You probably know Organic Valley’s reputation for producing delicious organic products.  But there is a lot more to Organic Valley than you may realize.

Organic Valley began in 1988 when seven Midwestern farmers joined to form the Coulee Region Organic Produce Pool – also known as the CROPP cooperative.  To create a future for small family farms, the group knew a sustainable approach to agriculture was a must.   They united to create something just as economically viable as any corporate farm.  Since that time, the cooperative has grown to 622 farmers in 17 states.  As the cooperative has grown, its farms have stayed small.  Organic Valley meat and dairy products come from animals that are raised on some of the smallest farms in America.  In fact, their largest dairy farm has 400 cows supporting three branches of the same family; the smallest farm raises only 20 cows.

The farmers of Organic Valley are the owners of the company.  They determine the price of their product throughout the marketing process, guaranteeing a more secure future for their farms.  From the beginning, the co-op’s goals included encouraging a “farming future that emphasizes ecological diversity and economic sustainability,” as well as enabling “a healthy human livelihood by providing quality employment, cooperation, organic education, and community growth.”  Organic Valley has clearly accomplished what it set out to do, and then some.

Organic Valley C.E.O. George Siemon (who prefers to be known as the C-E-I-E-I-O) said, "Our success comes from paying farmers a fair, sustainable and stable price—a level that can only be achieved by staying independent and farmer-owned.  Unlike conventional farmers, we don't have to deal with an abusive price structure that fluctuates day to day."

Organic Valley has been able to achieve a wide consumer following for its product line, and has promoted its values and educated consumers through projects such as:

• Mothers of Organic (www.moomom.com), an inspirational web e-community providing insight about organic parenting from celebrity activists such as Erin Brockovich, Kelly Preston, Raffi and author Sandra Steingraber, as well as authentic "mothers of organic” -- Organic Valley farmwomen.

• Educational partnerships with pro-organic organizations such as Farm Aid (www.farmaid.org), Children's Environmental Health Coalition (www.checnet.org), Center for Children's Health and the Environment (www.childenvironment.org) and Waterkeeper Alliance (www.waterkeeper.org).

• An activist's tool on the Organic Valley's website (www.organicvalley.com) that helps visitors send instant messages to their elected officials on concerns such as animal cloning, genetically engineered food labeling and the need for organic research.

In light of this success, C.E.O. Siemon said, "Staying independent is our greatest accomplishment.  It enables farmers to survive and thrive, ensures the health of our rural communities, and, in turn, helps keep urban America healthier by delivering delicious, safe foods while protecting our environment for future generations."   

Organic Valley Meat

After several years of producing dairy, eggs, and juice, Organic Valley launched a line of organic meats to provide another market for organic farmers.  They started off by taking groundbreaking steps in producing what is known today as certified organic meat, although at the time it could not be labeled as such.  In October of 2002, when the USDA streamlined organic labeling nationally, Organic Valley was finally able to label their meat as certified organic.  The line includes beef, pork, turkey, and chicken, all produced under the strictest regulations.

"This is the most extensive line of USDA-approved, certified organic meat available nationally today," Siemon said in a recent press release. "After fifteen years of organic leadership, the Organic Valley brand is a guarantee of the truest meaning of organic."

Organic Valley premium quality meats and dairy products are produced organically, without chemicals, pesticides, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or processes that contribute to the depletion of the earth’s resources.  Livestock on Organic Valley farms are genuinely cared for.  Specifications require that no animal be denied access to pasture, and that cattle graze whenever possible.  Hen houses are required to be lit naturally with sunlight.  Hogs are never confined.  And while the average dairy cow on a conventional farm using rBGH (Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone) to enhance milk production lives 18 months, the average Organic Valley cow is already over five years old.

In addition to prohibiting hormone use on cattle, Organic Valley farmers, as all organic meat and dairy producers, do not treat livestock with antibiotics.  According to a report by the Union of Concerned Scientists, antibiotics are commonly used in commercial farming operations and create drug-resistant bacteria in animals treated with them.  Those bacteria can then be passed on to humans in contact with meat and dairy products coming from treated livestock.  For consumers concerned with antibiotic use, organic products offer an excellent alternative. 

See what Organic Valley has to offer – check out the FROZEN/Frozen Meat and DAIRY & PERISHABLES/Fresh Beverages & Cheese sections of this pricelist.  Look for brand code ‘OGVAL’.  United Natural Foods carries a variety of Organic Valley meats, including organic beef, organic pork and organic poultry.  Enjoy some delicious Organic Valley meats in your summer barbeques!