On today's episode, we sit down with Cameron Whitehead, the Chief Operating Officer at Pete and Gerry's, a table egg producer known for its focus on pasture-raised birds, animal welfare, and strong relationships with family farms.

The discussion centers around the inflation-driven surge in egg prices, a topic frequently mentioned in consumer discussions but rarely addressed by industry insiders. Cameron shares insights from his unique career path—from corporate law to egg production—and provides an in-depth look at the historical development and current operations of Pete and Gerry's.

He elaborates on the different types of egg production, including cage-free, free-range, and pasture-raised, explaining what each label means for consumers. The conversation also delves into supply chain dynamics, disease management, and new organic initiatives. Cameron stresses the importance of consumer education, highlights ongoing inflationary pressures, and discusses the potential future of biosecurity and vaccination programs in the egg industry.

Guest Quote:

“And on the farm side, better disease management comes into record keeping and data, right? It really does. That's where our focus is, we want to address disease as early as possible for the hens and for the productivity that our family farmers rely on. So we do tracing on our farms of productivity rates of water consumption, feed consumption, temperatures, et cetera.” - Cameron Whitehead

Timestamps:

• * (00:59) A First-Generation “Egg Guy”
• * (02:23) Pete & Gerry’s History
• * (04:18) Which Egg Will They Choose?
• * (07:32) An Egg’s Journey Home
• * (13:43) Inflation’s Real Story
• * (18:42) Avian Influenza
• *(22:12) Protecting Barns
• *(26:30) Is Vaccination the Future?
• *(33:29) Protein by the Pound
• *(37:53) New Organic Guidelines
• *(45:11) “Wingin’ It”

Today's episode is brought to you by Ancera, the company that gives poultry companies a birds eye view into their operations. Find out how Ancera is replacing opinions with objectivity at www.ancera.com.

Links:

Follow Cameron on Linkedin

Visit PeteAndGerrys.com

Follow Ancera on Linkedin

Visit Ancera.com

On today’s episode, we chat with Abbey Thiel, a food scientist who wears many hats in the realm of academia and science communication. Currently, she's delving deeper into dairy processing and products as a postdoctoral researcher. She's also a science writer and content creator as "Abbey the Food Scientist".

Abbey also opens up about her transition into science communication through her YouTube channel. She started creating content during the isolating months of writing her PhD dissertation in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her channel quickly became a platform where she demystifies complex scientific concepts, such as pasteurization and bioengineered foods, making them accessible and understandable for the general public. Her clear explanations and engaging style have attracted a dedicated audience eager to learn about the science behind their food choices.

In our conversation, Abbey highlights the varying perspectives on controversial topics, like raw milk. She discusses the science supporting pasteurization and addresses common misconceptions, emphasizing the importance of making informed food choices based on accurate information. Abbey also touches on her current research in dairy products, including her innovative work with precision fermentation to produce animal-free dairy proteins. This episode offers a deep dive into the intersection of food science, consumer education, and the future of sustainable food production.

Guest Quote:

• * (00:33) Abbey’s Food Science Background
• * (04:35) Creating Content for Consumers
• * (05:33) Bioengineering and Pasterization
• * (13:08) Researching Dairy
• * (15:57) What KPI’s are important in Dairy?
• * (18:35) Bioactives in Raw Milk?
• *(20:14) The Salad Bar Incident: Willful Contamination
• *(24:01) Tracking Consumer Trends
• *(30:46) “Wingin It”

Today's episode is brought to you by Ancera, the company that gives poultry companies a birds eye view into their operations. Find out how Ancera is replacing opinions with objectivity at www.ancera.com.

Links:

Follow Abbey on Linkedin

Follow Ancera on Linkedin

Visit Ancera.com

On today’s episode, we sit down with Roger Beers, Director of Global Integrated Food Business at Church & Dwight Co. Prior to this position, Beers served as vice president of sales and marketing at Packers Sanitation Services and in various leadership positions at A&L Laboratories and Ecolab. He’s well-versed in agricultural science, food science and business management, and is a veteran of the United States Army.

Roger sheds light on Arm & Hammer's involvement in the food industry, beyond its well-known baking soda products. He discusses with Arjun the company's journey into animal nutrition and food safety solutions, highlighting their efforts to tackle pathogens like salmonella across the entire food processing chain. With a focus on innovation and collaboration, Roger emphasizes the need for alignment between industry stakeholders and regulatory bodies to address emerging challenges like microplastics in the food supply.

Furthermore, Roger shares insights into redefining the perception of sanitation within the industry. By reframing the third shift as "shift zero," he underscores the critical role of sanitation teams in both preparing for and concluding production cycles. Through this shift in mindset, Roger aims to elevate the importance of sanitation as an essential function within food processing facilities.

Guest Quote:

“Whatever work we do here has to be validated. That's the eighth and final step in sanitation, and until that passes, we can't say that our job is complete.” - Roger Beers

Time Stamps:

• * (00:53) 30 Years of Food Defense
• * (05:10) Baking Soda, and Animal Health
• * (10:10) Overcoming production silos
• * (15:17) Defining American Exceptionalism
• * (17:13) Technology and Policy
• * (20:58) A “Firewall” Protecting Our Food
• * (23:56) Understanding the threat of microplastics
• * (29:48) The “Third Shift” in Sanitation
• * (35:42) Probiotics, or a complete cleanout?
• * (42:28) Wingin’ it

Today's episode is brought to you by Ancera, the company that gives poultry companies a birds eye view into their operations. Find out how Ancera is replacing opinions with objectivity at www.ancera.com.

Links:

Follow Roger on Linkedin

Follow Ancera on Linkedin

Visit Ancera.com