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Horizon Organic(R) Family Farmer Network Grows to 400 Family Farms

Posted on: Wednesday, 22 August 2007, 12:13 CDT

Horizon Organic®, which helped pioneer organic dairy farming practices 15 years ago, has significantly grown its farmer-partner network this year, which now exceeds 400 family farms, a milestone for the company. Through the second quarter of 2007, Horizon Organic welcomed 79 newly certified dairy farms into its rapidly growing family of farmer-partners, which is three times the amount over the same period last year.

Nearly 100 additional family farmers are in the process of transitioning to certified organic with the help of the Horizon Organic Producer Education (HOPE) program. Through the conversion process, the HOPE program provides dairy farmers with education and technical assistance about organic dairy farming practices as well as financial assistance during the final transition period.

"This has been an exciting year for the organic dairy community. As consumer demand for organic dairy products continues to grow at a rapid pace, helping farmers convert to organic farming is one of our top priorities," said Jule Taylor, Horizon Organic's vice president of dairy operations. "We're proud of the hard work and dedication these farmers make every day to advance the organic industry. As more farmers continue to convert to organic farming practices, more acres of American farmland are converted to methods that nurture and replenish the environment."

Family farms have been at the heart of Horizon Organic since the company's beginning and represent 80 percent of its milk supply. The company's family farmer-partner network spans more than 22 states from Maine to California. The average herd size of the Horizon Organic family farmers is approximately 87 cows.

Converting farms to organic agriculture supports Horizon Organic's mission to promote stewardship of the land and provide a healthier environment for both people and animals. Since 1991, Horizon Organic has helped to convert more than 250,000 acres of farmland to organic production. In 2006, Horizon Organic estimates that the conversion efforts of its farmer-partners and two company-owned farms prevented the use of more than 17 million pounds of pesticides, herbicides and synthetic fertilizers from entering the soil, air, water and food supply.

For more information about the Horizon Organic farmer network and how organic benefits farmers, animals, the environment and consumers, visit www.horizonorganic.com. Farmers interested in learning more about the HOPE program and organic dairy practices should call 1-888-648-8377.

About HORIZON ORGANIC

Horizon Organic, founded in 1991, was the first certified organic dairy to distribute products nationally in the United States. The company remains true to its vision for a more organic planet, purchasing milk from 400 certified organic dairy farms and providing certified organic dairy products to natural foods retailers and supermarkets across the country. Horizon Organic's products are produced without the use of antibiotics, added growth hormones, or pesticides. That's the organic promise from our farmers to consumers. For more information on the growing world of organic, visit www.horizonorganic.com.

Source: Business Wire

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