Organic Valley Celebrates 30 Years, Embraces Change in New Era of Cooperation
Related exhibitorOrganic Valley
Organic Valley Celebrates 30 Years, Embraces Change in New Era of Cooperation
America’s largest farmer-owned organic cooperative wins big for planet Earth, rolls out a unique food truck, and celebrates accomplished Mission Executive Theresa Marquez
LA FARGE, Wis.—March 8, 2018 – Thirty years ago a small group of organic farmers, responding to the ’80s farming crisis that left thousands of farmers facing bankruptcy, decided to do things differently. What if, instead of staying beholden to “big ag,” they worked together and made their own rules? Much to the founders’ surprise, 30 years later “doing things differently” has resulted in a billion-dollar, farmer-owned cooperative that keeps family farms on the land while bringing people the healthiest, best-tasting food imaginable. People called them crazy, but it’s working.
As the cooperative’s owners and employees embark on the next three decades, there is much to celebrate. Over its remarkable history, Organic Valley has welcomed farmer-members from 35 states, pioneered 100 percent grass-fed dairy, and introduced more than 1,000 product SKUs – from organic American Singles that don’t taste like rubber to the greatest chocolate milk ever (really) to the trending superfood organic ghee. The latter, a nutty, butter-derived treasure, is an Organic Valley focus at this year’s Expo West natural foods conference, as a ghee-themed Organic Valley food truck outside the Sheraton serves bulletproof coffee, ghee-topped popcorn, golden milk and other delights.
“Simply put, everything coming out of that truck is ghee-licious,” said Andrew Westrich, Organic Valley brand manager and master of all things ghee. “We’re so enjoying sharing this delicious food made with a staple of ancient Indian cooking.”
Celebration continued last night, when Organic Valley received the National Co+op Grocers Climate Collaborative award in the Outstanding Company category. The honor was bestowed in recognition of the co-op’s commitment to become the nation’s first 100 percent renewably powered food company by 2019. With the Organic Valley Community Solar Partnership, the co-op is collaborating with One Energy Renewables and the Upper Midwest Municipal Energy Group (UMMEG) to build solar arrays in rural communities across the upper Midwest.
Still, some news is bittersweet. Theresa Marquez, Organic Valley’s Mission Executive, retired from her unique executive position just weeks ago. A pioneer of the natural foods movement, Marquez moved to rural Wisconsin in 1995, where she spent more than a quarter century growing Organic Valley into what consumers know today. She served 17 years as the co-op’s Chief Marketing Executive, and the past six in the Mission, Messaging and Media Department. As Mission Executive, she ensured Organic Valley stayed true to its goals – including encouraging a farming future emphasizing ecological and economic sustainability, producing the best tasting, most nutritious and wholesome food possible, and respecting the diversity, dignity, and interdependence of human, animal, plant, soil, and global life. This may be her last time at Expo West, as she settles in to her part-time role as Mission Ambassador.
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NOTE TO EDITORS: High resolution images available; contact Media Relations Manager Lynne Snifka at lynne.snifka@organicvalley.coop
About Organic Valley
Organic Valley is America’s largest cooperative of organic farmers and one of the nation’s leading organic brands. Organized in 1988, it represents more than 2,000 farmers in 35 U.S. states, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom and achieved $1.1 billion in 2016 sales. Focused on its founding mission of saving family farms through organic farming, Organic Valley produces a wide range of organic dairy, soy, egg and produce products. With its regional model, milk is produced, bottled and distributed right in the region where it is farmed to ensure fewer miles from farm to table and to support our local economies. For further information visit www.organicvalley.coop. Organic Valley is also on Twitter (@OrganicValley) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/OrganicValley).