Dairy and eggs research aimed at making humane choices

Below is a note my wonderful wife and our family health and wellness researcher:

Andrei asked me if I was sure that our dairy was coming from farms where the animals were treated humanely.  I realized I wasn't positive, though I was pretty sure…..decided to do some research to update myself on the situation and the organic dairy options out there so that I had detailed information to make my choices based on.  Feel free to pass this on to anyone you think might be interested too....

I'll just include links that will take you right to the screen with the info if I can so it won't take as much time to skim.....



ORGANIC VALLEY:
Interesting:  Organic Valley is a farmer owned co-op, so there are farms all over the country (in 32 different states) that work together.  The milk produced in California says "California Pastures" right on the box.  I've never noticed that myself......I've emailed to ask where to get that or how to find it, etc.

http://www.organicvalley.coop/our-story/meet-the-farmers/california/


organic valley eggs/chickens:

http://www.organicvalley.coop/products/eggs/


loved this info about humane treatment:

http://www.organicvalley.coop/why-organic/organic-defined/humane-treatment/

also emailed to see if their chickens are fed a vegetarian diet like Horizons are.
Response (Mike Spencer) - 10/20/2008 02:55 PM
They are FED a vegetarian diet meaning no animal byproducts in the feed. Of course in a pasture situation as our animals are required to be, they can eat all the bugs around.
Hope that clears that up.




organic valley cows and pastures:

http://www.organicvalley.coop/products/milk-and-cream/


organic valley cheese, interesting:  they have the largest "family" of organic cheeses on the market


organic valley meat info for Sherry--I've emailed to ask about slaughtering practices also

http://www.organicvalley.coop/products/meat/




CLOVER:

Cows are all in Northern California on family farms--but they have conventional farms and organic farms...so we are supporting a company that supports both when we buy these products.  One positive thing is that they don't use rBST growth hormones in any of the cows, even the conventionally raised ones.

Dairy only, no eggs, no meat

http://cloverstornetta.com/ourcompany/farming_practices.html




HORIZON:

2 Company farms and 500 family farms across the country.  Dairy and eggs, no meat.

http://www.horizonorganic.com/health/farmprac.html


I liked what I read about their usage of alternative medicine on their cows if they get sick.

http://www.horizonorganic.com/ourfarms/Our_Company_Owned_Farms.html
http://www.horizonorganic.com/ourfarms/Animal_Welfare.html

Not alot of info about chicken care so I emailed and also asked why they feed the chickens a vegetarian diet.


Other Horizon tidbits:

http://www.horizonorganic.com/aboutus/press/factsheet.html




STRAUSS FAMILY CREAMERY:

Family farm in Tomales Bay, CA
Most Milk comes in reusable glass bottles, reused an average of 8 times each (you return them to the store for a bottle refund/credit)

Wow!  They run the farm and their electric car almost exclusively by using their cow shit!

http://www.strausfamilycreamery.com/?title=greenhouse%20gases


Info on how they pasteurize—lower temperatures for longer time, meaning that it tastes fresher and sweeter but has a shorter shelf life….about 2 weeks compared to ultrapasteurized dairy which has about 60 days!  Wow.  I don't want to drink milk that's 3 months old.  Wow.  This is turning out to be such an informative project!

http://www.strausfamilycreamery.com/?id=34

The only one that has a bunch of anti-gmo info on their site:

http://www.strausfamilycreamery.com/?id=55


Great info about "grass fed" or pasturing cows

http://www.strausfamilycreamery.com/?id=56
http://www.strausfamilycreamery.com/?id=61

"When the cows are let out onto the fields in the spring, when the rains let up, you should see them jump, scamper and skip -- seriously."       Too much!  I love it!


By far the most informative and comprehensive site I looked at.

Interesting info about recycling…actually they offer some milk in recyclable plastic for families for whom glass bottles are not practical.
 
http://www.strausfamilycreamery.com/?id=65


Info on tours and Farm Practices:

http://www.strausfamilycreamery.com/?id=45


So much great info on this site!  I would love to go and take a tour, anyone want to join me?



SUMMARY:

Cost aside, I think it is clear that Strauss is the top choice.  It is also probably the most expensive (though I haven't done the price comparisons yet) and a bit more labor intensive with the returning of the glass bottles to get your deposit back.  I'm going to try to make the switch though…they are definitely one I would like to support.

Second place goes to Organic Valley for sure.

In a pinch, I would choose Horizon over Clover because they don't produce any non-organic items.  Also, Horizon seems to really participate in moving the organic trends forward on large scales, having programs to help farms convert to organic, turning toxic land into organic farmland, etc....and they were pioneers in this market from the beginning as well.

1.  Strauss
2.  Organic Valley
3.  Horizon
4.  Clover