Organic Valley: Supporting Small Farms and Sustainable Dairy
Organic Valley is a leading cooperative of certified organic farmers committed to producing high-quality dairy products while upholding sustainable farming practices. As the largest buyer of organic milk, Organic Valley plays a crucial role in supporting over 250 small family farms in Maine, Vermont, and eastern New York.
Founded in 1988 by a group of seven farmers in Wisconsin’s Coulee Region, Organic Valley began with a vision to farm in a way that nurtures the health of the land and the communities it serves. These farmers, facing the pressures of industrial farming, came together to create a cooperative to preserve their way of farming. This collective vision laid the foundation for what is now one of the most well-known organic dairy brands in the United States.
The original Organic Valley farmers met at the Viroqua Courthouse and formed the Coulee Region Organic Produce Pool (CROPP), initially focusing on organic produce. Within a year, they expanded into dairy and began accepting member farms beyond the Coulee Region, adopting the name Organic Valley.
Today, Organic Valley produces a wide range of products, including milk, eggs, cheese, butter, and cream. The cooperative remains farmer-owned, with over 1,600 certified organic family farmers across the United States, primarily in the Midwest and Northeast. Despite significant growth, the cooperative’s original mission and values remain intact. The cooperative structure ensures member farmers have a say in the organization’s operations, voting on key decisions such as animal care standards and pricing.
A visit to an Organic Valley farm in New England reveals an average of 70 milking cows, typically grazing on lush, green pastures through rotational grazing—a practice that promotes soil health and reduces the need for synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. These certified organic farmers use holistic approaches to land and herd management, focusing on animal welfare and high-quality dairy production. Their farms are characterized by thriving pastures, well-maintained facilities, and close-knit communities where the commitment to ethical practices is evident in every aspect of their farm.
Recently, Organic Valley has emerged as a lifeline for many certified organic dairies in the Northeast. In 2021, Horizon Organic, owned by Danone, made the controversial decision to terminate contracts with 89 organic dairy farmers in the Northeast, including farms in Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, and Maine. This decision left many small organic farms facing a bleak and uncertain future.
In response, Organic Valley stepped in to offer co-op membership to 50 of the affected farms, helping to ensure that these local dairy farms could continue operating and that consumers in the Northeast would still have access to locally produced organic dairy products. Farmers who joined Organic Valley after Horizon’s exit have expressed relief and optimism about the future. Other companies, like Stonyfield Organic, have also joined efforts to support small organic farms in the Northeast, but there is still much work to be done to ensure the economic viability of local organic dairy production in the region. The number one thing consumers can do to help support the future of organic dairy in the Northeast is to consume products made with organic milk from the region! We’ve partnered with the Northeast Organic Family Farm Partnership to help promote the brands committed to our region’s farmers. You can learn more about their work and take a consumer pledge to buy local and organic dairy here: https://www.saveorganicfamilyfarms.org/.
