Organic Valley
{{Short description|Agricultural cooperative based in La Farge, Wisconsin, US}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{COI|date=March 2024}}
{{Undisclosed paid|date=March 2024}}
}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Organic Valley
| logo = OrganicValley logo.png
| logo_size = 180px
| image = Organic Valley gif.gif
| image_size = 260px
| type = Agricultural cooperative
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1988|}}
| location_city = La Farge, Wisconsin
| location_country = United States
| area_served = United States, 25 countries
| industry = Organic food
| products = Milk, butter, cheese, cream, eggs, ham, brussels sprouts, meat
| revenue = {{decrease}} $1.146 billion (2019){{cite web |title=CROPP Cooperative (Organic Valley) Annual Report 2018 |url=https://p.widencdn.net/hf9at8/19-55006-AnnualReport_2018_FINAL |access-date=19 April 2019}}
| operating_income = {{decrease}} $28.724 million (2019)
| assets = {{decrease}} $356.726 million (2019)
| members = {{decrease}} 1,800 farmer-owners
| divisions = Organic Prairie
Organic Valley Fresh
Organic Logistics
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.organicvalley.coop}}
}}
File:Organic Valley section.jpg]]
Organic Valley (OV) is an organic food brand and independent cooperative of organic farmers based in La Farge, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1988 and it is the largest farmer owned organic collective in North America.{{Cite web |last=Milligan |first=Terri |title=A 'cleaner, brighter' Wisconsin brat is yours if you buy organic |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/life/food/2018/05/22/organic-wisconsin-brats-ready-your-summer-grill/617063002/ |access-date=2024-03-07 |website=Journal Sentinel |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-10-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006134522/https://www.jsonline.com/story/life/food/2018/05/22/organic-wisconsin-brats-ready-your-summer-grill/617063002/ |url-status=live }}
Organic Valley markets milk and various dairy products as well as organic beef, pork, chicken, and turkey products under the Organic Valley or Organic Prairies brand. With 1,800 farmer-owners across the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom,{{cite news |first=Mike |last=Tighe |newspaper=Wisconsin State journal |url=http://host.madison.com/business/organic-valley-nears-billion-in-sales/article_0e0b4703-e7b0-57ed-bfa7-9bf5c12e6f29.html |title=Organic Valley nears $1 billion in sales |date=2014-04-04 |access-date=2014-04-16 |archive-date=2018-05-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529054124/http://host.madison.com/business/organic-valley-nears-billion-in-sales/article_0e0b4703-e7b0-57ed-bfa7-9bf5c12e6f29.html |url-status=live }} Organic Valley markets its products in all 50 states and exports to 25 countries.
Cooperative history
Organic Valley was founded in 1988 under the name 'CROPP (Coulee Region Organic Produce Pool) Cooperative.{{cite web | date=June 2004 | title=Organic Valley – The Truest Meaning of Organic | url=http://www.unitedbuyingclubs.com/PRODUCTS/v_OrgValley_Jun04.htm | publisher=United Natural Foods, Inc. | access-date=2008-03-16 | archive-date=2008-03-10 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080310013936/http://www.unitedbuyingclubs.com/PRODUCTS/v_OrgValley_Jun04.htm | url-status=live }} What began as a group of Wisconsin family farms selling their produce soon expanded into the production and local distribution of vegetables, and dairy products. The brand name "Organic Valley" was soon adopted, and the abbreviation "CROPP" was adjusted to Cooperative Regions of Organic Producer Pools. The original CROPP farms were located throughout southwest Wisconsin, primarily in the Kickapoo River Basin area near the cooperative's headquarters which was built in 2004.
