Organic Valley

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Organic Valley
Agricultural cooperative
Industry Organic food
Founded 1988 (1988)
Headquarters La Farge, Wisconsin, United States
Area served
 United States, 25 countries
Key people
 George Siemon, founding farmer, "C-E-I-E-I-O"[1]
Products Butter, cheese, eggs, milk, produce, soy, yogurt
Revenue Increase $972 million[2]
Members Increase 1,800 farmer-owners[2]
Number of employees
 Increase 802[2]
Website organicvalley.coop

Organic Valley (OV) is an independent cooperative of organic farmers based in La Farge, Wisconsin, United States near La Crosse, Wisconsin. Founded in 1988,[3] it is the largest organic farmer-owned cooperative in the world with over 1,800 farmer-owners across the United States, Canada, and Australia.[4] Organic Valley markets products its products in all 50 states and exports to 25 countries. In 2014, growing annual sales neared $1 billion.[2]

Cooperative history

Organic Valley was founded in 1988 under the name CROPP (Coulee Region Organic Produce Pool) Cooperative.[5] What began as a group of Wisconsin family farms selling their produce soon expanded into the production and local distribution of vegetables, and dairy products. The brand name "Organic Valley" was soon adopted, and the abbreviation "CROPP" was adjusted to Cooperative Regions of Organic Producer Pools. The original CROPP farms were located throughout southwest Wisconsin, primarily in the Kickapoo River Basin area near the cooperative's headquarters.

Today Organic Valley comprises 1,800 farmer-owners located in 32 states and three Canadian provinces that specialize in sustainable, organic agriculture practices. Organic Valley has become the world's largest independent cooperative of organic family farmers and one of the nation's largest producers and distributors of organic produce, dairy, soy, and eggs.[6] It also markets its line of beef, pork, turkey, and chicken products under the Organic Prairie brand.[7]

Organic Valley's world headquarters, with solar trackers, in La Farge, Wisconsin.

Products are marketed in all 50 states, Canada, China, Japan, and 22 other countries.[2] The United States is divided into three selling markets: the Western, Central, and Eastern Divisions. Each division is managed by sales staff, producers, and distributors directly associated with the cooperative. Organic Valley produces six regional milks that are produced, processed and distributed in New England, Northeast, Heartland, Rocky Mountain, California and the Pacific Northwest. Total sales in 2003 were $156 million and reached $972 million in 2014.[4]

In 2009, Organic Valley launched a partnership with Stonyfield Farm and HP Hood agreeing to license the Stonyfield fluid milk brand, and manage sales and distribution. The deal also invited the farmers supplying that milk into the cooperative starting January 1, 2010.[8]

As of 2014, the cooperative employed over 800 people; 400 at its La Farge headquarters and several hundred more at its Cashton, Wisconsin distribution center and offices.[9] Opening in early 2016, construction has resumed on a second 40,000 square foot office building on the Cashton campus in order to accommodate continued growth of the cooperative.[10]

Cooperative mission

"The mission of CROPP is to create and operate a marketing cooperative that promotes regional farm diversity and economic stability by the means of organic agricultural methods and the sale of certified organic products."[11]

Management

George Siemon, one of the founding farmers of CROPP, is the CEO of Organic Valley.[12] Once a member of the National Organic Standards Board,[13] Siemon helps to set the standards not only for Organic Valley, but is best known for his leadership in organizing farmers and building market support for organic agriculture across the country.

As a cooperative, Organic Valley is primarily run and owned by the farmers that sustain it with a central mission of, "supporting rural communities by protecting the health of the family farm and working toward both economic and environmental sustainability."[14] With a low profit margin, the company's income returns to the farmers, employees and farming communities in which the crops are grown.

Sustainability

In 2015, Organic Valley announced that 81% of the cooperative's combined on-site power consumption was generated by renewable energy.[15] On-farm sustainability efforts and sustainable operations at the coop's offices and warehouses include solar, wind, biodiesel, and more.[16] These efforts have placed the organization in the Top 30 On-site Generation list by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.[17]

Awards and recognitions

Source:[18]

  • 2008 – Fast Company Social Capitalist Award – Organic Valley was among 10 companies to receive the award.
  • 2007 – Co-op America Green Business Leadership Award – Award given to Organic Valley for its commitment to innovative environmental practices and proving that being green and being successful can walk hand in hand.
  • 2007 – Ecological Farming Association Sustie Award – awarded to George Siemon, CEIEIO and founding farmer of Organic Valley
  • 2007 – Farm Stewardship Association Business of the Year Award – awarded to Organic Valley in recognition of the company's efforts to help conventional dairy farmers establish organic dairy farms in North Carolina
  • 2007 – Glynwood Center Award – awarded to the farmer-members of Organic Valley
  • 2006 – Trustee Award – awarded by the Earth Society Foundation for outstanding contribution as a dedicated Earth Trustee.[19]
  • 2006 and 2007 – 1st Place Blue Vein Cheese Competition at World Dairy Expo
  • 2006 – Food and Wine Magazine Freshest Butter Flavor award
  • 2006 – 2nd Place in Unsalted Butter and American Original/Colby American Cheese Society Competitions
  • 2005 – Wisconsin Employer of Choice Award – awarded by the Workforce Development Board, Inc. for a businesses in the Western Wisconsin region that exemplifies best practices in workforce attraction and retention
  • 2005 – Midmarket Manufacturer of the Year Award from Start Magazine – awarded for excellence in the manufacturing industry
  • 2005 – 2nd Place American Cheese Society Aged Cheddar Category
  • 2005 – Bronze Medal for Organic Valley Raw Sharp Cheddar World Cheese Awards
  • 2005 – Best of Class from U.S. Championship Cheese Contest 2005
  • 2005 – Top pick by Family Circle Magazine
  • 2004 – 1st place for Sharp Cheddar by American Cheese Society
  • 2004 – 2nd place for Reduced Fat Milk, Cottage Cheese, and Lightly Salted Butter at World Dairy Expo
  • 2003 – 1st place for Lightly Salted Butter at World Dairy Expo
  • 1996 and 2000 – 1st place for Sharp Cheddar by American Cheese Society

References

  1. ↑ http://www.organicvalley.coop/?id=688
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Nelson, Brett. Dean Foods To Street: Green Is Good. Forbes. 14 Sept 2004.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ http://www.organicvalley.coop/newsroom/about-organic-valley/
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ http://lacrossetribune.com/vernonbroadcaster/news/local/cashton-gets-million-grant-to-help-organic-valley-expansion/article_87baccbe-3d74-11e3-a3b4-001a4bcf887a.html
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ http://www.organicvalley.coop/about-us/our-cooperative/our-leaders/c-e-i-e-i-o/
  13. ↑ Martin, Andrew. "How to Add Oomph to ‘Organic’". New York Times, 19 August 2007.
  14. ↑ http://www.organicvalley.coop/about-us/our-cooperative/our-co-op/
  15. ↑ http://issuu.com/organicvalley/docs/cropp-2014-sustainabilityreport-fin?e=7846503/12192823
  16. ↑ http://www.organicvalley.coop/newsroom/press-releases/details/article/organic-valley-and-gundersen-health-system-break-ground-on-cashton-greens-wind-farm-wisconsins-fi/
  17. ↑ http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/toplists/top30onsite.htm
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ "Organic Valley Family of Farms Wins Earth Trustee Award", Organic Valley press release, March 16, 2006. Accessed April 16, 2014.

External links

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