-natural jerky category and opening the door for long-term growth and partnership.”

“We are extremely proud of the Homegrown Meats team for their recent global expansion at Whole Foods Market, and look forward to sharing their delicious, 100 percent grass-fed jerky with our shoppers around the country,” said Jason Krolikowski, global category manager for Whole Foods Market. “It has been a testament to our commitment to support local suppliers and products to watch this brand grow from a small San Diego-based artisan beef jerky producer, into a leading brand in the all-natural jerky category with a loyal following and strong national footprint.”

Homegrown combines its high quality, grass-fed and grass-finished beef with a unique blend of delicious, culinary-inspired flavors. The brand offers nine distinct options that range from sweet to progressively spicy: Tangy Orange Teriyaki, Western Mesquite Barbeque, Paleo, Joel’s Traditional, Carne Asada, Cracked Black Pepper, Sriracha Style, Gringo Bandito, and Smoking Hot Jalapeño. Each Homegrown jerky flavor is gluten-free, made without nitrates or nitrites and with no artificial flavors, no artificial colors and no artificial sweeteners. Homegrown will continue to expand its jerky selection with the creation of additional flavors and specialty collaboration projects.

Homegrown is a category standout due to the brand’s direct ties with cattle ranchers. Homegrown Cattle Company, a business that was started on a sixth-generation cattle ranch owned by the Mendenhall family and located in the hills of Palomar Mountain in Southern California, is a partner in Homegrown. Homegrown Cattle Company is also a partner in E&H Foods, a supplier of local organic, grass-fed and grass-finished beef to Whole Foods Market's Southern Pacific region. The owners of Homegrown Cattle Company are committed to humanely raised and cared for animals resulting in a beef product of high caliber.

Homegrown Meats beef jerky was previously available in the Whole Foods Market's Southern Pacific and Rocky Mountain regions and is now available in Whole Foods Market stores nationwide. In addition to Whole Foods Market, Homegrown Meats is available in non-traditional retail outlets including golf courses and resorts, health and wellness stores, universities, breweries, corporate offices, professional sports facilities and outdoor retailers.