Organic Valley Press Releases

U.S. Business Leaders Urge Strong Policy Action on Climate Change

bowen@ceres.org — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 08:19:00 -0500

WASHINGTON � Apr 10, 2013 � As the President unveils his budget for the coming year, 33 major U.S. companies, including eBay Inc., Nike and Limited Brands signed a �Climate Declaration,� urging federal policymakers to take action on climate change, asserting that a bold response to the climate challenge is one of the greatest American economic opportunities of the 21st century. Signatories of the Climate Declaration are among the country�s best-known consumer brands, including EMC Corporation, IKEA, Jones Lang LaSalle, L�Or�al, the North Face, the Portland Trail Blazers, Timberland and Unilever, among others. (A full list of signatories is available at climatedeclaration.us.) Over the course of an ongoing campaign organized by Ceres and its BICEP (Business for Innovative Climate & Energy Policy) coalition, other leading businesses, as well as individuals, will be encouraged to sign the Declaration and join the call to action. �The signers of the Climate Declaration have a clear message for Washington: Act on climate change. We are, and it�s good for our businesses,� said Anne Kelly, Director of BICEP. �The cost of inaction is too high. Policymakers should see climate change policy for what it is: an economic opportunity.� Together, the Declaration signatories provide approximately 475,000 U.S. jobs and generate a combined annual revenue of approximately $450 billion. Extreme weather events like Hurricane Sandy have affected several Climate Declaration signatories and exposed the United States� economic vulnerability to climate change. �From droughts that affect cotton crops to Hurricane Sandy, which caused extensive damage to our operations, climate affects all aspects of our business,� said Eileen Fisher, CEO of New York-based apparel firm Eileen Fisher, which suffered severe damage and business interruption during the 2012 storm. �As a socially and environmentally responsible company, we are trying to affect positive change, but business can't do it alone. We need the support of strong climate legislation.� The signatories of the Climate Declaration are calling for Congress to address climate change by promoting clean energy, boosting efficiency and limiting carbon emissions � strategies that these businesses already employ within their own operations. �Businesses understand that planning for a successful future takes investment today. One of the most important things Congress can do to grow our economy and protect our planet is to pass smart climate change legislation this year. Our workforce, supply chain and consumers are counting on us to lead the way,� said Anna Walker, Director, Government Affairs and Public Policy at Levi Strauss & Co.

BICEP members have supported several climate-driven policies, including historic automotive fuel economy standards signed into law in 2012 and the extension of the Production Tax Credit for wind power. Innovation within the transportation, electric power sectors and IT sectors, among others, will be essential to meeting the climate challenge.

�eBay Inc. is committed to driving a future for commerce that embraces clean energy innovation and is ultimately more sustainable,� said Lori Duvall, Global Director, Green at eBay Inc. �Our efforts extend across our data, employee and distribution center portfolios, our shipping and logistics infrastructure, as well as the actions of buyers, sellers, and merchants on our platforms. We see our participation in this coalition as a key element in bringing to life our vision for enabling greener forms of commerce over the long term.�

The Climate Declaration comes on the heels of the President�s renewed commitment to combat the threat of climate change and a recent study from Ceres, Calvert Investments and WWF indicating that a strong majority of Fortune 100 companies have set renewable energy or greenhouse gas reduction goals. Recent polls conducted by Gallup and Yale University, respectively, indicate that a majority of Americans believe climate change is happening and that corporations, as well as government officials, should be doing more to address the issue.

The Earth�s Restaurant Week

elizabeth.horton@organicvalley.coop — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 07:57:00 -0500

Boston, Mass. and La Farge, Wis., April 23, 2013 � From April 17 to April 28, the Earth is enjoying its very own "Restaurant Week," as more than 95 restaurants across the country join together to host Earth Dinners. In its 10th season, Earth Dinners put the spotlight on businesses and restaurants that promote local, organic foods. Earth Dinners are hosted by Organic Valley, America's largest cooperative of organic farmers and one of the nation's leading organic brands, and Chefs Collaborative, a national chef network that's changing the sustainable food landscape using the power of connections, education and responsible buying decisions. "For us, Earth Dinners are a fantastic opportunity for restaurants in our network to highlight what they do every day: serve delicious food with sustainability at the core of their operations," said Melissa Kogut, Executive Director of Chefs Collaborative. "We are thrilled to partner with Organic Valley to help transform the sustainable food landscape in America." Many chefs are hosting special one-night dinners � and stretching their creativity. Lumiere Restaurant in Newton, MA offered a prix fixe dinner on 4/22 and featured local seafood including Cape Cod sea scallops and Welfleet oyster ceviche. Local Roots Restaurant in Roanoke, VA hosted a dinner on April 18 that featured local farmers and wild-foraged greens from the restaurant's garden. This week, Uncommonground on Devon in Chicago, IL is offering a chef's 3-course seasonal tasting menu through April 24. Their menu features spring products from their mid-west farm and ranch partners. Businesses that go beyond the traditional definition of restaurant are also hosting Earth Dinners. Grand Central Bakery in Portland, OR and Seattle, WA held an "Eat Like It's Earth Day Every Day" challenge on 4/22, and donated a portion of its proceeds to Chefs Collaborative. Dozens of restaurants are also offering special menu items � from seasonal Earth Dinner dishes, to shining a spotlight on existing menu items that feature sustainable, local, and/or organic ingredients. "Making the effort to really know where our food comes from gets us in touch with the farmer, the real force behind the food we eat," said Theresa Marquez, mission executive of Organic Valley. "An Earth Dinner need not be a fancy, formal event. Gathering family, friends and neighbors to share local, organic, and seasonal food is occasion enough to celebrate. What better way to savor the first tastes of spring?" Organic Valley also encourages families and friends, schools, and nonprofit organizations to host their own Earth Dinners. Visit www.earthdinner.org to download a free toolkit and a PDF of the Earth Dinner Book containing helpful tips, quotes and thought-provoking questions to spark meaningful conversation among gues

Organic Valley Celebrates 25th Anniversary With More Than 575 Farmer-Owners At Co-op's Annual Meeting

renee@habermaninc.com — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 10:34:00 -0500

LA CROSSE, Wis. � April 11, 2013 � The final day of Organic Valley�s Annual Meeting is underway today in La Crosse, Wis. More than 575 farmer-owners�from 26 states from Maine to California� converged for the cooperative�s Annual Meeting activities and corresponding 25th Anniversary celebration, which began Tuesday, April 9. Organic Valley, the nation's largest cooperative of organic farmers and a leading organic brand, annually convenes its farmer-owners. A true representation of the cooperative model in action, this year�s three day event features a series of workshops, meetings and celebrations around 2012 successes and cooperative goals for the year ahead. Event highlights include a farmer awards banquet that occurred last night, April 10, during which Organic Valley rewarded its farmers for top-quality production, outstanding commitment to sustainable agriculture, and leadership among the next generation of young organic farmer-leaders. For 25 years, Organic Valley has been cultivating goodness and keeping farmers on the land�a key theme throughout this year�s Annual Meeting. The cooperative began in 1988 with a group of Wisconsin farmers committed to organic agriculture as a sustainable solution to the staggering loss of family farms. The farmers decided that following a cooperative model, where each farmer was an owner of the organization, would best ensure each member had a voice in how their products were produced, marketed and sold. Today, Organic Valley represents 1,834 farmers in 35 states and three Canadian provinces. In an era where corporations dominate all facets of business, Organic Valley is proof that an independent cooperative is a successful model for nurturing local communities and a lifeline for America's struggling family farms. �Celebrating the 25th anniversary of our cooperative makes this year�s Annual Meeting exceptionally significant and special,� said George Siemon, Organic Valley CEIEIO. �When we got together 25 years ago, our goal was to save family farms. We saw organic agriculture and a cooperative business model as a sustainable way to do this, but we knew we couldn�t do it alone. The hundreds of farmers actively participating this week�and all our farmer-owners, partners and supporters throughout the years�have made this milestone possible. It's this cooperation that gives Organic Valley great promise and a positive outlook on the next 25 years.� Siemon, also an Organic Valley founding farmer, was honored last night with the Ray Hass Organic Pioneer Award for his vision, leadership and tireless dedication to the cooperative throughout its 25-year history. The Ray Hass Organic Pioneer Award�named after one of the founding members of Organic Valley and one of the very first organic dairy farmers in the United States�is an annual memorial award given to a pioneering individual in the cooperative and the organic movement. Today, Siemon will address the farmer-owners with his annual �State of the Co-op,� and events will conclude with a keynote address from Anna Lapp�, sustainable food advocate and widely-respected author of Diet for a Hot Planet: The Climate Crisis at the End of Your Fork and What You Can Do About It. Today, Siemon will address the farmer-owners with his annual �State of the Co-op,� and events will conclude with a keynote address from Anna Lapp�, sustainable food advocate and widely-respected author of Diet for a Hot Planet: The Climate Crisis at the End of Your Fork and What You Can Do About It. "It's a huge honor to join in these celebrations," said Lapp�. "As a mother, I appreciate the high quality food Organic Valley produces, and so do my two daughters. As an advocate for healthy food for all, I know that Organic Valley members' innovative sustainable practices are the key to food security. The connection between eaters and farmers has never been clearer to me. We are in this together and thanks to Organic Valley members, we're healthier for it." �I attend Annual Meeting each year to see and be a part of our cooperative model in action,� said Regina Beidler, Organic Valley dairy farmer from Randolph Center, Vt. �I�ve had a meaningful three days connecting with my peers, celebrating a historic milestone, and most important, contributing my voice to the decisions that affect my family, community and the future of organic agriculture.� Beidler and other attendees discussed goals for 2013 and celebrated a successful 2012, during which Organic Valley saw a record $860 million in sales and 20 percent growth, the addition of 212 new farmers, and the donation of more than $2.2 million to nonprofit organizations dedicated to advancing organic food and farming. Additional Annual Meeting highlights include the following:

