- Horizon Organic is a brand within WhiteWave Foods, a leader in corporate citizenship manufacturing innovative, authentic and nutritious branded food products through socially and environmentally responsible practices. WhiteWave Foods is a subsidiary of Dean Foods Company.
- At Horizon Organic, the majority (84 percent) of our certified organic milk supply comes from more than 485 family farms across 22 states. We also own and operate two of our own farms.
- Nearly 70 family farms are in transition to organic.
Some Horizon Organic Family Farm Facts:
- Number of family farms on the truck today: 489
- Number of family farms in the process of converting: Nearly 70
- Number of family farms under 100 milking head: 417
- Number of family farms 100 – 199 milking head: 34
- Number of family farms 200 – 499 milking head: 19
- Number of family farms 500 – 999 milking head: 9
- Number of family farms 1,000 – 2,000 milking head: 10
- Number of family farms over 2,000 milking head: 1
- Average size of our family farms: 95 milking cows
- Percentage of milk supply family farms represent: 84%
Our Company-Owned Farms
Horizon Organic was founded in 1991, and we introduced yogurt as our first product in 1992 and then launched organic milk in 1993. For the first time, natural foods stores had a gateway product to attract young families and we quickly learned we needed to increase our organic milk supply.
With only 10 organic dairy farms in the country at that time, we decided to build our own organic dairy farm in Idaho. For the first time, it was possible to convert not hundreds but thousands of acres to chemical-free farming creating a huge environmental opportunity.
Our farm in Maryland presented a unique opportunity to protect the sensitive Chesapeake Bay waterway. The farm was certified organic in 1998 and it inspired neighbors to convert their farms to organic, further improving the environmental quality of the Chesapeake Bay.
We know that future supply needs will require additional farms of all sizes in all parts of the U.S. All of these farms will be required to comply with organic standards as they are exactly the same for small, medium or large farms.
In addition to adding milk supply, our farms allow us to experience both issues and opportunities that exist within organic farming – firsthand. We invest resources and research in our own farms that we then share with our hundreds of family farmers. We all learn from each other as we increase the number of acres farmed organically, which is better for consumers, farmers, the animals and our planet.
Horizon Organic Idaho Dairy Facts:
- Year Certified Organic: 1994
- Total Certified Organic Acres: Over 8,400
- Total Acreage in Transition: About 1,000
- Milking Herd: About 4,000 cows
- Total pasture: 3,400 acres
- Third-party Certifier: QAI
- All manure and bedding composted on site and returned to lands, approximately 70 percent of the farm's forage needs are grown onsite; raise own young stock, work with Holistic Management International, Inc. to regenerate pasture land, maximize grazing while building the natural health of grass, crops, soil, wildlife and dairy animals; maximize sunlight energy and minimize water and non-renewable energy use; improve biodiversity, and the crucial symbiotic relationship between the land and our animals.
Horizon Organic Maryland Dairy Facts:
- Year Certified Organic: 1998
- Total Certified Organic Acres: 760
- Milking Herd: About 500 cows
- Total Pasture: 220 acres
- Third-party Certifier: QA
- Unique Practices: New state-of-the-art maternity barn; farm serves as educational site for members of Congress, farmers and foreign dignitaries; raise own young stock.
Farm Certification
We work closely with and procure certified organic milk from more than 500 transitioning and certified organic family farms throughout the continental United States. Each farm is required to demonstrate compliance to their site specific organic systems plan and NOP standards. This is done via onsite monitoring, annual organic inspections by USDA-accredited certifying agent representatives/independent inspectors, and routine visits from Horizon Organic field personnel. The same is true for company owned farms in Idaho and Maryland and our joint venture in New Mexico.
Our Idaho and Maryland farms have comprehensive organic systems plans which encompass all the aforementioned requirements including: pasture management and grazing protocols, herd health protocols, vaccination protocols, livestock and crop management protocols, livestock nutrition and feed programs, dairy waste management protocols, pest management practices, general milking procedures and guidelines, medical input profiles, crop production – farm plan, vendor lists, organic certificates, compliance affidavits, process handling plans, sanitation protocols, and supporting documentation. Our records are so thorough that we can follow feedings, treatments and pasture time. All plans are audited internally at least quarterly by Quality Assurance personnel, and annually by USDA-accredited certifying agent representatives/independent inspectors.
Products/Processing Certification
We work with approximately 40 certified organic processing/handling operations to manufacture and package our products. Each organic systems plan, manufacturing records, compliance documentation/affidavits, and so forth are also audited at least annually by an onsite organic inspection conducted by a USDA-accredited certifying agent representative/independent inspector. Furthermore, to help ensure compliance to the organic standards, each processing/handling operation is audited internally via physical inspections by Quality Assurance personnel, mock recall drills, and the maintenance/review of site specific organic certifications, policies, and procedures.
