Organic Valley is a dairy cooperative owned by 1,770 organic farmers. The cooperative began in 1988 with seven founding farmers who shared the belief that a new, sustainable approach to agriculture could help family farms survive. Today Organic Valley farmers provide milk for more than 200 high-quality organic dairy products. The co-op builds and maintains a regional network of farms, helping farmers transition to organic when necessary. Milk is bottled at the Organic Valley dairy-processing plants, which are certified to handle organic products, and sold at grocery stores in the region.
“Organic. It’s All We Do. Organic is a philosophy and system of production that mirrors the natural laws of living organisms with an emphasis on the interdependence of all life. Simply put, we farm in harmony with nature.” —Organic Valley
In December 2015, Organic Valley surpassed $1 billion in sales, making it the first organic-only food company to ever do so.
Lindale Dairy, Snow Camp, NC
One of Our Local “Organic Valley” Farms
Neill and Cori Lindley of Lindale Dairy in Snow Camp were conventional dairy farmers for decades. Like other small, conventional dairy farmers, they struggled to keep the farm in business. They sold their milk to large companies for low prices and strove to increase production from their Holstein herd, the only way to make more money.
The Lindleys decided to switch to organic and join Organic Valley. The co-op provided support during the transition. They had to restore their land, and develop practices for healthy cows, such as allowing them to graze on pasture and growing a variety of healthy plants to provide nutrition.
Being part of the co-op enables families like the Lindleys to make a living as dairy farmers. They receive higher prices for their milk, both because it is organic and because they own the company. The co-op provides the infrastructure needed to get milk from the farm to the grocery store. The co-op helps farmers like the Lindleys focus on what they do best—raising cows and producing quality milk.