An address by Dr. Don Huber, internationally recognized plant pathologist and professor emeritus at Purdue University
�The Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture and Health� workshop, featuring panelists J. Drake Hamilton, science policy director at Fresh Energy, and University of Wisconsin researchers Kyle Swanson and Kenneth Maly
Release of Organic Valley�s inaugural Sustainability Report documenting the co-op�s progress and key sustainability accomplishments, such as completion of a state-of-the-art solar electric system at the co-op�s La Farge, Wis. headquarters
Recognition of all co-op board members from the past 25 years
New product introductions to the farmers: Organic Valley Grassmilk� Cheese, an organic specialty cheese produced with milk from cows that are 100 percent grass-fed; and Organic Prairie� 100% Grassfed

Organic Valley Farmer-Owners Receive Outstanding Quality Awards For 2012

elizabeth.horton@organicvalley.coop — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 09:50:00 -0500

LA CROSSE, Wis. � April 10, 2013 � Organic Valley, America�s largest cooperative of organic farmers and one of the nation�s leading organic brands, honored 597 of its farmer-owners with Quality Awards at the Cooperative�s Annual Meeting award banquet on April 10, in La Crosse, Wis. Producers of CROPP Cooperative (Organic Valley and Organic Prairie brands) dairy, produce, soy, eggs, juice, feed and meat were recognized for 2012 quality achievements. �Annual meeting is an opportunity to celebrate the farmers who set the bar for quality in the organic community this past year,� said George Siemon, founding farmer and CEIEIO for Organic Valley. �Again and again, our farmer-owners demonstrate their commitment to organic and make this cooperative what it is today.� For milk quality, Organic Valley honored its dairy farmers in �Cream of the CROPP,� Gold, Silver, Bronze and Quality Recognition categories. To achieve these honors, Gold Award recipients needed an average somatic cell count (SCC) of less than 100,000; Silver Award recipients, an average between 101,000 and 150,000; Bronze Award recipients, an average between 151,000 and 200,000; and Milk Quality Recognition recipients, an average between 201,000 and 240,000. In addition, all milk had to achieve a standard plate count average below 20,000, a preliminary incubation count averaging less than 30,000 and a laboratory pasteurized count average below 100. All Gold, Silver and Bronze winners received a plaque, and the Quality Recognition winners received certificates for their accomplishments. �Cream of the CROPP� Awards were given to the farm with the best milk quality in each of Organic Valley�s six quality regions:

Northeast: Meyer Family, North Hardwick Dairy, Hardwick, Vt.
Mideast: David VanderZanden, Casnovia, Mich.
North Central: Andy and Susie Helmuth, Fairbank, Ia.
Wisconsin: Kenneth, Mary and Kevin Mahalko, Mahalko Dairy, Gilman, Wisc.
West: William, Ross and LeAnna McMahan, Cowlitz Meadows Dairy, Inc. #1, Randle, Wash.
South: Menno Beiler, Trenton, Ky.

The following farmers received Organic Valley�s top egg, produce, feed, juice and soy Quality Awards:

Egg Pool
- Award of Eggcelence - Midwestern Region Omega-3: Kurt and Rhonda Helgeson, Lucky H Acres, Coon Valley, Wis.
- Award of Eggcelence - Midwestern Region: Ihm Family, Scenic View Organic Eggs, LLC,Lancaster, Wis.
- Award of Eggcelence - Eastern Region: John Stoltzfus, Willow Street, Pa.
- Award of Eggcelence - Kalona Region: S. Duane Miller, Brighton, Ia.
Pickiest Produce: Daniel Yoder, Westby, Wis.
Grower Pool Crop Quality: Paul and Karen Mugge, Sutherland, Ia.
Sweetest in the Grove (Juice): Charlie Roper, Roper Growers Cooperative, Winter Garden, Fla.
Best Beans in the(Soy): Wayne Wangsness, Quality Organic Producers Cooperative, Decorah, Ia.

The following farmers received Organic Prairie�s top beef, pork, turkey, and broiler Awards:

Choicest Side O� Beef: Fred and Jason Pedretti, F & L Pedretti Trust of 2007, Decorah, Ia.
Best Bessie: Lutteke Family, Lutteke Organics, Inc., Wells, Minn.
Perfect Pork: Bryan Berg and Linda Jostad-Berg, Coon Valley, Wisc.
Terrific Turkey: Bob Jewell, Jewell Enterprises, Inc., Decorah, Ia.
Best Broilers: Gary Welsh, Welsh Family Organic Farms, Lansing, Ia.

The Leadership in Sustainability Award honors a farmer within the cooperative who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to sustainable agriculture by stewarding the land, knowledge and resources for the next generation. This year, Organic Valley granted the award to Eric and Cathy Paris of Lyndonville, Vt. Eric and Cathy produce milk, beef, chickens, turkeys, vegetables and compost on Tamarlane Farm, a thriving 420-acre diversified farm, where an underlying respect and love for the land and animals is evident in all aspects of the farm. Organic Valley also awarded the Ray Hass Organic Pioneer Award to George Siemon from Viroqua, Wis., for his pioneering spirit and visionary work in the organic community. George is the CEIEIO and a founding farmer of the Organic Valley cooperative. �I have known George for the past 25 years,� said Arnie Trussoni, president of the Board of Directors of Organic Valley/CROPP Cooperative. �He is very deserving of this award, which is particularly appropriate as we celebrate our 25th anniversary. George�s goal has always been to secure a sustainable pay price for the farmers and a quality product for our customers. That in no small part is why we have something to celebrate.� One of the nation's foremost organic agriculture advocates for nearly two decades, Siemon is best known for his leadership in organizing farmers and building market support for organic agriculture. His work champions an agriculture that supports family farms, humane treatment of farm animals, soil mineralization, the environment and high-quality organic food. Most notably, he was instrumental in developing the national standards for organic certification. He also initiated Farmers Advocating for Organics, the largest (and only) organic-focused granting fund in the U.S., which is funded entirely by Organic Valley farmer-owners; advised the USDA as part of the Livestock Standards Board; and currently participates on the boards of directors for The Organic Center and Global Animal Partnership. In 2012, Siemon was awarded the Natural Resource Defense Council�s Growing Green Award in the �Business Leader� category, and the Social Venture Network�s Hall of Fame Impact Award in the �Environmental Evangelist� category. In 2013, he was inducted into the New Hope Hall of Legends at Natural Products Expo West. The Ray Hass Organic Pioneer Award is an annual memorial award given to an individual who is a pioneer in the organic movement and in the cooperative. The award is named after Ray Hass, a founding member of Organic Valley and one of the very first organic dairy farmers in the United States. Ray�s vision of a farmer-owned cooperative and his tireless work advocating for family farmers were critical to the success of the cooperative. Farmers, by state, receiving Organic Valley�s Gold Dairy Quality Awards for 2012 include:

Idaho
Greg and Marci Bingham, Bingham Farms, Weston
Illinois
Jeff and Sheila Koester, Scales Mound
Kentucky
John F. Beiler, Trenton
Maine
T. Garin and Sarah Smith, Skowhegan
Michigan
John Jr. and Kathryn Troyer, Holton
Minnesota
Casey and Kimberly O�Reilly, O�Reilly Organic Dairy, LLC, Red Wing
New Hampshire
Josh Cline, Stonewall Farm, Keene
New York
Bradley and Kathryn Kent, Burke
Marion and Rhoda Yutzy, Cazenovia
Nick and Erica Wood, Dundee
Siobhan Griffin, Schenevus
Ohio
Michael and Mae Yoder, Apple Creek
Jerry and Mary Miller, Elm Grove Acres, Fredericksburg
Oregon
Devin and Elena Johnston, Tillamook
Joe and Edwina Price, Price Dairy LLC Farm 2, Cloverdale
Peter and Kelly Mahaffy, Coos Bay
Pennsylvania
Daniel and Anna Ruth Esh, Ronks
Daniel and Ada Beiler, Spring Run
Vermont
Kathryn Morse, Maplewood Farm, Adamant
Andrew and Katherine De La Bruere, Derby
Steven Brown and Leslie Miller-Brown, East Burke
Mike and Teresa Menard, Fairfield
Russell McAllister and Heather Flanders, Lady Bug Farm, Hardwick
Leonard and Joanne Hammond, Newport Center
Allan and Karen Bathalon, North Troy
Rene Fournier and Sons Farm, Swanton
John and Carol Butler, Underhill
Rosina Wallace, Waterbury
Lyle and Kitty Edwards, Westfield
Armon and Kathy Lewis, Williston
Regis and Rita Lamoureux, West Charleston
Ben Moulton and Amanda Taylor, Knox Ridge Holsteins, North Troy
David and Tina Houde, Saint Johnsbury
Washington
John Wieringen, Boise Creek Farm, Enumclaw
Joseph Andrew and Linda Styger, Chehalis
Wisconsin
Daniel and Darlene Coehoorn, Rosendale
Ira and Sarah Nissley, Durand
Kevin and Mary Jahnke, Jahnke Family Farm Limited Partnership, Lancaster
Todd and Joani Cummings, Ogema
Paul and Judy Olson, Taylor
Richard J. and Jean A. Anhalt, New Holstein

Organic Valley Recognizes The Next Generation Of Organic Farmers With 2013 Generation Organic Awards

elizabeth.horton@organicvalley.coop — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 09:25:00 -0500

