What’s the difference between steel-cut, rolled, quick oats, groats, and oat flour—and how do you choose the right one?

In Episode 10 of Trust Your Oats, Trust the Oat, Dale Tenhulzen brings the entire seed-to-shelf journey to its conclusion by focusing on the final product itself. The episode explains how every oat begins as a whole groat and how simple mechanical processes—cutting, rolling, steaming, or grinding—create the different oat forms found in kitchens and food manufacturing.

Listeners learn how each type of oat is made, what textures and cooking times to expect, and which applications each one is best suited for—from hearty steel-cut porridge to rolled oats for baking, quick oats for convenience, and oat flour for gluten-free recipes.

The episode also explores nutrition, including fiber and beta-glucan, and explains how processing affects glycemic response without changing the fundamental value of the whole grain. By connecting product form to function, Trust the Oat shows why a diverse oat lineup serves both home kitchens and commercial food production.

This final episode completes the journey from seed to shelf—ending with the food people bring to the table every day.

Learn more about Trust Your Oats at: 👉 https://daletenhulzen.com/

👉 https://daletenhulzen.site/

What does it really mean to pledge that food is glyphosate-free—and how is that promise enforced in practice?

In Episode 9 of Trust Your Oats, Trust the Pledge, Dale Tenhulzen explains the operational meaning behind a glyphosate-free commitment. The episode explores why glyphosate is commonly found in conventional oats, how pre-harvest desiccation contributes to residue, and why eliminating this practice requires a fundamentally different farming approach.

Listeners learn what a glyphosate-free pledge demands in real terms: no use of glyphosate as a drying agent, closed-loop sourcing with trusted growers, and strict rejection standards at receiving. The episode also walks through pesticide testing using highly sensitive laboratory methods, explaining why every inbound truckload is tested before it enters the mill.

A key focus is understanding laboratory language—especially what “non-detect” actually means. Rather than implying zero risk, the episode clarifies detection limits, testing sensitivity, and how results should be interpreted responsibly.

Trust the Pledge shows how a meaningful commitment is built into operations, verified through testing, and reinforced through systems designed to prevent contamination before it ever occurs.

Learn more about Trust Your Oats at: 👉 https://daletenhulzen.com/

👉 https://daletenhulzen.site/

What do food certifications really mean—and how do you know which ones go beyond marketing?

In Episode 8 of Trust Your Oats, Trust the Badge, Dale Tenhulzen demystifies the certifications commonly found on food packaging, explaining what they actually represent and how they connect to real-world practices.

The episode begins with USDA Organic, breaking down what the standard requires, what it prevents, and why it serves as an important—but incomplete—baseline. From there, the focus shifts to Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC), a higher standard designed to build on organic by actively improving soil health, supporting animal welfare, and ensuring fairness for farmers and workers.

Listeners learn how ROC’s three-pillar structure works, how its Bronze, Silver, and Gold tiers encourage continuous improvement, and why certification must extend beyond the farm to include processing, manufacturing, and supply chain verification.

Trust the Badge explains how certifications function as systems of accountability—not just symbols—and how they reinforce a broader commitment to sustainability, transparency, and trust from seed to shelf.

Learn more about Trust Your Oats at: 👉 https://daletenhulzen.com/

👉 https://daletenhulzen.site/