Funding To Purchase USDA-Inspected Processing Facility

Nestled in Northern California’s Scott Valley, at the base of the Marble Mountains, StarWalker Organic Farms spans 7,000 acres of pasture and cropland. Since the 1970s, the Walker family has cultivated food in a way that honors the ecology it depends on—building living soils, nurturing diverse pastures, and crafting a regenerative model that feeds both land and community, because for them, there has never been another way to do things.

Today led by Jason and Kristina Walker, StarWalker is home to the country’s first and only Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC) pork and beef operation. It is also the largest certified organic pork producer in the United States, and the creator of the world’s first ROC™ jerky. But behind these distinctions lies something deeper: a commitment to long-term stewardship, and a belief that by investing in community, they can make growing food regeneratively the norm, rather than the exception. 

The farm raises Highland cattle, heritage pigs and a rotation of alfalfa, wheat, and peas—maintaining a closed-loop nutritional cycle where animals and crops nourish each other. Organic practices have shaped the land for over 50 years, upheld as essential not only for producing high-quality food, but for protecting the long-term vitality of their soil and ecosystems. By integrating animals into their cropping systems, the Walkers naturally fertilize their fields and increase soil carbon, ensuring their methods benefit both land and climate.

Like many family farms, the Walkers have navigated seasons of change. In 2020, when the world slowed and Kristina closed her dance studio in nearby Fort Jones, they made a bold pivot—growing their herds and launching a direct-to-consumer model—bringing their nutrient-dense, ethically raised meat directly to households across the country. That decision not only allowed them to retain independence in a volatile market, but also to build stronger relationships with the people who eat their food. As demand grew, so too did the need to maintain quality and continuity in their operations. That clarity gave rise to StarHarvest Co., a venture created to purchase and manage a meat processing facility, and in the summer of 2024, the Walkers entered a lease-to-purchase agreement on a local USDA-inspected processing facility. This expansion has enabled them to manage their value chain from pasture to plate, while laying the groundwork for deeper regional impact.

Use of Funds:

This funding will allow StarWalker to purchase a nearby USDA-inspected processing facility, ensuring long-term control over their value chain and reducing reliance on external processors. Owning this facility will enable them to scale their Regenerative Organic Certified pork and beef business to meet growing consumer demand and maintain greater quality control and transparency from pasture to plate. In addition to growing the StarWalker brand, this facility will also support other regional farmers by offering local, USDA-inspected processing services. This facility will serve as a cornerstone for regional meat production rooted in regenerative values and transparent supply chains.

Ecological, Social, and Economic Stewardship Practices:

At StarWalker Organic Farms, regeneration is viewed as a long-standing commitment to working in sync with natural systems while producing nutrient-dense food for local and national markets. To consistently move towards this goal, the following practices are utilized: 

Ecological Stewardship:

Stewardship Statement: 

The Walker family and StarWalker enterprises are committed to maintaining a family-owned farm that focuses on raising Certified Organic and Regenerative Organic Certified meat products. They are committed to regenerative and sustainable farming practices and humane animal treatment from the field, to processing, to finished products. Throughout the term of the loan, they are committed to:

• Maintaining Organic and Regenerative Organic Certification on their whole farm;
• Keeping the long term health of their land at the forefront as they make pasture management decisions and crop plans;
• Utilizing humane practices that respect the dignity of each animal both on the farm and in their processing facility;
• Growing their volume of Regenerative Organic Certified products in order to bring more ROC beef and pork to the marketplace.