Organic Valley, the nation�s largest cooperative of organic farmers and a leading organic brand, celebrated its next generation of organic farmers by awarding three of its young farmer-owners with Generation Organic� (Gen-O) Awards. Generation Organic is a group of Organic Valley farmers aged 18 to 35 who represent the next generation of sustainable agriculture leaders and who believe in the power of organic farming to change the world. The 2013 Gen-O Awards were presented at the cooperative�s annual meeting award banquet on April 10 in La Crosse, Wis. The Gen-O Awards began in 2008 to acknowledge these young individuals� dedication to organic food and farming through stewardship and innovation that fosters the development of the organic movement�s next generation of leaders. Organic Valley supports its young farmers with a variety of initiatives from educational programs, scholarships and regional gatherings to resources such as a farmer support hotline and on-staff veterinarians. For more information about Generation Organic and the Gen-O awards, please visit http://ov.coop/geno. "The Generation Organic program exists to further the future of sustainable agriculture and safeguard the future of our cooperative," said Sarah Holm, a member of Generation Organic in Elk Mound, Wis. �Organic Valley is revolutionary because it is farmer-run and farmer-owned. The experiences and connections I have gained from Gen-O have given me an invaluable depth of knowledge." Approximately 40 Gen-O members from Vermont to Oregon attended the annual meeting to honor the winners and engage with hundreds of other farmer-owners to discuss the cooperative�s direction for 2013. America lost 4.7 million farmers since 1935, and most of the 2.1 million who remain are over 55 years old. In contrast, the average age of Organic Valley farmers is much younger, with a growing number of farmer-members under 35 years old. An increasing number of Gen-O farmers are indeed the second generation of farmers growing up organic in their family's cooperative. But there are also young people coming fresh into farming from all types of backgrounds. The Organic Valley co-op even counts several college agriculture programs among their membership. Recognized during a banquet on April 10th in La Crosse, Wis., the three 2013 Gen-O Award winners are:

Julia Hudyncia of Fort Plain, N.Y.
Sarah Holm of Elk Mound, Wis.
Kevin and Erin Donnay of Kimball, Minn.

Julia Hudyncia of Montgomery County, N.Y. Julia Hudyncia thinks that farmers need to tell their story. As an agricultural science teacher, she is doing an excellent job of that herself. Julia grew up milking cows with younger brother Ryan, her parents, and her grandfather in Fort Plain, New York. Organic Valley farmer-owners since 2006, the Hudyncias farm 450 acres and milk 60 cows. The entire family has a passion for agriculture and a special affection for registered Holsteins. Julia was active in 4-H, the Junior Holstein Club and won the title of 2007 New York State Alternate Dairy Princess. Julia still lives on the farm and does farm work on breaks and weekends. Julia is in her third year teaching at a local high school after earning a bachelor�s degree in animal sciences and a master�s degree in biology and agricultural education from Cornell University. Julia�s goal as a teacher is to help her students discover a personal connection to agriculture. This year, her class took a leap of faith and transitioned two acres that had been used to grow conventional corn into two acres of organic sunflowers. She is encouraged to see that her students are excited at the prospect of using the sunflower seeds to create bio-fuel for three school tractors. In the future, Julia sees herself back on the farm. �I believe that my job in education is very important, but my heart lies with the farm. I am trying, at a very young age, to give back to the agricultural industry and community as much as I can.� Sarah Holm of Dunn County, Wis. Sarah Holm joined Generation Organic at just 16 years old. Sarah is now a member of the Gen-O Executive Committee (formed in 2013), which will be instrumental in creating the farmer-owned cooperative�s leadership succession plan. The oldest of eight children, Sarah worked daily on their Organic Valley dairy farm and continued to help out on the farm throughout college. She graduated with a B.A. in political science with an emphasis in legal studies from the University of Wisconsin�Eau Claire. She graduated magna cum laude and debtfree. Presently, Sarah is working for Organic Valley before entering law school in the fall of 2013, where she�ll study international business law. �I want to be a farmer with the educational legitimacy to be in co-op governance and be politically active on behalf of all farmers. There�s a huge disconnect between government and the needs of farmers and the importance of a rural infrastructure. The system isn�t doing conventional farmers any favors, either, and more of them will be squeezed out if we don�t all step up. I want farming to flourish, and that means government and cultural attitudes have to shift so that farmers can still be working on their land 100 years from now. �Someone said, �We�ve taken the culture out of agriculture.� Part of that is because of policy, and part is because of the modern world. But we still have to eat. And the best way to ensure that we�re able to eat good food that doesn�t ruin the world is if sustainable agriculture is a vital sector of our society.� Kevin and Erin Donnay of Stearns County, Minn. Kevin and Erin Donnay of Stearns County, MN, are the third generation on Kevin�s family farm. Kevin began operating the farm in 1999 after graduating from UW-River Falls with a bachelor of science in agriculture. At school he heard about organic agriculture and encouraged his dad to begin transitioning, and in 2000, the farm was certified organic. The Donnays� 330 acres are home to 65 mixed-breed cows of Holstein, Jersey, Ayrshire and Milking Shorthorn lineage. They�ve grazed their cows since 1999, but the herd is now 100% grass-fed. They milk seasonally, meaning they only milk during the spring, summer and fall months rather than year-round. To care for the land, they minimally till the fields every five years in an effort to retain the soil life and structure, recycle all of their farm plastic and oil, and recently signed a contract to be a future site for a windmill. Being farmer-owners of Organic Valley has given the Donnays more than a stable pay price for work. It has also given them a platform to tell their story. �It�s all about real food, sustainability and farmers,� says Kevin.

The Organic Center names new Board of Trustees

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 15:53:00 -0500

The Organic Center has named 15 persons to its new Board of Trustees, and formally introduced them at its sold-out fundraiser dinner March 9 held in conjunction with Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, CA. Since September 2012 when it began operating under the administrative auspices of the Organic Trade Association (OTA), The Organic Center has been governed by an Interim Board of Directors, charged with seating a new Board of Trustees to guide the organization going forward. Members of the new Board possess the wide range of experience and skills necessary to develop a new research organization that can meet the numerous and rapidly changing needs of the organic community. The Trustees will work closely with Jessica Shade, Ph.D., the organization�s new Director of Science Programs, to facilitate The Center�s mission to convene credible, evidence-based science on the health and environmental benefits of organic food and farming, and to communicate the findings to the public. Dr. Shade began working for The Center on February 19. She is an environmental scientist with experience in developing, conducting, monitoring and supervising conservation research, a record of successful science communication, and outreach program development knowledge. A short-term priority for the Board and Dr. Shade is to convene a Scientific Advisory Board for scientific undertakings. �This is a new beginning for The Organic Center. While its structure may have changed, its mission to bring credible science to the organic industry has not. We are very fortunate to have assembled a Board that has the passion and a vision to propel us all forward. The addition of Dr. Shade only makes our jobs that much more exciting,� said Todd Linsky, who has been selected as chairman of The Center�s new Board. The following lists the members of the new Board of Trustees named in early March:

Selected as chairman, Todd Linsky is Vice President of Organic Sales for Grimmway Farms/Cal-Organic Farms. A 25-year veteran of the organic produce industry, he previously served on OTA�s Board of Directors, and was the OTA Representative on an earlier Board of Directors for The Center.*
Ken Cook, president and co-founder of the Environmental Working Group, is widely recognized as one of the environmental community�s most prominent and effective critics of establishment agriculture and U.S. farm policy, and a leading voice on federal chemicals and pesticides law. Cook also serves on the board of Organic Voices and the Amazon Conservation Team.
Marty Mesh helped form the Florida Certified Organic Growers & Consumers in 1989, and has served as its executive director since 1995. He is a past member of OTA�s Board of Directors.
Bob Quinn, president of Kamut� International, is a fourth generation Montana farmer, certified for 26 years, and a member of OTA since 1987. A member of the first National Organic Standards Board, he has a Ph.D. in plant biochemistry from UC Davis. In 2010, he received an OTA Organic Leadership Award.
Susan Shields has been Jamba Juice�s Senior Vice President and Chief Innovation officer since January 2012. She has over 20 years of strategic leadership experience in marketing health & wellness brands, product development, innovation, and business development.*
Sara Snow, whose parents were pioneers in the natural foods movement, is known as a green lifestyle expert, TV host, and author. Among her many achievements have been hosting shows and TV series offering practical advice to consumers on �living green.� *
effrey Brams is General Counsel and Vice President for Science and International Business for Garden of Life LLC. There, he oversees product formulation, R & D, science, regulatory, international sales and legal departments.
Dag Falck has served as the Organic Program Manager at Nature�s Path Organic Foods since 2002. He is active in the development of the organic sector, currently serving as a board member of the Canada Organic Trade Association. He received The Organic Center�s Science and Technology Award in 2012.
Bob Kaake is Chief Innovation Officer for Annie�s Inc. A food professional with over 29 years of experience in a variety of technical roles, he is a food science and engineering expert in the organic and natural foods industry.
Theresa Marquez is now Mission Executive for CROPP Cooperative, the nation�s largest organic farmer cooperative and the largest farmer-owned organic brand, Organic Valley. A pioneer of the natural foods movement, she received an OTA Organic Leadership Award in 2010.*
Melody Meyer is Vice President of Policy and Industry Relations for United Natural Foods (UNFI). She is also the Executive Director of the UNFI Foundation, which is dedicated to funding non-profit organizations that promote organic and sustainable agriculture and healthy food systems. She is a member of OTA�s Board of Directors.
Mike Ferry is President of Horizon Organic, responsible for leading all aspects of the business. He is a passionate advocate for the organic industry, and the health and environmental benefits it provides.
Meg Hirshberg is a professional writer, speaker, and currently contributing editor and regular columnist for Inc. magazine. Meg worked on and ran several organic vegetable operations in the 1970s and 80s, and founded NOFA New Jersey. She received a Master�s degree in in IPM from Cornell Ag School. In the past, she worked in the family business�Stonyfield Farm, co-founded by husband Gary Hirshberg.
Jessica Lundberg is Vice President of People, Planet and Process as well as a member of the Board of Directors of Lundberg Family Farms. A member of the Lundberg family�s third generation, she oversees the quality, human resources, safety and environmental initiatives at the company as well as its seed nursery.
Margaret Wittenberg joined Whole Foods Market in 1981 as one of the company�s original team members. Since 1998, she has been its Vice President of Quality Standards. She served on OTA�s Board of Directors from 2001-2004, and on The Organic Center Board of Directors from 2008-2011.*
Also on the Board, OTA�s CEO and Executive Director Christine Bushway leads the organic industry�s trade association representing over 6,500 organic businesses, and sets strategic direction for OTA and The Organic Center.
Mark Retzloff, ex officio and outgoing chairman of The Organic Center, is a pioneer in the organic and natural foods industry, with a 40-year career starting and managing successful companies. Most recently, he co-founded Aurora Organic Dairy and serves as its Chairman of the Board. He is a founding partner at Greenmont Capital.*

