La Farge, Wis. – Organic Valley, the nation’s oldest organic farmer-owned cooperative founded in 1988, today announced the launch of New York Fresh™ milk, a locally-produced milk for its consumers in the New York metropolitan region. The milk is produced on the cooperative’s family farms in the Empire State and bottled, distributed and sold in the region, ensuring fewer miles from farm to table.
The New York Fresh milk is available in skim, low fat, reduced fat and whole varieties in quart, half gallon, gallon, and new, convenient 96 oz. sizes. True to the iconic Organic Valley wood-cut design, the New York Fresh cartons will feature farmer-owners who produce the milk on their pastures and an introduction to their farm stories. The packaging will also display the “Pride of New York” logo. As with all Organic Valley products, the farmers who produce New York Fresh milk never use toxic pesticides or non-organic fertilizers. New York Fresh milk is produced without antibiotics, synthetic hormones or GMOs.
“Our vision is simple: keep it organic and close to home,” said George Siemon, founding farmer and C-E-I-E-I-O, Organic Valley. “We have long had a presence in New York State, a key dairy farming region for our cooperative. Regional production and distribution means our customers get the delicious, fresh product they enjoy, while supporting local farmers and building the local economy. We are proud of our New York farmers and our New York Fresh milk.”
Organic Valley’s New York Fresh milk comes from 121 local farms, including Paul and Maureen Knapp’s Cobblestone Valley Farm located upstate in Preble, where 300 acres of land have been farmed by the Knapps for four generations. Paul, Maureen and their three sons live in the 1896 farmhouse Paul’s grandfather built, farm 80 acres of Certified Organic pasture and milk 80 organic Holsteins.
Over in Chenango County, Jim and Nancy Gardiner are also producing New York Fresh milk on their 300-acre grass-based dairy. Jim tours the state giving seminars on organic, grass-based dairy farming and teaches organic farmers how to make more efficient use of their available pasture.
And finally, David and Susan Hardy of Mohawk, near Utica, not only milk 70 cows and organically farm and steward 550 acres (300 owned; 250 rented) of pasture, woodland and wetland, but they also have “adopted” an elementary school in Greenwich Village, New York City. Once a month, they travel to the city to bring the farm to the classroom, teaching city-dwelling K-8 students about hatching chicks, milling corn, and making butter.
These are just a few of the many farms that produce New York Fresh milk. More farmer stories are shared on Organic Valley’s “Who’s Your Farmer?” online tool at www.organicvalley.coop/who-is-your-farmer, where consumers can enter their zip code and meet the farmer closest to them, see their photo and learn more about their farm.
Organic Valley’s New York Fresh milk is bottled at Mountainside Dairy in Roxbury, NY, and is now available at supermarkets, natural food stores, neighborhood markets and food cooperatives across the region.
Organic Valley Family of Farms: Independent and Farmer-Owned
Organic Valley is America’s largest cooperative of organic farmers and one of the nation’s leading organic brands. Organized in 1988, it represents 1,617 farmers in 35 states and three Canadian provinces, and achieved $619 million in 2010 sales. Focused on its founding mission of saving family farms through organic farming, Organic Valley produces a variety of organic foods, including organic milk, yogurt, soy, cheese, butter, spreads, creams, eggs, produce and juice, which are sold in supermarkets, natural foods stores and food cooperatives nationwide. The same farmers who produce for Organic Valley also produce a full range of delicious organic meat under the Organic Prairie label. For further information, call 1-888-444-MILK or visit www.organicvalley.coop, www.organicprairie.coop and the cooperative's farmer website, www.farmers.coop. Organic Valley is also on Twitter @Organic_Valley and Facebook www.facebook.com/OrganicValley.
Source: Organic Valley
