DOCSLIB.ORG

CROPP Cooperative

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
CROPP Cooperative CROPP Cooperative Forum FEBRUARY 2018 CONSUMER EXPERT Advice commotion Regli Family Farm I just wanted to send your com- Ferndale, California pany a shout out! My son loves everything he has tried from Organic Valley! He is almost 11 months old and decided for himself he wanted nothing to do with formula anymore so we have had to switch him over to dairy products including your milk, yogurts and half n half for mommy’s coffee. Thank you so much for ensuring we have great products to give to our little man! He is our miracle baby! We were told we would not have kiddos and at age 42 I had him :) Michael is a bless- ing to us and helping us take a closer look at what we eat. IN THIS ISSUE Editor’s Letter .....................................2 FENCE POST: Protecting the Process .....................2-3 Feeding for Milk Components Defining Quota ...................................4 ~Dr. Silvia Abel-Caines, Ruminant Nutritionist Annual Meeting—April 3-5 ...................5 POOLS UPDATE: Growing Engagement in The nutritional value of milk resides in its solids content: milk fat, protein, lactose, vitamins and minerals dissolved the Produce Pool .............................6-7 in its water portion. The monetary value of producing milk is also dependent on the content of the butterfat and milk CROPP Experts Spread Organic Message protein as well as the milk quality. .....................................................8-10 Under the current milk industry situation, it makes NON-NUTRITIONAL FACTORS FAFO UPDATE: FAFO Supports North Carolina Organic a lot of sense that farmers focus on increasing the Breeding and genetics of the herd are responsible Plant Breeding Developments ............11 amount of milk solids per pound of milk produced. As for more than half the difference in milk protein and an animal nutritionist, I will focus on the feeding and POWER OF WE: fat content. Take a look at the table showing the aver- Regional Food Hubs .....................12-13 nutritional factors that can positively or negatively age milk components by breed (see p. 14). Milk yield is affect milk components, but I will begin by outlin- Organic Valley Launches Grassmilk Kids negatively correlated to fat and protein percent. Yogurt Cups and Tubes ......................13 ing non-nutritional factors that are known to directly affect the yield of butterfat and milk protein. The number of lactations affects the yield of milk Organic Valley at the Olympics ...........15 fat and protein percentage. There is a decrease of 0.2 see MILK COMPONENTS, page 14 2 3 (continued from previous page) EDITOR’S Letter Stonyfield Organic Northeast Organic National Young Farmers FENCE Post Farming Association of Coalition Applegate New Hampshire California Farmers Union Scholarships Clif Northeast Organic Farming California Dairy Campaign Protecting Maple Hill Creamery Association of New York Iowa Farmers Union Dr. Bronner’s Angelic Organics Learning the Process Center Kansas Farmers Union Horizon Organic ~Missy Hughes, General Counsel Midwest Organic and Michigan Farmers Union Vital Farms Sustainable Education Minnesota Farmers Union As you know, in late December the U.S. Department of Pete and Gerry’s Organic Services Agriculture proposed to withdraw the Organic Livestock Eggs New England Farmers Georgia Organics Poultry and Practices Final Rule, derailing a longtime effort Union Lundberg Family Farms by the National Organic Standards Board, farmers and con- Wild Farm Alliance Wisconsin Farmers Union sumers to make organic animal care expectations clearer and Nature’s Path CCOF (California Certified The staff at Organic Valley seems more consistent. Rural Advancement Amy’s Kitchen Organic Farmers) to always be busy, but Ruminant USDA’s move undermined the fundamentals of organic rulemaking. In the three weeks between Foundation International Nutritionist Dr. Silvia Abel-Caines H.P. Hood IFOAM North America Christmas and the deadline to comment on the proposed action, CROPP led a group of influential Dakota Rural Action and Regional Pool Manager Gerry Organic Valley strives to create a companies and major farm, environmental and consumer organizations to publish a letter in the Garden of Life Organic Seed Alliance Cohn were able to take their tal- Washington Post. We then rallied 80 companies and organizations