Press Releases

The Haynes Dairy in Claremont – a member of the Organic Valley cooperative of farmers – has been named New Hampshire's Outstanding Dairy Farm of the Year for 2007 by the Green Pastures Program. The award, which annually names one winner from each of the six New England states, evaluates farms on their achievement in business management, crop production, pasture quality, herd performance, environmental practices, and community leadership.

Certified as an organic dairy last May, the Haynes Farm represents the first organic dairy farm in New Hampshire to win this distinction. This year's judges cited the many farm innovations, clean cows and barn, quality pasture, and the overall dairy operation as the reasons for the Haynes' Farm win. Organic Valley is the nation's largest cooperative of organic farmers and one of the largest organic dairy brands in the nation.

After more than a year of planning and construction, Organic Valley employees, state and local officials, business leaders and community members will gather in Cashton, Wis. on Friday, July 27 to celebrate the grand-opening of the new $17.5 million Organic Valley Distribution Center. The new facility will serve as the primary warehouse and distribution center for Organic Valley, America's largest cooperative of organic farmers and one of the nation's leading organic brands.

The event will begin at 11 a.m. and feature presentations by George Siemon, CEO for Organic Valley, Wayne Peters, Organic Valley board president, and Bob Amundson, Cashton Village president, among others, and an official ribbon-cutting ceremony. There will be a picnic lunch at noon, and tours of the new facility from 12:30 p.m.-4 p.m.

Have a half of heavy: Organic Valley today is announcing it has begun offering its highly popular Heavy Whipping Cream in half-gallon, 64-ounce cartons.

Coming from the milk of pastured cows on family farms, Organic Valley cream is a favorite of many chefs. Some research has shown that milk from pastured animals has higher levels of Conjugated Lineolic Acid (CLA) and Omega-3 fatty acids.

By using a special flash heating and cooling technology, the ultra-pasteurized Heavy Whipping Cream can stay fresh up to three times longer than other creams. The regionally and locally produced cream already is available in quarts and pints.

Organic Valley today announced it has extended its line of certified organic sliced cheeses with a new offering of Provolone, Baby Swiss and Muenster cheese varieties sliced in 6-ounce packages. The new SKUs are additions to the product line that currently includes Mild Cheddar and Monterey Jack.

The first brand in the nation to offer organic cheese, Organic Valley already offers its Provolone, Baby Swiss and Muenster cheeses un-sliced in 8-ounce packages.

Schedule Local community members, farmers, musicians, artisans and people across the Midwest will celebrate farming and America's rural heritage at the fourth annual Kickapoo Country Fair, Saturday, July 28 and Sunday, July 29, 2007 at Organic Valley's headquarters in La Farge, Wis.

The weekend-long festival – sponsored by Organic Valley Family of Farms and more than 35 local businesses and organizations, including founding partners Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service (MOSES) and the Kickapoo Valley Reserve – showcases rural cultural traditions, farm and garden exhibits, music, dance, arts, natural and organic foods and cooking, green housing and renewable energy, community health and education, and environmental responsibility.

Update July 19: Hi-resolution pictures of Organic Valley's participation in the event available now.

As the boats jockey for position along the shores of Seattle's Green Lake at the Bafflegab Milk Carton Derby on July 7, a crew of Washington organic farmers will be at the fore, manning their craft looking for a win, as "Udderly Local," Organic Valley Cooperative's sea-faring vessel, makes a bid for first place.

Part of Seattle's annual summer Seafair Festival, the 34th annual Bafflegab Milk Carton Derby takes place on the southwest shores of Green Lake from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 7. Organic Valley will make its debut with a boat modeled after a Viking Ship. In the place of a Viking warrior at the ship's prow will be a hand-carved wooden cow's head. The 24-foot vessel is being crafted by Port Townsend general contractor and occasional boat builder, Douglas Milholland. Many of the cooperative's 32 local farm families will take part in the competition, which offers more than $10,000 in prizes to winners in both race and show categories.

Organic Valley, a farmer-owned cooperative representing organic family farmers across America,, welcomed its 1,000th farmer-owner this month: Bob Baker's dairy farm in Enumclaw, Wash.

"The Baker's organic milk will be processed in Seattle and distributed directly into the local marketplace – just miles from his farm," said George Siemon, chief executive officer of Organic Valley Family of Farms.

Organic Valley, representing 10 percent of all the nations' organic farmers, welcomed its 32nd Washington farmer-owner to the cooperative this month. Officially, the Baker dairy from Enumclaw, Wash., proudly joins the cooperative as the 1000th farmer.

Farmers and runners, kids, bakers and competitive cowpie throwers will all have something to enjoy at the annual Trout Lake Fair, an all-day celebration of farm, food and community in rural southern Washington on Saturday, August 4.

Sponsored by Organic Valley Family of Farms and organized by Trout Lake dairy farming family Monte and Laura Pearson, the day is jam-packed with fun and games. The gun goes off at 8 a.m., Saturday, August 4, for the 5- and 10-K race around Trout Lake. Hungry runners and spectators can tuck into a Fireman’s breakfast of huckleberry pancakes to sate their appetites.

If you're lactose intolerant, you now have many lactose free options to enjoy organic cow's milk. Organic Valley Family of Farms, providers of the nation's only lactose free certified organic milk in distribution, completes its line of lactose free offerings with the introduction of Organic Valley 2% Reduced Fat Lactose Free Milk.