Farmer-Owned Cooperative Welcomes the Bakers to their 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.
"It's fitting that our 1,000th farmer hails from the greater Seattle area, as this part of the country is a national leader in organic dairy consumption and the top market for our cooperative," says George Siemon, CEO of Organic Valley Family of Farms. "Bob's organic milk will be processed in Seattle and distributed directly into the local marketplace—just miles from his farm."
Growth of the organic dairy industry is booming in Washington and certified organic farmers are stepping in to fulfill the demand that consumers have for milk, cheese, and other dairy products produced without antibiotics, synthetic hormones and pesticides. The number of Organic Valley farmers in Washington has more than doubled in less than two years, jumping from a modest 15 in 2005 to 32 with the advent of Baker's certification. While Washington ranks 16 in the conventional fluid milk market, when it comes to organic, Washington State ranks third.
Regarding Organic Dairy Farming, "It's the right thing to do both financially and philosophically," says Baker. "As I researched organic farming, I realized some of my former methods weren't such good ideas or necessary for the land or animals. I think organic is a growing trend and where I want my family's farm to be."
Baker is a second generation farmer who has spent most of his life on his 220-acre King County family farm, just east of Tacoma, Wash., where he milks 340 cows. Like many Organic Valley dairies, everyone in the family works the farm. Bob tends to his herd with his son and five hired hands, while wife, Janet, assists with paperwork and other farm business. His shift to organic was relatively quick, as his land already met organic requirements. In early 2006, he transitioned his cows to organic by omitting hormones and antibiotics from their regimen and switching their feed to an eventual 100 percent organic feed. Then he was ready for the Organic Valley truck.
Organic Valley Family of Farms: Independent and Farmer-Owned
Organic Valley is America's largest cooperative of organic farmers and is one of the nation's leading organic brands. Organized in 1988, it represents 1,000 farmers in 29 states and one Canadian province, and achieved $334 million in 2006 sales. Focused on its founding mission of saving family farms through organic farming, Organic Valley produces more than 200 organic foods, including organic milk, soy, cheese, butter, spreads, creams, eggs, produce and juice, which are sold in supermarkets, natural foods stores and food cooperatives nationwide. The same farmers who produce for Organic Valley also produce a full range of delicious organic meat under the Organic Prairie Family of Farms label. For further information, call 1-888-444-MILK or visit www.organicvalley.coop, www.organicprairie.com and the cooperative's farmers' website, www.farmers.coop.