to sign our statement demand- Pennsylvania Association more sustainable future for all by ents to other countries to help local Traditional Medicinals for Sustainable Agriculture supporting the education of our ing U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue change USDA’s position (see below). Finally, the CERTIFIERS farmers. Read more about their Chicago Tribune published a personal op-ed from George, which voiced his position on the public cooperative’s family members. GoMacro Accredited Certifiers Center for Rural Affairs experiences on pages 8-10. process. Each year, the CROPP Cooperative Association Michael Fields Agricultural Scholarship Program awards up As always, if you would like to con- RETAIL Organic Valley will continue to lead the effort to uphold the public-private partnership that the Institute to eight $1,000 secondary- tribute to the CROPP Forum, either Oregon Tilth National Organic Program represents. As our public partner’s attention drifts from this issue—for Whole Foods Market education scholarships. Applica- through an article submission or a CCOF Certification Organic Farmers now—we must all lean in to protect the organic market and seal in creative and meaningful ways. National Co+op Grocers tions are available now! funny story or picture to share, we Services, LLC Association would love to hear from you. Please United Natural Foods, Applicants must be: January 17, 2018 Midwest Organic Services contact me for more information. UNFI CONSUMER Association • Immediate family members The Humane Society of the In cooperation, The Honorable Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue (child, spouse, legal guardian ORGANIC Maine Organic Farmers United States Department of Agriculture or dependent) of a CROPP Colleen Morrison Whitten Building and Gardeners Association Organic Trade Association Environmental Working farmer-owner or employee. Editor in Chief 1400 Independence Avenue SW Organic Farming Research Ohio Ecological Food and Group Washington, D.C. 20250 • Attending or accepted to an Farming Association Foundation Natural Resources Defense accredited post-secondary Dear Secretary Perdue, National Organic Coalition Pennsylvania Certified Council two- or four-year educational We are deeply disappointed by your proposal to eliminate the new organic standard on animal Organics institution. Rodale Institute Consumer Federation of welfare. Florida Certified Organic America • In good academic standing. The Organic Center This is an affront to the many people and organizations engaged in a multi-year, transpar- Growers and Consumers, Center for Science in the ent, and highly participatory process that resulted in an animal welfare standard overwhelm- Inc APPLICATIONS DUE Organic Consumers Public Interest ingly supported by organic farmers, organic companies, humane animal care advocates, and APRIL 27, 2018 Association OneCert, Inc. Union of Concerned consumers. For more information and to get Montana Organic Northeast Organic Farming Scientists CROPP Forum Please remember that farmers choose to be organic and adhere to strict standards. We support an application, visit Farmers.coop Association Association of New Your 888-809-9297 this voluntary regulatory program on which the $50 billion organic industry depends. The Food & Water Watch or contact the Farmer Hotline at Northeast Organic Farming Certified Organic, LLC program is an outstanding example of how private initiatives can marry public process and it 888-809-9297. Editor in Chief: Association of Vermont Beyond Pesticides has had strong bipartisan approval from its inception. Nature’s International Colleen Morrison, ext. 3638 Northeast Organic Farming Certification Services Food Tank Organic farmers have pioneered new practices to enhance animal welfare because consumers Vice President of Farmer Affairs: Association Interstate demand it and because it makes farms more resilient and profitable. Eliminating the rule not Ceres Community Project Council FARM Travis Forgues, ext. 3533 only fails to acknowledge innovation in the organic farming sector and provide fair and trans- National Farmers Union Small Planet Institute Director of International Cooperative parent rules, it also undermines the faith people have in how organic agriculture is governed. Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut National Sustainable Friends of the Earth Development: We implore you to restore the organic animal welfare standard. Businesses depend upon it, Agriculture Coalition Jim Wedeberg, ext. 3251 and consumers expect nothing less. Northeast Organic Farming Association of Farm Aid Egg General Manager: Sincerely, Massachusetts David Bruce, ext. 3359 National Family Farm Organic Valley Director of Member Affairs: Coalition Theresa Washburn, ext. 3405 (co-signers continued on next page) 124 135 annual meeting APRIL 3- 5 , 2018 Defining Quota ~Beth Wells, Director of Farm Milk Management Registration and farmer food orders due March 16. The CROPP Cooperative Annual Meeting is a unique moment in the year that connects our cooperative community. Every spring, CROPP Quota is a tool that the cooperative’s dairy pool uses to help balance supply with demand. The dictionary defines it as a proportional part farmers,
Load more

Recommended publications
  • November/December (.Pdf)
    Rural COOPERATIVESCOOPERATIVESUSDA / Rural Development November/December 2008 Rewards of Local Ownership Page 4 Commentary Co-ops and the future of rural America he future for rural America is a bright one, channel investments into worthwhile projects. In order to studded with new economic opportunities. fully capitalize on the new demand, the traditional cooperative Many of those opportunities stem from the model is being complemented by other concepts, such as T rapid development of renewable energy and “new-generation” cooperatives which provide greater liquidity other value-added products from basic through tradable delivery rights. These co-ops also promote agricultural materials, using both proven and formation of partnerships with outside entities and other innovative, cutting-edge technologies. provisions that enable greater outside investment, along with While we have seen a significant increase in research, transparency, liquidity, transferability of ownership interest development and production of value-added products in and equal appreciation of asset value. recent years, the best is yet to come. New concepts are Where should rural Americans turn for the capital needed evolving at a rapidly escalating pace. Promising new to buy into these opportunities? An obvious investment source technologies are on the drawing board, while others are just in for agricultural producers is their farm equity, which now the conceptual stage. exceeds $2 trillion. By leveraging the value of their land, But the reality is that all will require investment capital. producers can raise the investment capital they need to America’s cooperatives have a unique opportunity to play a participate in the new rural economy, not only for energy significant role in developing this growing economic sector.
    [Show full text]
  • Toothless GMO Food Labeling Bill Becomes Law Corporate Elites Betray Organics
    PROMOTING ECONOMIC JUSTICE FOR FAMILY-SCALE FARMING NEWS FROM THE CORNUCOPIA INSTITUTE FALL 2016 Toothless GMO Food Labeling Bill Becomes Law Corporate Elites Betray Organics BY WILL FANTLE The DARK Act would not have he looming July 1 implementation been possible without the date for Vermont's first-of-a-kind, behind-the-scenes machinations historic GMO food ingredients T of the Organic Trade Association, labeling law pushed Monsanto and other corporate giants in retailing, a few of its most powerful biotechnology, and agribusiness members, and two corporate- into overdrive as they ramped up pressure on Congress to negate funded non-profit organizations the state law. – Just Label It and the Labeling opponents wisely Environmental Working Group. identified Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee, as the key to crafting JLI, founded by Stonyfield Its next hurdle would be a cloture what they described as a "compromise" Yogurt chairman Gary Hirshberg, vote, a 60-vote threshold required to bill. Stabenow's bill was able to move and the EWG signaled their support halt a filibuster and debate on a bill enough Senate Democrats to join with for an agribusiness-supported and force a final vote on the Senate an already solid block of Republicans alternative to actual GMO labeling, floor. By early July grassroots to muscle through its swift passage. Quick Response (QR) codes, those organic and pro-labeling forces were Ardent GMO backer, Senate inscrutable Rorschach-like images mobilizing to fight the cloture vote. Agriculture Chair Pat Roberts (R- found on some product packaging.
