After a popular pilot, Cargill’s Honeysuckle White will increase sales significantly of turkeys that buyers can trace to family farms using blockchain technology.
The test last year with 60,000 turkeys from four farms was the first time a major turkey brand used a blockchain solution, the company says. The record-keeping method getting a lot of attention in the food industry centralizes tracking information throughout a supply chain.
This year, 200,000 traceable turkeys from about 70 farms will be available in 3,500 stores in the Midwest and several other markets, including Denver, Seattle and Nashville. One-third of the brand’s turkeys will be traceable. A limited number will be sold through Amazon.com.
People can text or enter an on-package code at HoneysuckleWhite.com to see the farm’s location by state and county, along with a family farm story, photos and a message from the farmer.
“Cargill is making meaningful investments in technologies like blockchain to digitalize our food and agricultural supply chains in ways that benefit the entire industry and help our customers,” said Debra Bauler, chief information officer, Cargill Protein and Salt.
Honeysuckle White’s consumer surveys have found that consumers want brands to be transparent in food production, and most agree that it’s important that their Thanksgiving turkeys are raised by family farmers.
“Honeysuckle White is committed to food transparency and we are excited to bring more consumers an inside look at the family farms where their turkeys are raised,” said Kassie Long, Honeysuckle White brand manager.
Honeysuckle White products, including turkey sausage and ground turkey, come from independent family farms that don’t use growth-promoting antibiotics.