Baker Dairy in Washington Joins Family Farms Nationwide Thriving Through Organic Valley's Farmer-Owned Cooperative
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.
"Our cooperative formed almost 20 years ago with a handful of farmers seeking to survive in the face of a changing economy and to help make the world a better place," Siemon added. "Even though our family farmers sell under the Organic Valley brand, we wanted our milk and other products to be sold in the regions where the farmers produced them. Many doubted a model like ours was possible, but we continue to prove that it works.
"Reaching this milestone has come at a very ideal time for us," Siemon continued. "With 1,000 farmers in our family, for the first time we have the supply to meet the growing consumer demand for organic milk."
Siemon added: "Unlike corporations, who often take dollars earned at their farms out of local economies, sales from Organic Valley go back to these 1,000 farm families within their rural communities coast-to-coast, benefiting local schools, parks, locally-owned businesses, and of course the land. Keeping rural communities alive and healthy has been part of our mission from day one, and adding this thousandth farmer is a testimony to that goal."
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. Baker 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, Baker transitioned his cows to organic by omitting hormones and antibiotics from their regimen and switching their feed to organic feed for the required 12-month period. Then he was ready for the Organic Valley truck.
"It's the right thing to do both financially and philosophically," Baker said. "As I researched organic farming, I realized some of my former methods weren't such good ideas or necessary for the land or animals. And I also learned that some of my practices were organic practices. Being 100 percent organic is where I want my family's farm to be."
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.
