A revolt by farmers who supplied Clover Stornetta Farms with most of its organic milk has sparked debate within the North Bay's shrinking dairy industry over the best way to ensure its survival.
Ten of the 15 organic dairies that sold their milk to Clover walked away from the Petaluma company this summer and aligned with rival Organic Valley, an all-organic, farmer-owned cooperative based in Wisconsin.
The news of the breakup, which emerged last spring, signaled the arrival of a newcomer that takes a very different approach to selling organic milk.
In Clover, the state's largest organic dairy and one of Sonoma County's most iconic food companies, the aim is to focus on a local product. That means putting virtually all the milk purchased from farmers into a Clover jug, ice cream carton or other packaging — complete with a “Clo the Cow” image on it.
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