Organic Valley comprises nearly 2,000 farmer-owners located in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom that specialize in sustainable, organic agriculture practices. Organic Valley has become the world's largest independent Cooperative of organic family farmers and one of the nation's largest producers and distributors of organic produce, dairy, soy, and eggs.{{cite web |url=http://www.organicvalley.coop/about-us/overview/our-history/ |title=Organic Valley - History |publisher=Organicvalley.coop |access-date=2014-04-16 |archive-date=2014-05-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504095451/http://www.organicvalley.coop/about-us/overview/our-history/ |url-status=live }} It also markets its line of beef, pork, turkey, and chicken products under the Organic Prairie brand.{{cite web |url=https://www.organicprairie.com/why_op |title=Why Organic Prairie |publisher=Organicprairie.com |access-date=2014-04-16 |archive-date=2014-02-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220195443/http://www.organicprairie.com/why_op |url-status=live }}
Products are marketed in all 50 states, Canada, China, Japan, and 22 other countries.{{cite web |url=http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/organic-valley-posts-record-sales-percent-profit-leap/article_74971e5e-6b11-5b4c-abe0-56bab5544ad0.html |title=Organic Valley posts record sales, 193 percent profit leap |publisher=Lacrossetribune.com |date=2015-04-10 |access-date=2014-04-10 |archive-date=2015-04-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413235314/http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/organic-valley-posts-record-sales-percent-profit-leap/article_74971e5e-6b11-5b4c-abe0-56bab5544ad0.html |url-status=live }}
In March 2016, construction was completed on a second 200,000 square foot office building on the Cashton campus in order to accommodate continued growth of the organization.{{cite web|url=http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/organic-valley-celebrates-surge-to-billion-dollar-year-with-even/article_ddb06280-1be4-59fc-baad-9163e21627b2.html |title=Organic Valley celebrates surge to billion-dollar year, with even greener pastures on horizon |publisher=LaCrosseTribune |date=2016-04-08 |access-date=2016-04-08}} The building is large enough to accommodate roughly half of the cooperative's total employees.{{cite news |last1=Cahalan |first1=Steve |title=Grand opening this week for Organic Valley's new Cashton office building |url=https://lacrossetribune.com/business/local/grand-opening-this-week-for-organic-valley-s-new-cashton/article_dc83d82d-a57c-5cc3-bded-9945c17efb0d.html |access-date=20 April 2019 |work=La Crosse Tribune |language=en |archive-date=20 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420223008/https://lacrossetribune.com/business/local/grand-opening-this-week-for-organic-valley-s-new-cashton/article_dc83d82d-a57c-5cc3-bded-9945c17efb0d.html |url-status=live }}
Organic Valley purchased Farmers Cooperative Creamery in McMinnville, Oregon 2016. It merges 72 co-op members in Oregon and Washington.{{cite news |url=http://www.capitalpress.com/Dairy/20160907/organic-valley-will-buy-the-farmers-creamery-cooperative-facility-in-oregon |title=Organic Valley will buy the Farmers Creamery Cooperative facility in Oregon |newspaper=Capital Press |date=September 7, 2016 |access-date=April 10, 2017 |archive-date=April 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170411055248/http://www.capitalpress.com/Dairy/20160907/organic-valley-will-buy-the-farmers-creamery-cooperative-facility-in-oregon |url-status=live }} It opened in August 2017 and received $350,000 in funds from the State.{{Cite web |last=Loew |first=Tracy |title=Organic Valley McMinnville Creamery faces hefty fine for repeatedly dumping milk |url=https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2019/12/28/organic-valley-mcminnville-creamery-fined-dumping-milk/2734398001/ |access-date=2024-03-07 |website=Statesman Journal |language=en-US}} In 2021, a major fire at the McMinnville Creamery resulted in evacuation order for residents in a 1/2 mile radius due to presence of ammonia at the plant.{{Cite web|title=3-alarm fire at Organic Valley Creamery prompts evacuations|url=https://www.kptv.com/news/3-alarm-fire-at-organic-valley-creamery-prompts-evacuations/article_70ca0460-a226-11eb-ba6f-63ad9051943f.html|access-date=2021-04-21|website=KPTV.com|language=en|archive-date=2021-04-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421055112/https://www.kptv.com/news/3-alarm-fire-at-organic-valley-creamery-prompts-evacuations/article_70ca0460-a226-11eb-ba6f-63ad9051943f.html|url-status=live}} The fire destroyed the main building, but the plant was rebuilt and resumed operation in May 2022.{{Cite web |last=Plaven |first=George |date=2023-05-12 |title=Organic Valley's rebuilt creamery back in operation |url=https://www.capitalpress.com/ag_sectors/dairy/organic-valleys-rebuilt-creamery-back-in-operation/article_a8abd670-f0e8-11ed-ab19-635b5f55d250.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240307122953/https://www.capitalpress.com/ag_sectors/dairy/organic-valleys-rebuilt-creamery-back-in-operation/article_a8abd670-f0e8-11ed-ab19-635b5f55d250.html |archive-date=March 7, 2024 |access-date=2024-03-07 |website=Capital Press |language=en}}