Organic Prairie� Presents 100% Grassfed Beef Hot Dogs

elizabeth.horton@organicvalley.coop — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 16:23:00 -0600

Organic Prairie�, the brand of delicious organic meats produced by the same farmer-owned co-op as Organic Valley, today announced the launch of its 100% Grassfed Organic Uncured Beef Hot Dogs, fully-cooked, hardwood-smoked, skinless all-beef hot dogs. Organic Prairie 100% Grassfed Hot Dogs are produced by committed ranchers, who like all Organic Valley farmer-owners across the country, work in harmony with nature�never using antibiotics, synthetic hormones, toxic pesticides or GMOs in feed or forage. The 100% Grassfed Beef Hot Dogs now join Organic Prairie's growing line of 100% Grassfed Ground Beef products. Both the hot dogs and the ground beef represent a strong commitment to high humane standards of animal care and grazing as nature intended. Organic Prairie 100% Grassfed Beef Hot Dogs are also gluten- and casein-free. In 2011, consumers spent more than $1.7 billion on hot dogs in U.S. supermarkets, according to the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council. Seven billion hot dogs are consumed during grilling season from Memorial Day to Labor Day, including 150 million on Independence Day alone. The market for organic hot dogs increased in sales by 18.9 percent in 2012, reflecting a demand for America's favorite grill treat to be healthier, with no antibiotics, synthetic hormones, toxic pesticides or GMOs. Organic Prairie 100% Grassfed Organic Uncured Beef Hotdogs have a SRP of $7.99 and come in a 12-ounce package of six, two-ounce links. The hot dogs will be available nationally in natural food stores, food cooperatives and major grocery chains in time for the 2013 grilling season, and will be available at the Organic Prairie online store at www.organicpraire.coop. Organic Prairie 100% Grassfed Organic Uncured Beef Hotdogs are great right off the grill and in the bun with your favorite condiments, or in updated organic versions of homemade mac 'n cheese (buttery breadcrumbs on top) and franks and beans (organic maple sweetens the beans). They are also delicious in the following serving suggestions:

Reuben Dog with kraut and creamy homemade Thousand Island dressing
Fresh "Corn Dog" with freshly cut corn and red pepper relish
Cheddar Dog with cider-braised leeks and apples and Organic Valley Grassmilk� Cheddar

Organic Prairie 100% Grassfed Organic Uncured Beef Hot Dogs will be launched to the trade at Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, Calif.; visit Organic Prairie and Organic Valley at booth #2530.

Farmers Advocating for Organics Plans for $1 million in Grant Awards for Organic Education, Advocacy and Research

elizabeth.horton@organicvalley.coop — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 10:18:00 -0600

Farmers Advocating for Organics (FAFO) � the only farmer-funded and - governed granting program in the nation�today announced a plan to distribute $1,060,709 in grant awards for organic education, advocacy and research. The fund was founded by CROPP Cooperative (more commonly known by its brands Organic Valley and Organic Prairie) in 2007 and has already invested more than $2.1 million in efforts to ensure the survival of organic agriculture. �Every dollar in the FAFO program has come voluntarily out of an organic farmer�s pocket specifically to protect and promote the future of organic,� said George Siemon, CEIEO of CROPP Cooperative. �FAFO empowers organic farmers to work together to support strong rural communities, profitable family farms and a stable marketplace�all of which will benefit farmers and consumers alike.� In 2012, FAFO�s �annual grants� totaled $298,209 and targeted projects in the following key areas:

Seed diversity (Rural Advancement Foundation International, $30,000)
GMO labeling (Just Label It, $100,000)
Organic agricultural systems research (Climate and Corn-based Cropping Systems Coordinated Agricultural Project, $75,000)
Young farmer development (CROPP�s Generation Organic� program, $25,000)
Pesticides and children�s health (Pesticide Action Network of North America, $20,000)
Women in agriculture (Womenshare: Hungry for Change, $16,000)
Organic education and advocacy (Northeast Organic Farmers Interstate Council Advocacy and Education, $5,000)
Organic dairy farming systems (University of Kentucky, Jeff Bewley, $4,909)
Organic agriculture science, teaching and extension (American Society for Horticultural Science Organic Agriculture Working Group, $4,000)
Organic farming success & expansion (Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides, $2,800)
Organic milk research, (CROPP�s Research & Development Department, $15,500)

FAFO also committed $312,500 in longer-term �sustaining grants� to four organizations whose distinguished work is creating an impact in organic food and farming. Each recipient will receive support for three years, 2012 to 2014.

Environmental Working Group (Education, $25,000/year)
Center for Food Safety (Education and Advocacy, $25,000/year)
Organic Seed Alliance (Advocacy, $25,000/year)
Dr. Charles Benbrook, Washington State University (Research, $37,500/$25,000/$25,000)

Taking a more proactive approach to funding, FAFO also announced a new award category: �Initiatives.� Each year, FAFO will allocate funds for two priority topics for a two-year period. Healthy soil and seed were selected as the first two initiatives, and $450,000 has been budgeted for the execution of these initiatives in 2013 and 2014. �Organic works from the ground up,� explained George Teague, the North Carolina organic farmer who chairs FAFO. �Healthy soil is organic farming�s greatest strategic resource, and a robust organic seed system is essential for its success. By approaching these topics comprehensively over a multi-year period, we hope to generate a much greater impact.� Further details on the specific projects and organizations receiving the soil and seed awards are being finalized, according to Kristine Salmi-Snowdeal, FAFO administrator. For updates and details on how to apply for a FAFO grant, please visit FAFO on the web at www.organicvalley.coop/about-us/donations/fafo-fund.

Organic Valley Counting Down to 25th Anniversary

elizabeth.horton@organicvalley.coop — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 13:15:00 -0600

Organic Valley, the nation's largest cooperative of organic farmers and a leading organic brand, today announced it will celebrate its 25th anniversary in March 2013. Organic Valley began in 1988 with a group of Wisconsin farmers who shared a love of the land and a belief that a new, sustainable approach to agriculture was needed in order for family farms and rural communities to survive. Frustrated by the loss of nearly 2,000 family farms each week and the staggering number threatened with extinction, these farmers set out to create a solution: organic agriculture. "The success of Organic Valley proves that organic agriculture can be a lifeline for America's struggling family farms," says George Siemon, C-E-I-E-I-O. "In an era of rising and falling agricultural prices, Organic Valley farmer-owners can count on a stable, living wage to stay in business on their land. We are humbled and extremely thankful that the original spirit of our founding farmers, and the co-op model, has sustained our organization for 25 years." In January 1988, a time when family-owned farms were on the brink of extinction�"get big or get out"�a handful of farmers gathered in Southwestern Wisconsin's "coulee region," where glacial valleys have produced unique topography ideal for small-scale agriculture. A small poster inviting area farmers to join George Siemon at the county courthouse for an informational meeting was all it took to gain momentum; they became the founding farmers of CROPP Cooperative (Cooperative Regions of Organic Producer Pools), officially founded on March 13, 1988, with the mission of keeping family farmers on the land. The farmers decided that following a cooperative model�where each farmer was an owner of the organization�would best ensure each had a voice in how their products were produced, marketed and sold. Today, in an era where corporations dominate all facets of business, Organic Valley remains an independent farmer-owned cooperative to nurture local communities and maintain the voice of farmers on a mission. "Organic Valley is the kind of company that shows the complete beauty of organic leadership. They have saved and supported small family farmers around the country while providing households with food that is delicious and good�both for people and the planet," says Maria Rodale, Chairman and CEO Rodale Inc., and Co-chairman, Rodale Institute. "I congratulate them on their success, their independence, and their innovation!" Today, CROPP Cooperative, under its brand name Organic Valley, is the largest organic farming cooperative in North America, with more than 1,814 farmer-owners in 35 states and three Canadian provinces, representing approximately 9 percent of the entire nation's certified organic farming community. In addition to providing farmers a way to stay in business, organic agriculture fulfilled their vision for a sustainable agriculture: farming without antibiotics, synthetic hormones, toxic pesticides or GMO feed; raising animals on pasture, where they belong; and ensuring the land will be preserved for future generations. "CROPP [Organic Valley], by its example, has demonstrated how two viewpoints on the goal of organic farming can be successfully merged. CROPP has both saved family farms and provided healthier food," says Dr. Charles Benbrook, research professor, at the Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources, Washington State University. "Without setting out to do so, CROPP has invented a way to capture and share wisdom that is greater than the sum of its parts." In the past 25 years, Organic Valley has helped cultivate many new young organic farmers. In 2012, the cooperative's average farmer age decreased to 49, while the national average remains at 57. Generation Organic� represents Organic Valley's farmers aged 16 to 35�the future faces of agriculture�who demonstrate a commitment to sustainable farming and believe in the power of organic to change the world. In 2013, Organic Valley will present a steady stream of activities designed to heighten public understanding and support for ways we can work together to secure the health of our planet, our people and our food. "We have lots of work ahead of us as we face an uncertain climactic future," reflects Siemon. "We inherently believe that our mission-driven, values-based cooperative model has served us well in the past 25 years in overcoming obstacles, and will continue to serve us in the next 25." Organic Valley will be celebrating with a yearlong schedule of activities, including cause partnerships and giving back to the community. In addition, a commemorative book of stories about Organic Valley and its beginnings will be published this month, and a few 25th anniversary limited edition products will also be launched. Organic Valley will host an anniversary party at Natural Products Expo West on Saturday, March 9, 2013, outside of the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA. For more information about Organic Valley's 25th anniversary and a history of the cooperative, go to www.organicvalley.coop/about-us/overview/our-history/.

