Organic Valley has welcomed 17 new Grassmilk farmers in the Northeast to increase production of its Organic Valley Grassmilk milk products.
The organic 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 currently are 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.
Under 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, the company says. 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.
According to Organic Valley, milk is sourced from pasture-raised cows grazing in pastures and exceeding USDA pasture policy for organic ruminants; Organic Valley Grass milk takes it one step further—the cows are 100 percent grass-fed and eat only fresh grasses and dried forages, like hay. They do not eat supplemental grains, like corn or soybeans.
According to Organic Valley, consumer demand for organic, grass-fed yogurt is exploding. The category is experiencing 82 percent dollar growth. Sales for Organic Valley Grassmilk are growing at double digits in all channels.
