Building a Healthier, More Resilient Food System

I'm thrilled to be talking to Gary Hirschberg, the co-founder and former longtime CEO of Stonyfield Organic and really one of the pioneers of the modern organic movement and somebody I admire greatly.

For more than four decades, he has helped grow organic from a small movement into a really powerful force in our food system.

And he continues to push for what comes next.

So Gary, thrilled to see you.

Thank you for doing this.

Danny, my pleasure.

I'm, by the way, right back at you.

Thank you for your heroic work also.

That's very kind.

Thank you.

Gary, I want to start.

You've been part of the organic movement for decades.

And when you think back to those early days, what did you really hope organic would become? Was it what you imagined?

Beyond what I imagined, beyond what I even dared to dream.

And of course, the best is yet to come, because as we see Gen Z, the purchasing habits being embraced by a younger generation who requires now, not just wants, but requires full transparency.

They require climate, advancing better climate practices.

They require animal health.

They require, you know, farmer pay price and transparency.

All of these are drivers of organic development.

You know, when I really reflect on what I'm proud of, looking back, and of course, I'm an entrepreneur, so I tend to only look forward.

But with your provocation, you know, I have to say that I think the band of pioneers who, because it was really a whole lot of us, too numerous to name, who really began this work in the 60s and 70s.

You know, really created a truly inspiring economic juggernaut.

I mean, this is a nearly 70-plus billion-dollar sector growing faster than conventional by a long shot.

It enables consumers, farmers, all of us to engage in a truly win-win-win-win economics.

I know you know my background.