Organic Valley Ends Challenging Year with Resiliency: Farmer-Owned Cooperative Furthers Mission, Experiences Growth Despite Severe Drought and Farming Hardships

elizabeth.horton@organicvalley.coop — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 12:36:00 -0600

Organic Valley, the nation's largest cooperative of organic farmers and a leading organic brand, today announced their 2012 year-end results, exceeding expectations in spite of a year of challenges that included the worst drought in 25 years. In 2012, the farmer-owned cooperative brought on 211 new farmers for 11 percent member growth across the country, increased sales from $715 million in 2011 to $860 million for 20 percent growth, and donated more than $2.2 million to nonprofit organizations dedicated to advancing organic food and farming, and building community. "The widespread drought creating feed shortages was tough, yet our farmer-owned cooperative model proved resilient," said George Siemon, C-E-I-E-I-O and founding farmer of Organic Valley. "Our farm families and community came together to face the feed shortage while continuing to focus on providing the very best food nature can produce." Consumer demand for organic continued in 2012. While Organic Valley grew 20 percent, projections indicate the organic industry overall grew nearly 10% for the second straight year. Organic sales reached $30 billion in 2011. More than an estimated 70% of organic consumers are moms who seek nutritious, delicious, food for their families that is produced without antibiotics, poisonous pesticides, synthetic hormones, or GMOs. "We are humbled by the amazing growth of organic," adds Siemon. "Families continue to embrace organic as the best food and also as a lifestyle choice. Because of this, organic continues to be a lifeline to family farmers so they can keep farming for generations to come." In certain regions, Organic Valley saw more growth than ever. In 2012, Organic Valley brought on new farmers in regions such as California, where we went from 17 farmer-owners to 50 by year-end. Organic Valley was proud to be a leader in alternative energy initiatives in 2012. The Cashton Greens Wind Farm is Wisconsin's first community wind farm. The electricity that the two wind turbines generate is equivalent to 89 percent of the electricity consumed within cooperative-owned facilities. Add to this a state-of-the-art solar electric system on its headquarters' roof, these 2012 initiatives have contributed significantly to the co-op's efficiency and energy independence, while creating yet more jobs for rural communities in Southwest Wisconsin where the cooperative is headquartered. The cooperative's dedication and hard work was rewarded in 2012. Siemon was recognized by the National Resource Defense Council with a Growing Green Award in the business category and inducted into the Social Venture Network Hall of Fame in the Environmental Evangelist category. Organic Valley products also enjoyed recognition in 2012, winning first place in the World Dairy Expo Championship and Gold in the Los Angeles International Dairy Competition for European-Style Butter, and similar accolades for other products, including Pasture Butter, Cream Cheese, and Heavy Whipping Cream. New products were also launched in 2012, including the first-ever unprocessed, organic American cheese singles. Organic Valley American Singles� are 100% real cheese, providing families with a healthier alternative to "processed cheese food" and a delicious, smooth-melting cheese perfect for sandwiches and snacks. Looking ahead to 2013, Organic Valley will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the founding of the cooperative in March, with a renewed commitment to organic education and keeping farmers on the land. "We inherently believe that our mission-driven, values-based cooperative model has served us well in the past 25 years and will continue to serve us in the next 25," concluded Siemon.

Organic Valley CEO to Keynote Ohio�s Largest Food and Farming Conference

elizabeth.horton@organicvalley.coop — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 11:00:00 -0600

George Siemon, CEO and a founding farmer of Organic Valley, will be the featured keynote speaker at the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association�s (OEFFA) 34th annual conference, Growing Opportunities, Cultivating Change, on Saturday, February 16. "As one of the nation's foremost organic agriculture advocates for nearly two decades, Siemon and Organic Valley have developed a successful business model that rewards organic farmers, keeps families farming the land, protects the environment, invests in the future, and meets the growing consumer demand for safe, transparently-produced food," said Renee Hunt, OEFFA's program director and the event's lead organizer. Siemon will speak as part of the state's largest sustainable food and farm conference, an event which draws more than 1,100 attendees from across Ohio and the Midwest, and has sold out in advance the past three years. In addition to Siemon, this year's conference will feature keynote speaker Nicolette Hahn Niman on Sunday, February 17; more than 90 educational workshops; two featured pre-conference events on Friday, February 15; a trade show; a fun and educational kids' conference and child care area; locally-sourced and organic homemade meals, and Saturday evening entertainment. In 1988, Siemon joined a group of family farmers in Wisconsin to found the Cooperative Regions of Organic Producer Pools (CROPP). Long before there were national organic standards, these visionary founding farmers pledged to farm without antibiotics, synthetic hormones, pesticides, or genetically engineered inputs; to pasture animals; and to steward the environment. More commonly known by its brands Organic Valley and Organic Prairie, CROPP has grown to become the largest organic farming cooperative in North America with more than 1,800 organic farmer-owners in 35 states and three Canadian provinces, and 650 employees. Focused on its founding mission of saving family farms through organic farming, the cooperative sells milk, dairy products, meats, and produce at supermarkets, natural food stores, and food cooperatives nationwide. From the outset, Siemon was determined to prove that a successful business need not sacrifice people or the environment for profits. Maintaining this commitment, Organic Valley's farmer-owners pay themselves a stable, sustainable price, which is set by a farmer board of directors elected by the membership. The organic milk is produced, bottled, and distributed in the region where it is farmed, to ensure fewer miles from farm to table and to support local economies. And, the company also works to expand organic production by helping farmers transition to organic, and provides leadership training and mentorship to new farmers to help create the next generation of coop owner-farmers. Following this model, sales have grown and Organic Valley now provides about a third of the nation's organic milk supply. Siemon, who often describes Organic Valley as "a social experiment disguised as a business," described the company's mission this way in the Huffington Post in May: "Organic Valley represents a pioneering effort of farmers and employees to bring organic foods and farming to a level of maturity that can compete, at all levels, with chemical-based agriculture." Organic Valley currently has 171 farmer-owners in Ohio and has had a presence in the Buckeye state since 2002. Two of those farmers are Jim and Janice Gasser. They have more than 80 cows in milk production outside of Wooster, Ohio in Wayne County. When they started out, they were the only organic farmers in their area. Today, according to Jim, "Our road is like a row of organic. It doesn't seem like much in the big scheme of things, but when you drive down our road, there's continuous organic farming for over two miles." Scott and Charlene Stoller are also Organic Valley farmer-owners and OEFFA members in Wayne County. Before transitioning to organic, Scott says he would argue that "you cannot feed the world farming organically." He doesn't feel that way anymore. "The system has proven itself. It works." And, the success that organic farming has brought has paved the way for his children to continue in agriculture. "There's no question that farming organically gives my kids a better chance at farming in the future," Scott says. Siemon was instrumental in developing the national standards for organic certification; initiated Farmers Advocating for Organics, the only organic-focused granting fund in the U.S., which is funded entirely by Organic Valley farmer-owners, and currently serves on the boards of directors for The Organic Center and Global Animal Partnership. Most recently, Siemon was recognized by the National Resources Defense Council with the 2012 Growing Green Award in the Business Leader category and was inducted into the Social Venture Network Hall of Fame in the Environmental Evangelist category. His keynote address is titled, "Organic: Changing a Broken Food System" and will take place Saturday, February 16 at 4 p.m. Siemon will share CROPP's story and his vision for the future of organic agriculture, and discuss issues currently affecting agriculture such as genetic engineering. He will also be presenting a Saturday morning workshop, "The Cooperative Model," where he will examine how a cooperative model works and the opportunities they offer for farmers. For more information about the conference, or to register, go to www.oeffa.org

Organic Valley Receives National Product Awards

elizabeth.horton@organicvalley.coop — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 11:23:00 -0500

Organic Valley, the nation�s largest cooperative of organic farmers and a leading organic brand, today announced that it received several prestigious national product awards in recent months, including at the World Dairy Expo which took place last week in Madison, Wis. The awards are as follows: World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest 1st Place, Cultured Butter category: Organic Valley European-Style Butter
2nd Place, UHT Milk category: Organic Valley Whole Milk American Cheese Society Judging & Competition 2nd Place, Salted Butter category: Organic Valley Pasture (Cultured) Butter
2nd Place, Salted Butter category: Organic Valley Sweet Cream Salted Butter
3rd Place, Rindless Blue Veined Cow�s Milk category: Organic Valley Kickapoo Blue Cheese
3rd Place, Unsalted Butter category, Organic Valley European-Style Butter Los Angeles International Dairy Competition Gold, Cultured Butter category: Organic Valley European-Style Butter
Gold, Cultured and Salted Butter category: Organic Valley Pasture Butter
Gold, Spreadable Cheese category: Organic Valley Cream Cheese
Gold, Grade A Pasteurized Heavy Cream category: Organic Valley Heavy Whipping Cream
Silver, Grade A Half & Half category: Organic Valley Half & Half, Ultra Pasteurized
Bronze, Sharp Cheddar category: Organic Valley Raw Sharp Cheddar For a complete listing of Organic Valley products awards, please visit http://www.organicvalley.coop/products/awards/. �Out of the hundreds and thousands of producers who enter their dairy products each year, we are extremely proud to receive awards for our cheeses, butters, and creams,� said George Siemon, C-E-I-E-I-O and one of the founding farmers of Organic Valley. �These awards are a result of our hardworking farmer-owners and staff, and a testament that organic means delicious taste.� America�s largest cooperative of organic farmers and one of the nation�s leading organic brands, Organic Valley will celebrate its 25th anniversary in March 2013. For more information about the 25th anniversary of Organic Valley, and a history of the cooperative, go to http://www.organicvalley.coop/about-us/overview/our-history/.

