Being in a cooperative creates a sense of unity and provides a space for those with a shared vision to support each other. At Organic Valley, farmers make decisions that are good for animals, each other, the earth and those purchasing our products.

Many farmers faced an uncertain future after companies in the Northeast decided they wouldn’t be renewing their contracts, leaving them with no one to pick up their organic milk. That has since changed as Organic Valley welcomes 50 farms to the co-op!

There is a sense of pride that comes with working at a cooperative that is dedicated to saving small family farms. Let’s take a peek into what it’s like being an Organic Valley employee.

Organic Valley farmers and employees gathered in La Crosse, Wisconsin, in April for the co-op’s yearly meeting. Along with the business-end of the meeting, farmers and employees socialized, shared ideas and were introduced to new board members.

Organic farmers take habitat protection seriously and go to great lengths to do so. To protect bird habitat they walk fields to flag bird nests so eggs and fledglings don’t get squashed. They take numerous bird-friendly approaches that are incredible.

Organic Valley is taking the single largest effort to save small organic family farms in the Northeast following news last year that Horizon and Maple Hill Creamery would be terminating contracts with more than 130 family farms.