    [Show full text]
  • Certified Organic Farmers: by Product Beverages County Processing and Handling of Berres Brothers Coffee Inc
    Certified Organic Farmers: By Product Beverages County Processing and handling of Berres Brothers Coffee Inc ....................920-261-6158......... Jefferson pasteurized process cheese- Organic coffee roaster that roasts, organic blends, grinds, and packages organic DCI Cheese Company........................ 262-677-3407...... Waukesha coffee Organic cheese sales Johnson Brothers Coffee Roasters, Inc 608-256-5282.............. Dane K & K Cheese / Pasture Pride ........... 608-654-5580.......... Monroe Organic Coffee Organic cheese manufacturer RISHI TEA..........................................414-747-4001.....Milwaukee Eau Galle Cheese Factory................... 715-283-4211..............Pepin Organic loose leaf tea Organic cheese: parmesan, romano, Lakefront Brewery, Inc.......................414-372-8800.....Milwaukee and asiago We brew Lakefront Brewery Springside Cheese.............................. 920-829-6395........... Oconto Organic E.S.B. brewed with Manufacture organic cheese 100% certified organic Graf Creamery ................................... 715-758-2137........ Shawano ingredients. Churning organic cream into butter. Orient Organics..................................608-738-4000........LaCrosse Packaging organic butter for retail Packaging loose leaf tea (from bulk sales. to small retail packages) Westby Co-op Creamery.................... 608-634-3181...........Vernon Ancora Coffee Roasters, Inc................608-255-2900.............. Dane Castle Rock Organic Dairy LLC ......... 715-597-0085...... Eau Claire Roasted
    [Show full text]
  • FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Organic Valley Adds 17 New Grassmilk
    Media Contact: Elizabeth Horton [email protected] (207) 838-0084 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Organic Valley Adds 17 New Grassmilk® Milk Farmers in Northeast to Produce More Organic Valley Grassmilk® Milk and Grassmilk® Milk Products Farmer-owned cooperative continues to pioneer best practices in Grassmilk® milk production N.Y. and Pa. Grassmilk® milk farmers join to create new Northeast production route La Farge, Wis. – April 5, 2016 – Organic Valley, America’s largest cooperative of organic farmers and one of the nation’s leading organic brands, today announced it has welcomed 17 new Grassmilk milk farmers in the Northeast to increase production of its Organic Valley Grassmilk milk products. The farmer-owned Cooperative now has a total of 81 Grassmilk milk farms producing Organic Valley Grassmilk milk products, including Grassmilk milk, Grassmilk Cheese, and Grassmilk Yogurt. Additional Grassmilk milk products are currently in development, and more Grassmilk milk farmers are expected to join the cooperative next year. The new Organic Valley Grassmilk milk farmers hail from New York and Pennsylvania and are connected with a new milk route winding between the states from Canastota, New York to Gillet, Pennsylvania. It is then transported to Mountainside Farms in Roxbury, New York, where it is packaged. With Organic Valley’s regional model, milk is produced, bottled and distributed right in the region where it is farmed to ensure fewer miles from farm to table and to support local economies. New York and Pennsylvania have long been important member states for Organic Valley. Today, Organic Valley has 158 farmer-owners in New York and 205 in Pennsylvania who produce organic milk and dairy products, including Grassmilk milk, eggs, produce, beef and feed.
    [Show full text]
  • Meat and Dairy Monthly
    MEAT & DAIRY MONTHLY JUNE 2016 EDITION - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - did someone say bacon?? Bacon is one of the fastest growing categories here at Four Seasons! We carry bacon from Garrett Valley, The Piggery, Organic Prairie and Koch Turkey. Be sure to have a good selection of different types of bacon – including both pork AND turkey -- to meet the tastes and preferences of your customers. Read on to learn more about the bacon lines that can help grow your sales! GARRETT VALLEY Garrett Valley Uncured Applewood Dry Rub Bacon: Garrett Valley Sugar Free Paleo Dry Rubbed Bacon: CODE: 61149 CODE: 61137 The largest retail pack of the non ‘bulk’ Garrett bacons at 10/18oz., The Sugar Free Paleo Dry Rubbed Bacon is the best seller of our bacon Applewood is a more mild smoke than the hickory bacon. line. This Paleo friendly bacon is crafted with only a few ingredients and is sugar free bacon that tastes as good as it looks. NOTE: Dry Rub refers to bacon slices that are made without being pro- cessed with water. Garrett’s focus in on ‘massaging’ each pork belly with Flavored with spices, it contains pork, Sea Salt, black pepper, fenugreek, spices instead. The Dry Rub process also minimizes shrink of the bacon nutmeg, white pepper, mace and allspice. It is also made with the dry rub when you cook it because there is no added water. technique to avoid adding water to the product. Garrett Valley Uncured Hickory Smoked Sliced Bacon: Garrett Valley Sugar Free Paleo Turkey Bacon: CODE: 61134 CODE: 61135 The Hickory Smoke will impart the strongest smoky Á avor to the bacon.