Organic Valley Launches Third Annual Generation Organic� �Who's Your Farmer?� Tour

renee@habermaninc.com — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 11:02:00 -0500

Organic Valley, the nation�s largest cooperative of organic farmers and a leading organic brand, today announced the Generation Organic� 2012 �Who�s Your Farmer?� Tour, a three-week road trip kicking-off September 25 at Organic Valley�s headquarters in La Farge, Wis. The tour will journey through the heart of the Midwest, stopping at college campuses, farmers markets, farms and more, to educate and encourage consumers to get to know the people who produce their food. In honor of the United Nations declaring 2012 the �International Year of Cooperatives,� the tour�s primary stops also include food cooperatives throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. Generation Organic is a group of young Organic Valley farmers aged 18 to 35 who represent the next generation of sustainable agriculture leaders and who believe in the power of organic to change the world. �Gen-O� farmers will make the three-week tour around the Midwest on a bus fueled by sustainably produced biofuels, urging consumers to take ownership of the personal food choices they make every day that affect their health and that of the planet. �Each year I�m heartened by the passion and dedication of our Generation Organic farmers to drive real change in our food system,� said George Siemon, C-E-I-E-I-O of Organic Valley and one of its founding farmers. �It�s been a quarter-century since we formed the co-op, and it�s rewarding to see the next 25 years in the hands of a group of young farmers with such a strong, sustainable vision for our future.� The crew of farmers embarking on Gen-O�s third annual tour includes young farmers from the heart of the Midwest, as well as folks all the way from Modesto, Calif. to New Vineyard, Maine. They represent a small but growing number of young people returning to family farms or starting their own farming operation. Since 1935, America has lost approximately 4.5 million farms, and of the 2.1 million farms that remain, farmers are an average age of 57. In contrast, Organic Valley has an increasing number of farmer-owners under 35 years old, many of whom are actively encouraging more young people to pursue organic farming as a rewarding and economically viable profession. Sarah Holm, a first generation farmer and member of the Generation Organic� 2012 �Who�s Your Farmer Tour,� runs Holm Girls Dairy with her five sisters in Elk Mound, Wis. The 100-acre farm provides lush grazing pasture for Holm�s 40 Jersey cows. At only 16, Sarah worked with the Generation Organic Task Force Committee to help develop Organic Valley�s network for young, organic farmers. Now 21, Sarah balances her studies at the University of Wisconsin � Eau Claire with her work on the farm. �I am learning every day,� said Holm. �Our generation has a lot of learning � and un-learning � to do. That�s the message we want to convey to consumers on this tour: learning, and adapting, is the only way forward.� James Frantzen, a born and bred Iowa farmer, also joins the Generation Organic Tour. At 24, James runs his own farm where he grows corn, soybeans, succotash and pasture while raising 60 beef cows and 35 sows. James has been farming since he could walk, yet still finds pleasure in the day-to-day tasks of running the operation. �To raise a new life, or to produce a wholesome organic product for consumers,� said Frantzen, �is the absolute greatest joy.� Frantzen continued, �The tour gives us the opportunity to share that joy, that understanding of how food affects us, our community and the planet, with consumers across the Midwest.� Key stops on the Generation Organic� 2012 �Who�s Your Farmer Tour� include University of Wisconsin � Madison, University of Minnesota � Twin Cities, Iowa State University, University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Growing Power in Milwaukee, Wis., Seward Co-op Grocery and Deli in Minneapolis, Minn., and other farms, retailers and universities along the way. The Tour begins in Wisconsin on September 25 with stops in Iowa and Wisconsin and wraps up in Minnesota on October 14. Visit www.organicvalley.coop/GenerationOrganic for a complete tour schedule, and follow the tour on Twitter @GenOrganic and Facebook www.facebook.com/GenerationOrganic.

Organic Valley Partners With Healthy Child Healthy World To Protect Children From Harmful Chemicals And Nourish Them With Safe Food

elizabeth.horton@organicvalley.coop — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 10:56:00 -0500

Organic Valley, the nation�s largest cooperative of organic farmers and a leading organic brand today announced a cause initiative with Healthy Child Healthy World to support a shared mission: protect children from harmful chemicals and feed them safe, nutritious food. This initiative comes to life during Organic Valley�s American Cheese Revolution Tour, http://www.AmericanCheeseRevolution.com, a multi-city mobile tour and online pledge drive inviting parents to demand real food for real kids. Organic Valley has committed to donate $1 (up to $25,000) for each signature to Healthy Child Healthy World to generate awareness of unnecessary toxic risks to children�s health. "The foods we eat and the way we prepare them exposes our children to highly toxic chemicals,� says Penelope Jagessar Chaffer, an award-winning documentary filmmaker, Healthy Child Healthy World 2010 Mom on a Mission winner and ambassador for the campaign. �I am delighted to be a part of Organic Valley�s landmark American Cheese Revolution Tour, a powerful and innovative way to educate American families on the importance of �real� food. Switching to organic dairy is one of my top three tips for reducing chemical exposure, so the partnership of Organic Valley and Healthy Child Healthy World is a dynamic opportunity to inform parents and reduce our kids� chemical pollution,� continued Jagessar. The American Cheese Revolution Tour begins in California on August 21 and ends in Illinois in mid-October, stopping in Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and North Carolina along the way. Tour stops include family events, retail locations and other community venues, where families can enjoy grilled cheese sandwiches, giveaways, and kids� activities, while learning about the Real Food for Real Kids pledge and Healthy Child Healthy World�s mission. For a complete schedule, and to sign the Real Food for Real Kids pledge, visit http://www.AmericanCheeseRevolution.com. Organic Valley has long been a corporate donor of Healthy Child Healthy World. For the past ten years, Organic Valley has worked with the national children's environmental health non-profit to protect children�s rights to good health through a safe and clean environment with the help of community engagement, outreach, and financial support. �We�re so thrilled to be chosen as the charity beneficiary for Organic Valley�s American Cheese Revolution Tour,� says Healthy Child Healthy World CEO Gigi Lee Chang. �As an organization that strives to empower parents to protect children from harmful chemicals, it�s key to collaborate with like-minded companies that are closely aligned with our mission. Through this tour, we hope that parents further understand the importance of eating wholesome, �real� food without potentially harmful additives and chemicals.� The American Cheese Revolution Tour will also make a brief stop at an Organic Valley sponsored luncheon at the International Food Bloggers Conference http://www.foodista.com/ifbc2012 in Portland, OR, on August 24, where Healthy Child Healthy World�s Penelope Jagessar Chaffer and Organic Valley�s Theresa Marquez will meet bloggers and discuss the importance of protecting children from harmful chemicals. Organic Valley is the only national brand to produce unprocessed, 100 percent real organic American Singles�not �processed cheese food.� Organic Valley American Singles have that mild, cheesy taste kids love and are made from the same ingredients as all Organic Valley cheese: gluten-free and produced without antibiotics, synthetic hormones, toxic pesticides or GMOs from the dedicated farmer-owners of Organic Valley. For more information, including back-to-school recipes your family will love, visit http://www.organicvalley.coop/products/cheese/american/

Organic Valley and Rodale Institute Partner to Make Good Organic Neighbors

elizabeth.horton@organicvalley.coop — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 09:06:00 -0500

Organic Valley, the nation�s largest cooperative of organic farmers, and Rodale Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to pioneering organic farming through research and outreach, today announced they have joined together to help another dairy transition to organic: the Burkholder family farm in Kutztown, PA. As part of the partnership, Rodale Institute provided the Burkholders with land and access to pastures. Meanwhile, Organic Valley welcomed the Burkholders into the Organic Valley cooperative as members and farmer-owners. Together, they have helped the Burkholders stay on the land and produce organic milk for the region. Their first truckload of certified organic milk was delivered on April 11, 2012. �When we first got into dairy farming, I was frustrated by a pricing structure that did not take the farmer into account,� said James Burkholder. �Then I became aware of the steady pay price of organic. The major health improvements in our cows made us start thinking about our own health and the health of our growing family. Organic is not a fad; it�s here for the long term. Thanks to Rodale Institute and Organic Valley, we are able to participate in this important movement.� James and Ida Burkholder grew up on farms in rural Pennsylvania and started their own farm five years ago with land purchased by Ida�s father that bordered the 333-acre Rodale Institute research farm. In 2009, plummeting conventional milk prices and decreased profit were threatening their family farm. The Burkholders knew they needed to make a change and were interested in transitioning to organic. However, with 64 cows and only 44 acres they would never meet organic certification requirements. Unless they could get access to more land, the Burkholders would be excluded from accessing the organic marketplace and may have had to give up the farm altogether. In 2011, the Burkholders started grazing their dairy herd right next door on Rodale Institute certified organic pastures with the goal of producing organic milk at the end of one year while they transition their pastureland. Rodale Institute, in turn, began specific research at the Burkholder�s Farm, studying the health of the cows, soil, and milk to see how organic management affects omega-3, omega-6 and conjugated linoleic acid levels in the dairy products. The first report will be released later this year announcing the early trends in the nutritional quality of the milk. �Creating an organic economy means working together as a community,� says Coach Mark Smallwood, Rodale Institute Executive Director. �Our land benefits from the animals, the cows benefit from the organic pasture, and James and Ida benefit from Organic Valley�s strong cooperative. It feels good to be working with our neighbors on making better soil, healthier cows and a bigger organic world.� �We�re pleased to work with Rodale to keep family farmers like James and Ida on the land and support them in their transition to organic,� said George Siemon, C-E-I-E-I-O and founding farmer of Organic Valley. �We have long enjoyed a shared mission with Rodale Institute to further organic agriculture. Our regional model supports local farmers and economies, and our ties in the farmer communities of Pennsylvania run deep. It is an honor to have folks like James and Ida join us.� Today, Organic Valley has 475 total farmer-owners in the Northeast, including 164 in Pennsylvania, 53 of whom joined from the Lancaster County Organic Farmers Cooperative (LOFCO) in 2011. By producing, processing, bottling and distributing within the region, Organic Valley is able to reduce the miles between farm and table, supporting local farmers and the local economy along the way. Organic Valley and Rodale Institute have partnered on key organic and sustainable agricultural initiatives nationwide. The two entities share the same goals of educating consumers on the benefits of organics, and do so by conducting farm tours on the Burkholder farm and at Rodale Institute. Organic Valley is also supporting all Rodale 2012 public events at the Institute, and the two organizations are partnering on a side-by-side soils experiment to more deeply understand the impacts of three organically approved soil amendment techniques, among other on-farm initiatives and aforementioned research being conducted on the Burkholder herd. In August, the Burkholders will be looking to Organic Valley�s Facebook fans to help them officially name their farm. For more details, please visit https://www.facebook.com/OrganicValley

