Organic Valley Co-Op Shows Record Sales in 2003
Published: Friday, December 19, 2003
LaFarge Wisc.-based Organic Valley expects to log $156 million in sales in 2003, a 25-percent increase from 2002 and a record in the co-op's 15-year history. In addition, 118 new farmers joined this year, bringing Organic Valley's membership to 633 farmers in 16 states and one province. Also in 2003, members of the Organic Valley cooperative put the U.S. Department of Agriculture's organic label on 130 products and added a total of 2,675 cows and 15,000 acres into the organic system, according to a Dec. 8 announcement.
"Our success comes from paying farmers a fair, sustainable and stable price at a level that can only be achieved by staying independent and farmer-owned," states George Siemon, Organic Valley founder, in the announcement. "Unlike conventional farmers, we don't have to deal with an abusive price structure that fluctuates day to day."
Organic Valley's plans for 2004 include continuing efforts to get organic milk into schools. The farmer-owned cooperative, which was founded in 1988, expects 2004 sales to reach $189 million.