Certification Validation & Recordkeeping
As an organization, we maintain copies of organic certificates, and compliance affidavits for about 40 manufacturing operations, and 477 organic farms. This process is audited at least quarterly by the company’s Quality Assurance compliance team. At the plant level, further reviews are conducted to ensure that each load of milk is supplied by approved certified organic farms.
Each of the farms that supply us with organic milk and the manufacturing operations that process and package our products are certified by a USDA-accredited certifier in good standing. In all we work closely with over 20 USDA-accredited certifying agents, 477 family farms and approximately 40 manufacturing facilities to ensure that our products meet and/or exceed National Organic Program standards.
Grazing
Our Belief
We believe grazing is about managing the complex interaction between the grass, the land and the cows. Grazing processes should emulate natural herd behaviors.
Our Standards
On our farms, dairy cows graze on organic pasture during the growing season. Based on an expanding body of scientific evidence that suggests cows should have access to the pasture during the dormant season so they get fresh air, exercise and some added nutritional benefit, we are exploring grazing during the dormant or closed season. The land also benefits from the carefully planned movement of the animals, which aerate and fertilize the soil, breaking the soil surface and encouraging moisture penetration, seed generation and carbon sequestration.
We support the National Organic Standards Board's recommendation for guidance in the regulation that would call for an average of 30 percent dry matter intake from grazing for 120 days. However, we strongly believe all dairy farms should maximize their dairy herd's feed from grazing during the growing season.
With the help of Holistic Management International, our farms will continue to implement cutting-edge, pioneering grazing practices. In any environment, overgrazing and damage from trampling bear little relationship to the number of animals, but rather to the amount of time plants and soils are exposed to the animals. Much of the land deterioration that has occurred in brittle environments around the world began when humans severed the vital relationship between grazing animals and grass. Through the cow-to-grass relationship on our farms, we can more accurately predict how the land is responding to our management practices. Year-round grazing is managed and timed carefully to ensure the health of the animals and the micro-environment of the soil's surface. Obviously, all of our grazing goals depend upon the cooperation of Mother Nature.
Grazing density. We focus on managing the complex interaction of the growth and vitality of the grass, the state of the soil, the number of cows grazing, and the duration of grazing. Our managed grazing approach follows the natural grazing behaviors of herds as they graze, urinate, fertilize the land, and move on, satisfying their nutritional needs while leaving the pastures and soil in a healthy state. We also continually invest in the grazing infrastructure on our farms to facilitate grazing “traffic patterns” that make sense for our cows and pasture health.
Record-keeping. Our organic dairy farms keep daily written records of all grazing activity. We have standardized systems across farms so that we can make better decisions on current and future pasture management, analyze trends and generate reports on grazing. These records include the number of cows on pasture, their time on pasture, how much and where they grazed, the effect that grazing had on the pasture and whether our management is producing the health for the animal and land we are seeking. Our daily pasture logs are audited by our farms' designated USDA certifying agent.
Cows and Pasture
We understand there are times when it is not in the best interest of the animals to be on pastures or to go outside, including:
– During adverse weather conditions;
– When calves are young (before six months of age);
– When cows are in the latter stages of pregnancy, requiring close monitoring;
– When cows are ill and receiving treatment;
– When cows could cause damage to pastures (compaction, ripping of sod, etc.); or
– When predators are present.
Note, lactation is not an exception.
These exceptions are fully documented as part of our daily record-keeping process and consistent with the individual management plans developed for each of our farms.
Raising young stock
We raise our own young stock on our company-owned farms and the vast majority of our family farmers do the same. We have three family farms that procure replacement cattle off the farm. Per the National Organic Program Regulations, these replacement cattle are managed organically one year prior to their milk being certified organic.
Treatments
The first and best defense against illness is prevention. But when a calf or cow does become ill, we rely on natural and alternative methods as our preferred treatment. The use of antibiotics is strictly prohibited in organic dairy animals at all stages of their life, including calves. If a sick animal cannot be restored to full health with organic approved treatments, we may administer antibiotics or other prescribed synthetic medicines to return a calf or cow to good health. We always consider the well-being of our animals first, and never allow an animal to suffer. If antibiotics or prohibited materials are administered, however, the animal is no longer considered “organic” and is permanently removed from the herd.
