< Back

Ethically Made: Organic Valley’s Transparent Approach to Food and Farming


Cooperative publishes Impact Report on holistic care for people, animals, and the earth.

February 11, 2021

Organic Valley shares its impact on the food system through over 30 years of leadership focused on building a better tomorrow for people, animals, and the earth in its newly released 2021 Impact Report.

The comprehensive 31-page report represents Organic Valley's commitment to cataloging and reporting its business's impact.

Highlights:

Care for People

  • Stable, sustainable pay price for farmers
  • $15 minimum wage for employees
  • 45% of women in leadership compared to 30% in most businesses

Care for Animals

  • 50% more grazing time than organic requirements
  • 5,000 farm visits per year by animal care staff
  • Average dairy herd size is 3.5 times smaller than the national average

Care for Earth

  • 100% renewable electricity at owned facilities
  • 440 million pounds of toxic chemicals kept off the land since 1988
  • Promotes regenerative organic farming and implemented a five-year Climate Action Plan

“We work together to produce healthy food that will nourish people across the country while providing economic stability for family farmers and rural communities,” said Bob Kirchoff, CEO of Organic Valley. “We build healthy soil, protect the environment, and care for animals. It is our part to play in nurturing the world around us.”

In the report, the organic, farmer-owned cooperative also features its sustainability efforts that include 100% renewable electricity at its owned facilities and climate-smart farming programs focused on regenerative farming systems and improving soil life.

Kicking off the new year with inspiration for customers, consumers, and employees, Organic Valley published the report, which is available for anyone to view or download at https://ov.coop/impact.

For high-resolution images and requests for interviews, contact elizabeth.mcmullen@organicvalley.coop.

View Impact Report