Backpacker’s Pantry Protects Rivers for Future Generations

At The Freshwater Trust (TFT), we pride ourselves on being a connective force. That’s one of the reasons we partner with sponsors we know will have a strong connection with the values of our organization and the people who support our cause. One of those sponsors is Backpacker’s Pantry and Astronaut Foods. We sat down with Chris Dickerson, director of marketing, to learn more about his company and why they partnered with TFT.

Chris Dickerson at the Royal Basin Trailhead in Olympic National Forest, Washington.

Can you tell us about Backpacker’s Pantry and what you do?

I am the marketing director at Backpacker’s Pantry and Astronaut Foods, under American Outdoor Products, Inc., a family-owned freeze-dried meal company that has been in business since 1951. We offer one of the largest selections of freeze-dried meals for backpacking, camping, hiking, and emergency preparedness, catering to various dietary preferences, including meat, vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options.

As a 1% for the Planet member, Backpacker’s Pantry donates at least 1% of our annual revenue to nonprofits. Making sure we also align with protecting our planet, our products are made in the USA in a 100% solar-powered facility.

What made you want to partner with The Freshwater Trust?

We seek partners committed to preserving and protecting the environment and the places we love, ensuring they remain for future generations to enjoy as we have for over three generations at Backpacker’s Pantry. Seeing TFT’s work to protect and restore rivers, we chose them to be one of our 1% for the Planet partners.

What sets Backpacker’s Pantry apart from other businesses in your space?

We are the only family-owned business and 1% for the Planet member in the freeze-dried food category, offering one of the most diverse and worldly meal selections on the market.

Beef Bolognese is one of the many cuisine options at Backpacker’s Pantry.

Why is The Freshwater Trust’s mission of restoring and protecting freshwater ecosystems important to your business?

Preserving and protecting our ecosystems is crucial because, for over 70 years, we at Backpacker’s Pantry have enjoyed everything the land, water, and Mother Nature have to offer. Given that our home office in Boulder, Colorado, is a stone’s throw away from some of the most magnificent waterways in the world, we see it as of the utmost importance to protect these for future generations.

TFT has been doing conservation work for rivers throughout the West. They are using their analytics, innovative mapping technologies, and other services to guide partners and municipalities in Colorado on decisions concerning maintaining these gorgeous waterways. That’s a big deal to us and the customers we serve. The water crisis in Colorado will not go away, and we need tech-savvy, experienced conservationists like TFT to help this state keep the water flowing.

What is Backpacker’s Pantry “home river”?

Boulder Creek is in our backyard. Whether it’s working on projects around Boulder Creek or along the Colorado River, I wouldn’t say we have one home river but many “home rivers” that each person at Backpacker’s Pantry holds close to their hearts.

We have team members who have guided on the headwaters of the Arkansas River, and I grew up fishing for salmon on the Skagit River. We aim to bring those stories to life, inspire our friends and customers to find their home rivers, and look for ways to protect and preserve those waters. That desire to nurture those stories also led us to partner with TFT.

Can you tell us about your work with environmental sustainability?

Every day, we work to reduce our footprint. A few years ago, we installed a 160-kilowatt rooftop solar system with 131 panels in our home office and production facility in Boulder, Colorado. This system offsets more than 100% of our energy needs and prevents 127,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere annually, equivalent to powering 26 homes.

As a 1% for the Planet member, we donate more than 1% of our revenue to organizations like The Freshwater Trust. We hope to inspire and encourage other companies and customers to support organizations and initiatives that lessen our environmental impact.

Can you discuss any upcoming projects, promotions, or collaborations that Backpacker’s Pantry is working on?

We’re currently working on the Mobilizing for Monuments campaign to protect, expand, and preserve several national monuments across the United States. We support lobbying efforts with the current administration and have been successful in helping protect Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints at the Grand Canyon National Monument in August 2023. More recently, we supported the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument and San Gabriel Mountains National Monument expansions, which were announced in May 2024.

Additionally, from a product standpoint, we are excited to have just released five new summer meals, including Drunken Noodles with Chicken, Pesto Pasta with Chicken, Beef Bolognese, Fiesta Beef & Vegetable Bowl, and White Bean, Chicken, and Green Chile Stew—all of which are delicious, especially when rehydrated with fresh filtered river water, like the rivers TFT protects.

Where do you see Backpacker’s Pantry in the coming years?

We are very excited about the next few years. In 2026, we will celebrate our 75th anniversary with some very exciting plans. We look forward to continuing to grow and lead the industry toward becoming more sustainable as we all work to protect the natural places we play in now and for future generations.