Before the products debuted at retail, the lineup earned recognition at the 2026 NEXTY Awards at Expo West, selected from more than 1,000 products for excellence in food innovation, integrity and sustainability.

In May 2026, the full lineup debuted at Lidl and FreshDirect, while Southwestern Style Cheddar Chicken Sausage and Parmesan and Herb Chicken Meatballs launched at Mom's Organic Market and Parmesan and Herb Chicken Meatballs and Grilled Mediterranean Style Chicken Skewers launched at Kroger banners.

The National Provisioner sat down with Farmer Focus Chief Commercial Officer Dolan Patterson to discuss the company’s entry into the ready-to-heat category and its strategy for scaling a mission-driven chicken business.

What made the fully cooked category the right next step for Farmer Focus?

Dolan Patterson: Farmer Focus is committed to providing shoppers with humanely raised, organic, traceable chicken they can trust, while also supporting the future of family farming. With the growing consumer demand for convenience, expanding to the fully cooked category allows us to meet consumer needs for high-quality, convenient protein. It also allows us to share our mission and amplify our farming partners to a larger group of consumers. 

Consumer behavior demonstrates growing interest in quality and convenience. Engagement with claims-based meat continues to grow; 36% of shoppers purchase it frequently or whenever possible. Shoppers are also looking for ways to save time in the kitchen: 83% of all consumers say time-saving meat/poultry shortcuts are important during the week. Our fully cooked products meet the growing consumer need for convenience and quality while tasting great. 

On our fresh products, consumers have consistently told us they want traceability and transparency. They want to know where their food comes from and who raised it. We deliver that through our Farm ID system. Each package includes a QR code and Farm ID that connects consumers directly with our farming partners. We see that same demand for transparency extend into fully cooked products, which is why we have brought the traceability consumers expect from our fresh chicken into our fully cooked line as well.

Simply put, we’ve had consumers ask for high-quality, traceable, great-tasting products. We’re meeting them where they are. Our consumers are very busy, and they don’t want to sacrifice brand standards for convenience.

The new Farmer Focus lineup includes formats like meatballs, skewers, and sausages. What product attributes or flavor profiles do you believe resonate most with today's shoppers in the ready-to-heat space?

Dolan Patterson: While entering a new category, we are committed to maintaining our brand standards and the trust shoppers place in Farmer Focus. Our fully cooked products have the attributes we know shoppers look for: USDA Organic, Certified Humane, Non-GMO Project Verified and gluten-free offerings. We also wanted to have a clean ingredient list that consumers can understand and know what is in their food. Convenience comes from both the product itself and shoppers’ ability to recognize the Farmer Focus brand across categories and know they are choosing a product they can feel good about.

We wanted to develop flavors that are versatile while still unique and influenced by global flavors. Versatility plays into convenience, so we wanted to create flavors that can be used in multiple dishes to make mealtimes easier. We looked to global flavors to provide consumers with new flavors that they may not have had before and remove the barrier of seasoning themselves. We’re excited to continue developing new flavors for consumers to try.

Millennials and Gen Z accounted for the majority of unit growth in the meat department last year, and as their influence grows, their preferences will continue to shape product development. These consumers are looking for convenient, high-protein options made with recognizable, high-quality ingredients that also taste great. At the same time, growing interest in snacking presents a significant opportunity for fully cooked products to deliver convenient, protein-rich options. By combining traceability, quality ingredients and exceptional flavor, we believe fully cooked products can continue to meet and exceed consumer expectations.

We wanted to develop a better-for-you line that tasted great and delivered high protein, clean ingredients and versatility. According to our market research, our chicken skewer is the only organic, fully cooked chicken skewer on the market—great for a quick snack on the move or the center of the plate for dinner. Skewers are fun for kids to eat and versatile enough for different applications. Our flavor profiles for sausage and meatballs were inspired by global flavors to provide consumers with exposure to new flavors they may not be familiar with, drawing on consumer interest in globally inspired and sweet-heat flavors.

How does expansion into fully cooked products support Farmer Focus’ relationships with family farms and its broader growth strategy?

Dolan Patterson: Farmer Focus was founded with a unique focus on empowering our farming partners and providing consumers with a traceable product. The majority of consumers like to know where their food comes from, and we’re proud to offer that. Our mission of promoting and protecting generational family farms has been foundational to building our brand and guiding us as we grow. Expanding our portfolio with fully cooked products allows us to reach new consumers that haven’t shopped our brand before and further amplify our farming partners. More shoppers across the country can “Meet their Farmers” and connect with the people behind their food and build trust. We currently work with over 120 family farmers in the Shenandoah Valley and are looking forward to growing that number through expansion.

How is Farmer Focus approaching future innovation in the fully cooked category?

Dolan Patterson: We’re always working on what’s next, and our innovation pipeline is full of exciting new products designed to meet evolving consumer needs. While we can’t share all the details just yet, we have several launches in the works that build on what our customers already love about Farmer Focus. High-quality, organic chicken with flavor front and center. Stay tuned—we think they’ll be worth the wait.