Everything's Better Together: Ninth Annual Kickapoo Country Fair Celebrates Local Food, Culture And Community Saturday, July 28

renee@modernstorytellers.com — Mon, 21 May 2012 11:32:00 -0500

Organic Valley, the nation�s largest cooperative of organic farmers, is gearing up to host its ninth annual Kickapoo Country Fair, taking place Saturday, July 28 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. in La Farge, Wis. with the cooperative theme of �Everything�s Better Together!� Nestled amid the steep hills and coulees of southwestern Wisconsin�s Driftless region, this year�s Kickapoo Country Fair will attract thousands to a day-long festival of growing, cooking, eating and sharing food, together. Annual Kickapoo Country Fair goers know to expect lots of family fun, and this year�s Fair is no exception. In addition to kid favorites like ice cream making, face painting, and a petting zoo of farm animals, kids can go for the gold in farmer Olympics; learn about cooperation with giant stretchy bands and parachutes; and smell, touch and taste safe, wild plants with herbal educators. Older guests can learn how to raise backyard chickens, forage for wild mushrooms, keep bees, make pesto, and savor local beer and cheese pairings. People of all ages can chow down on delicious, organic, local food and New Orleans rock-n-roll band Cowboy Mouth will perform on the main stage at 7 p.m. This year�s Fair theme is a nod to the United Nations declaration of 2012 as the �International Year of Cooperatives.� Highlighting what we can do together to drive change in our food system, internationally renowned food author and activist Raj Patel will headline the event. Organic Valley has 1,723 organic farmers-owners nationwide�dozens of which are located just miles from the Kickapoo Country Fair grounds�and has thrived largely due to its belief that the world is made better through cooperation. "Each year, as we prepare for the Kickapoo Country Fair I am reminded that the Fair started out much in the way our cooperative did, as a small, meaningful gathering of community,� said George Siemon,
C-E-I-E-I-O for Organic Valley and one of its founding farmers. �In its ninth year, it's become a larger gathering, but with that same cooperative spirit with neighbors and visitors. I'm pleased to welcome such sustainable food advocates as Raj Patel to the fair, and look forward to celebrating this rural tradition." "More and more evidence points to the fact that cooperative, organic farming can build communities and save the environment,� said Patel. �The more we learn, the more the question changes from �Can we feed the world organically� to �How will we feed the world, organically and better, together?��

Patel, Kimbrell Take Center Stage

Raj Patel will take the main stage at 1 p.m. Patel is a strong voice for creating a fairer society and sustainable economy, particularly as it relates to food production and consumption. His latest book, The Value of Nothing: How to Reshape Market Society and Redefine Democracy, explores our nation�s economic structure and the recent collapse. He is also the author of Stuffed and Starved: The Hidden Battle for the World Food System, which discusses the worldwide food crisis and what needs to be done to solve it. Patel�s work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, NPR and BBC.
Andrew Kimbrell will address fairgoers at 2:30 p.m. on the main stage. Founder and executive director of the Center for Food Safety and the International Center for Technology Assessment in Washington, DC, Kimbrell is one of the country�s leading environmental attorneys and an author of numerous books and articles on environment, technology and society, and food issues. His recent books include Your Right to Know: Genetic Engineering and the Secret Changes in Your Food, Fall Harvest: The Tragedy of Industrial Agriculture and The Human Body Shop: The Engineering and Marketing of Life. In 2007, Kimbrell was named one of the 50 people most likely to save the planet by The Guardian-U.K.

Chef Nischan Stirs Up Foodie Fun

Fair goers will get their Kickapoo Kitchen on with Chef Michel Nischan, sustainable food pioneer, restaurant owner, award-winning cookbook author and PBS celebrity chef, in a hands-on workshop whipping up culinary tastes at 4:30 p.m. in the workshop/demo tent. Other chefs and cookbook authors will lead workshops and teach cooking techniques, such as kitchen herb gardening, vegetable fermentation, soft cheese making, creating a great pork rub and DIY pig butchering. This year�s �Practically Green� tent features a series of lifestyle workshops that provide practical green living ideas and advice fair-goers can implement at home, including edible landscaping, grafting and budding fruit trees, beekeeping and advice for raising backyard chickens.

Tickets and Logistics

Passes providing access to all Kickapoo Country Fair activities are only $5 for adults, $2 for kids 12 and under, and free for kids five and under. Free food sampling occurs all day long, including pesto, meats and the popular beer and cheese pairings. For those interested in making it a weekend affair, camp or stay the night at one of the local campgrounds, bed & breakfasts or country cabins, then return to the fair grounds for an all you can eat organic breakfast at Organic Valley�s Milky Way Caf� on Sunday, July 29 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Cost is $8 for adults, $5 for kids 12 and under and free for kids three and under. After breakfast, explore all the beautiful Driftless region has to offer: kayak or canoe the Kickapoo River (rentals available in nearby towns), hike and bike through the lush, green hills of the Kickapoo Valley Reserve, and more. Organic Valley hosts the Kickapoo Country Fair with support from more than 75 local businesses and organizations, including the Wisconsin Farmers Union�s Kamp Kenwood and the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. For more information about the event, including the official schedule and area lodging information, or to purchase tickets, visit www.kickapoocountryfair.org, or find the fair on Facebook at www.facebook.com/KickapooCountryFair.

NRDC Announces the Winners of the 2012 "Growing Green Awards"

jwei@nrdc.org — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:37:00 -0500

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) today honors four remarkable food visionaries for their trailblazing work to make our food systems healthier and more sustainable at the fourth annual "Growing Green Awards". The winners, who are leaders in regenerative ranch management, farmworker justice, farm-to-school food, and making organic food mainstream, will be celebrated this evening at the Palace of Fine Arts Rotunda in San Francisco. "These vanguards are serving up a food system with generous portions of workplace justice, economic viability and ecological integrity," said Jonathan Kaplan, Director of Food and Agriculture at NRDC. "They are living proof that we can grow and eat food that is good for us, our communities and the planet."
An independent panel of prestigious sustainable food thought-leaders selected the four winners from a pool of 250 impressive candidates that included diverse growers, business leaders and food change agents across the country. The 2012 winners are: Food Producer: For over 15 years, North Dakota rancher Gabe Brown has merged back-to-basics agrarian practices with innovative science-based sustainable farming techniques on his 5,400 acre diversified family ranch. For Brown, healthy soil is the renewable resource that sustains all. By making use of a 100 percent zero-till cropping system, mob grazing, and polyculture cover crop and polyculture cash crop rotations, he has successfully transformed conventional grazing and cropping operations into models of regenerative agriculture. Brown's Ranch also integrates its cow-calf and grass finished livestock operations with a highly diverse cropping rotation, which includes over 25 different cash and cover crops resulting in high yields and strong net profits. "Being recognized shines the spotlight on the need to practice holistic management and regenerate our resources," said Brown. "It's the only sustainable way we can ensure safe, healthy food production for generations to come." Food Justice (New Category): As co-founders of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), a 5,000 strong worker-based human rights organization, Lucas Benitez and Greg Asbed have revolutionized Florida's $600 million fresh tomato industry, transforming it from one of the most repressive employers in the country to one quickly becoming the most progressive and equitable in the fruit and vegetable industry. CIW is creating today's blueprint for farmworker justice by spearheading historic fair food agreements with groundbreaking farm labor standards, fair farmworker wages and labor rights education through their Fair Food Program, which is now implemented on over 90 percent Florida's tomato farms. Today, ten multi- billion dollar national companies have signed on to CIW's Fair Food Program and CIW continues to forge critical alliances among tomato growers, workers, food retailers and the community. "Social accountability in our food system starts by truly valuing those workers whose backbreaking labor puts food on our tables every day," said CIW's co-founders. "At CIW, we fight to advance human rights in the fields, and we applaud NRDC for recognizing that a sustainable food system must include fair wages and working conditions for farmworkers." Young Food Leader: Before the age of 25, Andrea Northup founded the D.C. Farm to School Network, an organization behind the movement for healthier school food in 200 public schools and 90 charter schools throughout Washington, D.C. Northup is not only transforming school lunch menus by charting alliances between D.C. schools and local food producers, but she is also influencing policy in the nation's capital. In 2010, Northup was the principal architect of the farm to school provisions in the landmark "Healthy Schools Act", legislation that makes D.C. one of the first jurisdictions in the country to provide financial incentives to schools that serve fresh, locally grown products and infuse food and nutrition education into classrooms. "Each day millions of American children receive their main meals at school," said Northup. "When these school meals incorporate healthy, locally-grown foods, we are able to improve child nutrition, provide economic opportunities for growers, and teach students eating habits that last a lifetime." Business Leader: As CEO of Organic Valley for the last 25 years, George Siemon has led the way in organizing organic farmers, securing fair pay prices, and building market demand for organic foods. Under Siemon's leadership, Wisconsin-based Organic Valley has grown into one of the nation's leading organic brands and America's largest cooperative of organic farmers, representing more than 1,700 families nationwide. Notably, Siemon was instrumental in developing the national organic standards for USDA Organic certification. His entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to sustainable agriculture illuminates how businesses can successfully learn from nature and be change agents in defense of our natural resources. "I'm pleased to receive this award on behalf of our farmer-owners and staff. At Organic Valley, when we talk about sustainability, we mean a triple bottom line of social responsibility, economic stability, and environmental integrity," said Siemon. "That means keeping farmers on the land, supporting rural communities, and being responsible stewards of the environment -- a shared mission with NRDC." The 2012 Growing Green Awards panel of judges included Michael Pollan, New York Times best-selling author of The Omnivore's Dilemma, Myra Goodman, co-founder of Earthbound Farm, Josh Viertel, president of Slow Food USA and co-founder of Yale Sustainable Food Project, and Nikki Henderson, executive director of People's Grocery and co-founder of Live Real, a national collaborative of food movement organizations. See video of the 2012 winners and read more about their work in OnEarth: Food Producer Gabe Brown: http://bit.ly/GabeBrown
Food Justice Leader Coalition of Immokalee Workers: http://bit.ly/CoalitionOfImmokaleeWorkers
Young Food Leader Andrea Northup: http://bit.ly/AndreaNorthup
Business Leader George Siemon: http://bit.ly/GeorgeSiemon Photos and b-roll available upon request. See NRDC's Eat Green fact sheet and Smarter Living page about making food choices that are healthier for you and the environment.