    [Show full text]
  • November 2018 Scottie and Sam Sean, Carl and Craig
    FOR Brattleboro Food Co-op thought November 2018 Scottie and Sam Sean, Carl and Craig DELI Karen and Tina Local Producer of the Month BrattleboroFoodCoop.coop FOR Published monthly by the hat's N W ew at the Co-op! Designers Annual Meeting Community Marlene O'Connor Annual Board of Directors Donna Lee Amerman Panel Discussion [email protected] Vote & Bylaw Changes Editors On November 9th, we will host our Annual Jon Megas-Russell, Meeting at New England Youth Theatre November marks the month in which we [email protected] starting at 6 pm and running until 9 pm. We vote on our Board of Director candidates Ruth Garbus, and bylaw changes. This year we are excited [email protected] will offer dinner and updates from your GM and Board, and end with a panel discussion to have 6 candidates for 4 seats as well as a Advertising Jon Megas-Russell on the Co-op and its relationship to our few bylaw changes. Voting will start at 9 pm To advertise in Food For Thought community that involves community members, on Friday November 9th and run until Sunday call 257-0236, ext. 813, or email including Laughing Child Farm, Groundworks November 25th @ 5 pm. Look for emails [email protected] Collaborative, BCTV, Co-op staff and other from us announcing voting, click on the link Ad deadline is the first Friday of the previous month. local representatives. Don’t forget kids ages on our home page, vote in store via the web Letters to the editor must be signed 5–12 can enjoy free circus activities provided by or paper ballots at Shareholder Services.
    [Show full text]
  • Identifying and Developing Appropriate Processing Locations
    Identifying and Developing Appropriate Processing Locations Louise Hemstead Animals in the Food System Conference Kellogg Biological Station Hickory Corners, Michigan November 2-4, 2004 C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems Michigan State University 312 Natural Resources Building East Lansing, MI 48824-1222 Identifying and Developing Appropriate Processing Locations Louise Hemstead Abstract Founded in 1988 as an organic produce marketing and distribution cooperative, Organic Valley/CROPP has evolved to a multi-product, national cooperative. The large dairy component of the product line, distributed nationwide, has created several challenges in developing an effective processing and distribution system located near production sites across the United States. Our current regional distribution processing network has been designed with backup plants and the ability to process milk into multiple products. Locating a processor can take many forms, from looking at labels in the marketplace to the classified section in the newspaper or trade magazines. Once you have located a processor, call and schedule a visit. Do not waste their time by neglecting to plan ahead, keep conversations short and to the point. Different products pose different challenges, but with time and thought, mutually beneficial processing arrangements can be made. Editors Note: This document contains the PowerPoint slides used by the presenter. If you wish to make this document larger on your computer screen to better view the slide detail, you may change the magnification by selecting the View menu, and then Zoom To. Select or type in your desired magnification and then select OK. Animals in the Food System Conference November 2-4, 2004 C.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Dean Foods Company 2016 Annual Report