Livestock treated with a non-approved substance are clearly identified by specially colored tags, and then removed from the herd. All treatments are documented as part of the dairy record-keeping process and consistent with the individual management plan for each of our farms. Antibiotic-treated dairy animals cannot be sold, labeled or represented as organic.
Use of Hormones
The use of rBST, and rBGH in organic livestock production is strictly prohibited on Horizon Organic farms. These materials are not allowed for use in organic dairy.
Nutrition
Dairy cattle are herbivores and ruminants; their natural behavior is to graze. On our farms, grass and forages (pasture grasses, hay, etc.) are the primary feed sources. Because fresh grass is a vital part of a healthy diet, during the growing season, dairy cattle on our farms graze on organic pasture by six months of age. We do not believe that lactating cows should be exempt from grazing. In addition:
– Forage is supplemented with an organic, balanced ration.
– Fiber, which is found in pasture grasses and other forage, is essential to good rumen health, correct pH balance, and prevention of illness.
Family Farm Support
We have a Producer Relations staff consisting of seven people, six of whom are in the field in various regions of the country so they are in proximity of our family farms. This staff visits our family farmers throughout the year, reviewing paperwork, answering questions and putting farmers in touch with additional resources as needed.
HOPE Program
Our Horizon Organic Producer Education (HOPE) program. HOPE, founded in 2001, encourages family farmers to convert to organic production and supports them in this process. Our HOPE program commitment includes:
– Developing enduring relationships with transitioning farmers through hands-on training and support from our dedicated producer relations field staff
– Providing significant financial assistance during the three-year transition process
– Building an advisory team of dairy and land conservation experts to share best practices on grazing, animal welfare and land restoration
– Helping family farmers navigate the organic certification process
– Working directly with state and federal legislators to create economic incentives for organic farmers
– Continued funding and sponsorship of organizations that benefit small family farms and the environment including Farm Aid, Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF), Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES), Help Wanted Organic Farmers Campaign and The Organic Center, among others.
The impact of HOPE is as plain and vital as the soil beneath us:
– 477 family farms now supply organic milk to Horizon with nearly 70 farms currently in transition to organic
– More than 250,000 new acres of farmland are now under organic production
– More than 17 million pounds of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers have been eliminated from our soil, water and food supply in 2006
In addition, we produce a quarterly newsletter, the Producer Post, which is mailed to our farmers. Copies of this newsletter can be found on our brand website, www.horizonorganic.com.
Milk Quality
We make every effort to ensure our milk quality meets the highest standards. In addition to complying with the Natinal Organic Standards, our entire organic milk supply must meet the terms contained within the Grade “A” Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) established by U.S. Department of Health and Human Service/Food and Drug Administration. Horizon Organic must meet these minimum requirements for all Grade “A” milk production, and has set its internal quality standards to exceed this minimum.
All farms that are contracted to supply milk to Horizon Organic must meet the following minimum raw milk quality criteria: not to exceed 400,000 cells/ml (SCC), no more than 50,000 cfu/ml (SPC, APC, PLC), not to exceed 100,000 cfu/ml preliminary incubation count (checks for spoilage organisms in raw milk), no more than 500 cfu/ml laboratory pasteurized count (procedure assess pasteurized milk for spoilage organisms), and not to exceed 500 cfu/ml coliform (indicator of milk contamination).
At present, raw milk testing is conducted at 17 Interstate Milk Shippers Association (IMS) regulatory approved laboratories within the continental United States. Daily, weekly and monthly raw milk quality reports are reviewed by producer relations managers, field personnel, and quality assurance representatives for compliance to Horizon Organic minimum milk quality criteria. As a collaborative effort, we work closely with our labs, farmer partners and their respective representatives to provide assistance and resources to help mitigate concerns, should they arise.
Farmer Pay Program
Horizon Organic offers a consistent premium to all farmers in the HOPE program.
– Horizon Organic offers financial assistance to transitioning farms.
– No hauling charges.
– Quality Bonus Program – Horizon Organic offers the most lucrative raw milk quality bonus program in the country. The basics to this program are as follows:
- The bonus program utilizes three raw milk quality measures which are Standard Plate Count (SPC), Preliminary Incubation (PI), and Somatic Cell Count (SCC).
- Bonus calculations are based on the prior monthly calendar raw milk testing average for each producer per each quality measure noted above, respectively.
- Any certified organic producer that meets the bonus program level is eligible for any given month provided they maintain all regulatory and quality standards.
- The producer may earn a bonus payment above base of up to $3.00 per every 100 lbs. of milk.
Portfolio of Products
Horizon Organic offers a full line of certified organic dairy products. Visit our brand Web site to see a full listing.