In March 2017, Organic Valley announced the creation of Organic Valley Fresh, a 50:50 joint venture with Dean Foods to expand the brand's presence by leveraging Dean Foods' extensive distribution network.{{cite news |title=Organic Valley and Dean Foods Joint Venture "Open for Business" |url=https://www.bevnet.com/news/2017/organic-valley-dean-foods-joint-venture-open-business |access-date=20 April 2019 |work=BevNET.com |date=31 March 2017 |archive-date=20 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420223010/https://www.bevnet.com/news/2017/organic-valley-dean-foods-joint-venture-open-business |url-status=live }} Later that year, the organization opened a new 23,000 square foot CALF (Conversion & Labeling Facility) building on the Cashton campus to accommodate growth of producing, cutting, packing, and labeling products.{{cite news |last1=Robson |first1=Dorothy |title=Organic Valley's CALF building allows space to multitask |url=https://lacrossetribune.com/organic-valley-s-calf-building-allows-space-to-multitask/article_f23592fa-11e3-5ead-ba1a-b873dc81cd97.html |access-date=20 April 2019 |work=La Crosse Tribune |language=en |archive-date=20 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420223011/https://lacrossetribune.com/organic-valley-s-calf-building-allows-space-to-multitask/article_f23592fa-11e3-5ead-ba1a-b873dc81cd97.html |url-status=live }}
In 2019, total annual sales for Organic Valley reached an estimated $1.1 billion. However, milk supply and demand issues along with shifting consumer taste resulted in year-over-year profitability losses for the organization nearing $30 million in the latest 2019 earnings.{{cite news |title=Organic Valley exceeds $1.1 billion in sales for fourth consecutive year |url=https://lacrossetribune.com/community/vernonbroadcaster/news/organic-valley-exceeds-1-1-billion-in-sales-for-fourth-consecutive-year/article_7dc594fe-9d8c-567b-a928-33593dab21a8.html |access-date=21 June 2020 |work=La Crosse Tribune |language=en |archive-date=22 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622221457/https://lacrossetribune.com/community/vernonbroadcaster/news/organic-valley-exceeds-1-1-billion-in-sales-for-fourth-consecutive-year/article_7dc594fe-9d8c-567b-a928-33593dab21a8.html |url-status=live }} Restructuring also led to a mixture of nearly 100 layoffs and retirements including the departure of 14 farmer-members.
Environmental violation
The McMinnville creamery was fined $26,574 in 2019 by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality for illegally dumping milk into the storm drain causing a creek to turn white for 3/4 of a mile. The same plant was fined $12,600 and received eight citations for similar violations in 2018.{{Cite web |last=The Associated press |date=2019-12-30 |title=Oregon fines Organic Valley $26K for dumping milk into river |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2019/12/oregon-fines-organic-valley-26k-for-dumping-milk-into-river.html |access-date=2024-03-07 |website=oregonlive |language=en}}
Management
George Siemon, one of the founding farmers of CROPP, was the CEO of Organic Valley for more than 30 years.{{Cite web|url=http://www.organicvalley.coop/about-us/our-cooperative/our-leaders/c-e-i-e-i-o/|title=Community Outreach | Organic Valley|access-date=2014-11-11|archive-date=2014-11-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111054456/http://www.organicvalley.coop/about-us/our-cooperative/our-leaders/c-e-i-e-i-o/|url-status=live}} Once a member of the National Organic Standards Board,{{Cite news |date=2007-08-19 |title=How to Add Oomph to 'Organic' (Published 2007) |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/19/business/yourmoney/19feed.html |access-date=2024-03-07 |language=en |last1=Martin |first1=Andrew |archive-date=2023-12-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231222091833/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/19/business/yourmoney/19feed.html |url-status=live }} Siemon helped set the standards not only for Organic Valley, but is best known for his leadership in organizing farmers and building market support for organic agriculture across the country.
In March 2019, Siemon stepped down as CEO and the board of directors selected Robert Kirchoff, former chief business officer, as interim CEO.{{cite news |last1=Brazil |first1=Deb |title=Organic Valley CEO steps down |url=https://www.news8000.com/news/organic-valley-ceo-steps-down/1059857334 |access-date=23 March 2019 |work=WKBT |date=15 March 2019 |archive-date=23 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323230926/https://www.news8000.com/news/organic-valley-ceo-steps-down/1059857334 |url-status=live }}
On January 12, 2023, Organic Valley announced Jeff Frank as its new CEO.
References
{{Reflist}}
Category:1988 establishments in Wisconsin
Category:Agricultural cooperatives in the United States
Category:Agricultural marketing cooperatives
Category:Agriculture in Wisconsin
Category:Cooperatives based in Wisconsin
Category:Dairy products companies of the United States
Category:Food and drink companies based in Wisconsin
Category:Multinational food companies
Category:Organic farming organizations