Organic Valley Family of Farms today announced that Lowell Rheinheimer has joined the cooperative as a regional pool coordinator for Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina and Tennessee. In this new role, he will serve the needs of current and prospective Organic Valley farmer members.
Rheinheimer’s primary responsibility is to help interested farmers understand how they can participate in the growing organic dairy market. He will hold regional educational workshops, organize hands-on barn meetings, participate in various dairy industry events, and make personal farm visits to interested farmers who want to know more about organic dairy farming opportunities.
Rheinheimer has worked in organic farming nearly his entire life, growing up on an 80-acre livestock and crop farm in northern Indiana. There, he learned how to operate a small, diversified farm. In the early 1970’s, after moving to New England, he helped develop the Natural Organic Farming Association, working to organize some of its first on-farm education programs.
“I’m honored to join Organic Valley Family of Farms and to serve its farmers,” said Rheinheimer. “I’ve committed my life to working on behalf of farmers and organic farming. My passions have been restoring soil fertility through organic methods and promoting sustainable agriculture. I look forward to continuing that work in my new role.”
After attending Goshen College, Rheinheimer moved to the Northeast, where he picked and pruned apples, milked cows, raised commercial organic vegetables, and established a farmstead cheesemaking business. Most recently, he grew and sold organic greenhouse tomatoes and helped develop an organic farming program for a large non-profit organization.
Rheinheimer has a master’s degree in resource management from Antioch University. He has taught a college-level course in sustainable agriculture and over the years has participated in many agriculture seminars and trainings. For nearly ten years, he developed and marketed commercial and municipal recycling and composting programs for several national companies.
To reach Rheinheimer, please contact Organic Valley’s Membership Services at 888-809-9297.
Organic Valley/CROPP Cooperative:
Independent and Farmer-Owned
CROPP (Cooperative Regions of Organic Producer Pools) markets under the Organic Valley Family of Farms label. Organized in 1988, the cooperative represents nearly 775 farmer-owners in 24 states. It owes its success to staying independent and true to its mission: keeping small and mid-sized farmers farming. Regional production is organized to serve local markets, uses local processors, and features packaging that highlights area farmers. The cooperative produces more than 130 organic products, including organic milk, soy, cheese, butter, spreads, creams, eggs, produce, juice and meats. They are sold in leading supermarkets, natural foods stores and food cooperatives nationwide. For further information, contact Organic Valley at 1-888-444-MILK or visit www.organicvalley.coop. Further information about farming with CROPP Cooperative can be found at www.farmers.coop.