    2016 Annual Report Dear Fellow Stockholders: There’s only one thing that excites me more than where Dean Foods is today, and that’s where we’re headed. This dynamic company has many opportunities ahead of it, and I’m humbled and excited to be the one privileged to lead Dean Foods into the future. STRONG PROGRESS IN 2016 TO EXPAND INTO 2017 No one can deny our momentum in 2016. We ended the year with our stock trading near its 52-week high while we continued to return dividends to our shareholders. We invested in the business and took important steps to support our future success. In 2016, we: Invested in the Launched new Acquired Friendly’s® Developed a joint Continued our DairyPure® and products. Ice Cream. venture with strong Food TruMoo® brands. DairyPure Lactose As planned, the Organic Valley®. Service momentum. We supported our Free and Caribou® acquisition of the Known as “Organic This is a growing power brands with & "! ,ƛ""4"/" leading Friendly’s Valley Fresh®, ” the joint channel in the food category-leading two new entries into brand grew our top venture leverages the and beverage industry advertising and built the dairy case. Our line and proved to be strength of the Organic that is now nearly the strategic marketing lactose-free milk marks accretive to earnings Valley brand and its same size as retail. partnerships with the 1%"Ɯ/01"51"+0&,+ while providing a solid high-quality organic We are among the Olympics, DreamWorks of the DairyPure platform for growth in *&)(4&1%1%"0&$+&Ɯ +1 biggest suppliers to the Pictures and Oreo brand into adjacent a strategic category.
    [Show full text]
  • Directory of Producers (PDF)
    What are your primary Name Address Address Contact Person Phone E-mail Website products? Apples, cider, grapes, pumpkins, Apple Ridge Orchard 47418 240th Ave Mazeppa, MN 55956 Vince (507) 843-3033 [email protected] www.appleridgeorchard.com squash Hazelnuts, chestnuts, dandelion greens, nettles, wild berries, Badgersett Research Corporation 18606 Deer Road Canton, MN 55922 Megan or Phillip Rutter 507-743-8570 [email protected] www.badgersett.com apples Christian or Leonard [email protected] , Breezy Bluff Farm 17925 Stage Rd. Spring Grove, MN 55974 Myrah 507-498-3273 [email protected] Beef, lamb Bridal Rock Orchard 72300th Ave Lake City, MN 55041 Chuck Bremer 651-345-4747 [email protected] Apples Bridgeview Farms 46070 County 10 Blvd. Zumbrota, MN 55992 Tim Mack (507) 732-5076 [email protected] Beef, pumpkins, squash Vegetables, chicken, berries, Brown's Family Farm 32060 Furrow Road Lanesboro, MN 55949 Anita 507-875-2615 [email protected] sweet corn Buffalo Gal & Money Creek Buffalo Ranch 32488 Cody Drive Houston, MN 55943 Valerie Shannon (507) 896-2345 [email protected] www.buffalogal.com Bison, boar, beef Buffalo Hills Bison 14011 State 44 Caledonia, MN 55921 Steve Friuechte (507) 724-2833 [email protected] buffalohillsbisonmeat.com Bison meat Elk velvet nutriceutical capsule, Byrne Farm 11026 CoRd 113 NW Pine Island, MN 55963 James Byrne (507) 358-6505 [email protected] byrnefarm.com elk meat Chad and Elizabeth Danger Lamb Farm 15707 Paradise Dr. Houston, MN 55943 Oness (507) 896- 4360 [email protected]
    [Show full text]
  • D Livestock 31-36(29-34)
    FEBRUARY 2004 29 Ohio’s Country Journal LIVESTOCK Organic milking improves profits for Martin BY KYLE SHARP That respect level, along with some was to work ahead and For Mark Martin, producing organic struggles marketing their own organic plan for it. milk on his Richland County farm is as milk, is why Organic Family Farms Overall, his operating much about family as it is business. Two of agreed to produce milk for Organic expenses have increased his brothers, his wife’s brother and his Valley when Organic Valley asked if about $1.40 per cwt. wife’s sister all live on family dairy farms they’d be interested in joining the of milk produced, but that produce organic milk. Three of the national cooperative in 2002. the price he receives for four farms are within five miles of Martin’s “We chose to do it because we were his milk has jumped farm, while the other is in Pennsylvania. interested in producing milk but not mar- more than $7 per cwt., Beyond organic production, the five keting it, and Organic Valley does a good and his production dairies have one other common thread. job of marketing. Our heart just wasn’t hasn’t dropped. They all ship their milk to Organic Valley, really into marketing,” Martin said. Martin currently an organic farm cooperative based in “Plus, they’re a farmer-owned coopera- milks about 42 cows. LaFarge, Wis. So far, it’s an arrangement tive that is still run by farmers. The guys Most of his herd fresh- that has made Martin very happy.