Organic Valley Farmers-Owners, Mallonee Farm To Hold 6th Annual Lupine Pasture Walk

carrie@littlegreenpickle.com — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:37:00 -0500

Appreciating and raising awareness for the preservation of the Kincaid�s Lupine, an endangered species of wildflower, Mallonee Farms organic dairy will hold the 6th annual Lupine Pasture Walk on their family farm in Curtis, Wash., on June 16 beginning at 11 a.m. At this free public event, visitors are welcome to stroll the grounds and see Washington�s largest grouping of endangered Kincaid�s Lupine while learning how this species of wildflower has made an unforeseen resurgence over the last decade. The Mallonee family, members of the farmer-owned Organic Valley cooperative, has partnered with the State of Washington to sustainably manage and preserve the pastures where the Lupine thrives. Located 40 miles south of Olympia in Lewis County, the Mallonee Farms� pastures are home to the largest concentration of rare Kincaid�s Lupine in the state of Washington. The untouched, high-quality soil on Mallonee�s land provides an ideal environment for this scarce wildflower. What few people realize is that preserving the Lupine also protects the equally endangered Fender�s Blue Butterfly, which is now also prominent on the grounds of Mallonee Farms. For this reason, the state of Washington has declared Mallonee Farms a critical habitat. This educational event is kid-friendly and perfect for families, wildflower aficionados and cyclists alike. Attendees can observe fields of this delicate plant in its natural habitat, surrounded by other rare blooming wildflowers, discover how a commitment to sustainable pasture management has helped the Mallonees reduce the carbon footprint of their organic dairy operation, and get the real dirt on what makes organic farms thrive � healthy soil! Managed by John, Mary and Maynard Mallonee, Mallonee Farms runs much like it did when Maynard�s great-grandparents first settled in Curtis. The Mallonees have not plowed the ground in over 20 years and continue to steer clear of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. This family farm is currently run by three generations of Mallonees: Maynard and his wife Kim, their three children, and Maynard�s parents. With about 60 milking cows on their lush land, Mallonee Farms has been a proud owner of Organic Valley since 2004, and their commitment to sustainable pasture management has considerably reduced the carbon footprint of their organic dairy operation. For more information about Mallonee Farms and to RSVP to the 6th annual Lupine Pasture Walk, please email maynard@malloneefarms.com, call (360) 245-3733, or visit http://malloneefarms.com/

Organic Valley Farmer-Owners Receive Vermont�s Highest Milk Quality Award

erin.gilligan2@gmail.com — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:17:00 -0500

Organic Valley, the nation�s largest cooperative of organic farmers and a leading organic brand, announced today that Vermont farmer-owners Taylor and Nick Meyer of North Hardwick Dairy in Caledonia County received Vermont�s 2011 Highest Milk Quality Award for the eighth year in a row. The Meyers were recognized at the Dairy Farmers Banquet held during the 78th annual Vermont Farm Show on January 26, 2012. Seventeen Vermont nominees representing six cooperatives, independent farmstead cheese makers, and independent handlers from both conventional and organic farming backgrounds are judged on five quality categories. The farmer�s records are provided by their milk handlers and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. After laboratory analysis, farm inspection, sensory evaluation, and milk samples for judging flavor, the winners are chosen. The Meyers became Organic Valley farmer-owners in 2003 and have taken home the title every year since 2004. �Vermont has long been a strong organic dairy farming state and is home to 132 of Organic Valley�s farmer-owners, including the Meyer family,� said George Siemon, C-E-I-E-I-O of Organic Valley and one of its founding farmers. �We congratulate them on their consistently high quality milk. They set the bar high not only for Vermont but also for the rest of the country." Brothers Taylor, Nick, and Andrew Meyer took over their family�s hillside farm in 2001, transitioning from conventional to organic farming soon after. With a strong focus on nutritional content, they practice rotational grazing on their 350 acres, switching the cows to fresh pasture every 12 hours after milking. The brothers continuously work to improve the self-sustainability of their land, including building a wind turbine in 2008 and growing their own hay and feed crops. "When we first started, conventional dairymen told us we wouldn�t be able to make good quality milk if we went organic,� says Taylor Meyer. "We went ahead and transitioned anyway. Then in our very first year of production, the state of Vermont awarded us the Highest Quality Dairy Award. Our hard work and sound practices paid off. Eight years and eight quality awards later, we are proud to be organic dairy producers and farmer-owners of Organic Valley." Organic Valley currently has 132 farmer-owners in Vermont, including seven new farmer-owners that joined the cooperative in 2011. These Vermont farms�many multigenerational�contribute to the production of Organic Valley Vermont Cheddar Cheeses, available in Medium, Sharp, and Extra Sharp one-pound blocks at select organic and natural food grocers. Organic Valley�s regional model ensures fewer miles from farm to table.

More Than 600 Organic Valley Farmer-Owners Converge for Co-Op�s Annual Meeting to Celebrate 2011 Successes, Discuss Goals for 2012

elizabeth.horton@organicvalley.coop — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 23:59:00 -0500

More than 600 Organic Valley farmer-owners, half of whom hail from the Midwest, and several of whom came from as far away as California and Maine, converged in La Crosse, Wis. for the cooperative�s annual meeting activities Thursday, March 29 through Saturday, March 31. Event highlights include a keynote speech by Kathleen Merrigan, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, and an awards banquet during which Organic Valley rewarded its farmers for quality and commitment to organic and recognized the next generation of young organic farmer-leaders with �Generation Organic� awards. "Organic Valley's annual meeting is a celebration of the strength of the cooperative model and how each member benefits when we remain true to our mission,� said George Siemon, founding farmer and C-E-I-E-I-O of Organic Valley. �Together, with hundreds of our farmer-owners, we are grateful to have shared another successful year.� Key annual meeting themes focused on goals for 2012 and celebrating a successful 2011, during which Organic Valley saw a record $715 million in sales and 15.3 percent growth, the addition of 212 new farmers, an increase in farmer pay price and the donation of more than $2.2 million to nonprofit organizations dedicated to advancing organic food and farming. Deputy Secretary Merrigan addressed annual meeting attendees on Saturday afternoon, highlighting USDA efforts in organic; the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food program; and identifying challenges ahead for the organic community. "I am pleased to join the CROPP cooperative annual meeting today in Wisconsin,� said the Deputy Secretary. �USDA is committed to helping organic agriculture grow and thrive by strengthening USDA's National Organic Program and better integrating support for organic producers across the Department. We also continue to support cooperatives, a business model that's been very successful for organic and other producers. Both of these initiatives are examples of how USDA helps create additional economic opportunities for our nation's farmers and ranchers." Walt Freese, Stonyfield President and CE-Yo, and Robyn Schrader, National Cooperative Grocers Association CEO, also addressed attendees, underscoring the importance of partnership, and the cooperative business model. �Annual meeting is always an exciting time for the farmers,� said Mariann Holm, Organic Valley farmer-owner from Elk Mound, Wis. �It provides an opportunity to not only connect with our peers, but to share in the celebration of a successful year, and help shape our co-op�s progress in the year ahead. One of the reasons I�m grateful to be a member of Organic Valley is because of moments like this where hundreds of us farmer-owners have a voice in the decisions that affect our families, our communities and the future of organic agriculture." Additional highlights discussed at the annual meeting included the following:

Recent completion of Organic Valley�s new headquarters expansion, a symbol of the co-op's steady growth and success, as well as its commitment to the vitality of rural communities
Construction progress on the Cashton Greens Wind Farm, Wisconsin�s first community wind project
Launch of Organic Valley American Cheese Singles�unprocessed, 100 percent real organic cheese slices, as opposed to �processed cheese food�
Organic Valley Grassmilk�, an organic specialty milk produced from cows that are 100 percent grass-fed