Organic Valley has welcomed more than 50 new farms into its fold in the first four months of 2024. It expects to bring in over 60 more by the end of the year.
Founded in 1988, the cooperative is now owned by over 1,600 organic family farms. It has been steadily growing its membership and expanding its supply chain across multiple regions.
“It fills us with excitement to bring these new farms into the fold of our cooperative, where we will join forces to further our cause and our dream of revolutionizing the food system,” says Shawna Nelson, Organic Valley’s executive vice president of membership.
Organic Valley’s newest farmer-owners are from Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, New York, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Missouri, and Iowa. Many of these families chose Organic Valley because they were dropped by businesses or looking to switch to pasture-based organic farming, among other reasons.
By welcoming over 100 new farms in 2024, Organic Valley continues to be the largest organic farmer-owned cooperative. The cooperative also welcomed more than 80 farmers in 2023, including the Miller family of Iowa.
“Organic Valley does for me what others can’t do; the most beneficial is providing a stable, solid market for my milk,” Toby Miller said.
