Organic Valley—A Big Cooperative of Small Farmers

You may be quite familiar with the “Organic Valley” label on dairy products or eggs when you buy food. But if you aren’t following the story of this farming cooperative, you’re in for a tasty treat. Here are some reasons why:

1. Organic Valley uses a cooperative business model that sustains smaller farmers when bigger farms and industrial agri-business farms have been the trend.
2. The 1,624 members account for one-third of America’s organic milk supply—half a billion dollars in business.
3. The profit goal is 2%, enough to empower the endangered family farm.
4. The co-op has made money in 20 of its 22 years, with sales increases of $100M or more in four of the past five years.
5. George Siemon, the 57 year old director, says that “Cooperatives are the least likely of businesses to close, the least likely to go overseas, the least likely to cull jobs and the most likely to keep its business local.”

This information is given in an article on Organic Valley in the current issue of Ode magazine, July-August 2011. Organic Valley shows a working business model that can be scaled to fit Earth and also meet the demand for healthy, organic food. For a jubilee economy to spread widely, businesses that fit our planet are essential structures.  A jubilee shout for Organic Valley.