    [Show full text]
  • An Achievable Goal? a Case Study of Organic Valley®
    Price Sustainability and Stability – An Achievable Goal? A Case Study of Organic Valley® Ye Su University of Missouri 324 Mumford Hall Columbia, MO 65211 Michael L. Cook University of Missouri 125C Mumford Hall Columbia, MO 65211 Phone: 573-882-0127 Fax: 573-882-3958 [email protected] Corresponding Author Selected Case Study prepared for presentation at the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, MN, July 27 – 29, 2014. Copyright 2014 by Ye Su, and Michael L. Cook. All rights reserved. Readers may make verbatim copies of this document for noncommercial purposes by any means, provided that this copyright notice appears on all such copies. Price Sustainability and Stability – An Achievable Goal? A Case Study of Organic Valley® JEL Code: A22, A23, Q01, Q11, Q13 Originating from a bold idea, Organic Valley currently reigns as the largest organic cooperative in North America. In 1988, from the non-glaciated, hilly part of Southwestern Wisconsin, seven progressive rural entrepreneurs started a courageous and visionary journey. The founders’ original objectives were to create an organization that would provide stable pay-prices to farmers and a sustainable family farm life style. For much of its more than 25 year history, Organic Valley has achieved this mission. However, in the past few years a more hostile economic environment emerged testing the resolve of George Siemon, CEO, and the Organic Valley leadership team. This case shares the evolution of a determined, idealistic group of mostly small rural producers leading a farmer owned firm from nothing but a dream to a complex international cooperative facing an important set of challenges.
    [Show full text]
  • Scrambled Eggs Separating Factory Farm Egg Production from Authentic Organic Agriculture
    Scrambled Eggs Separating Factory Farm Egg Production from Authentic Organic Agriculture A Report and Scorecard by The Cornucopia Institute The following staff members helped research, write, edit, and support this report and scorecard: Charlotte Vallaeys, Farm and Food Policy Analyst, principal researcher and author Mark Kastel, Senior Farm and Food Policy Analyst, associate researcher/author and editor Will Fantle, Research Director Lynn Christianson, Research Assistant John Peck, Farm and Food Policy Analyst The following provided professional assistance: Michana Buchman, copyediting Tim Hill, report layout/design, timhilldesign.com Jeremy Vossman, Papertree Design, web design, papertreedesign.com Alex Turner, scorecard layout The Cornucopia Institute is dedicated to the fight for economic justice for the family-scale farming community. Through research, advocacy, and economic development, our goal is to empower farmers both politically and through marketplace initiatives. The Organic Integrity Project acts as a corporate and governmental watchdog assuring that no compromises to the credibil- ity of organic farming methods and the food it produces are made in the pursuit of profit. We will actively resist regulatory rollbacks and the weakening of organic standards, to protect and maintain consumer confidence in the organic food label. The Cornucopia Institute P.O. Box 126 Cornucopia, WI 54827 608-625-2042 voice 866-861-2214 fax [email protected] www.cornucopia.org Cover design by Tim Hill. Cover photos courtesy of The Cornucopia Institute, Alexandre Family Ecodairy Farms and Old Friends Farm. Copyright © 2010, The Cornucopia Institute 2 SCRAMBLED EGGS: SEPARATING FACTORY FARM EGG PRODUCTION FROM AUTHENTIC ORGANIC AGRICULTURE Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .
    [Show full text]