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Horizon Organic Salutes Its Network of Farmer Partners Through Quality Awards Program
Company and Farmers Committed To Delivering Consumers the Highest Quality Organic Milk on the Market
BOULDER, Colorado (February 11, 2004) —Horizon Organic Holding Corporation, which markets the leading brand of certified organic foods in the United States, today announced the winners of its annual Exceptional Quality Awards as part of the company’s Producer Milk Quality Program.
From Maine to California, over 200 organic dairy farms produce organic milk for Horizon Organic’s broad range of certified organic food products. The Exceptional Quality Awards recognize the top 10 percent of Horizon Organic farmer partners in each state whose milk is the highest quality within Horizon Organic"s network. This year’s 23 winners were selected based on pre-determined criteria for milk quality. In order to be considered for the award, producers must ship one full calendar year of organic milk, and the average test results for each shipment of that milk must be among the best in their respective states.
“Horizon Organic’s farmer partners are the key to our company’s success; this award recognizes the best when it comes to organic dairy producers,” says Steve Jacobson, Vice President of Operations for Horizon Organic. “This program is a win-win situation for our farmers and for our consumers. The organic farmers who meet high quality standards receive a premium for their milk above the organic pay price, and as a result, Horizon Organic consumers consistently find a higher standard of product on the market.”
Horizon Organic continues to expand its resources by partnering with a greater number of organic farmers nationwide and increasing the number of organic farmers in its network, signing on more than 35 new farmer partners in 2003. There are also an additional 50 new Horizon Organic farmers who are in the process of receiving organic certification under the National Organic Program standards and will begin contributing to Horizon Organic’s supply early next year.
The organic industry is expected to reach 30 billion dollars in sales by 2007 and dairy is the major contributor of this growth, accounting for over 26 percent of those sales.
These 2003 Exceptional Quality Award winners are:
Maine: Henry Perkins (3rd year); Wayne Bragg
Vermont: John and Sheri Pearl (2nd year)
Pennsylvania: John and Melinda Lapp (2nd year); Henry and Emma Zook; Levi Beiler
New York: Jim and Les Miller (2nd year); George and Linda Wright; Jim and Toni Young; Joe and Ginger Burrows (2nd year); Chris Schwartz (2nd year); Vicki McLain and Martin Syvertsen; Scott and Traci Laing (3rd year); Thomas and Joan Burns; Gerald Snyder; Doug and Penny Bratt; Charles and Julia Deichmann (2nd year), Siobhan Griffin (3rd year)
Oregon: Netty and Tony Loos; Carmen and John Bair
Wisconsin: Roger and Michelle Benrud; Steve and Glorianne Pechacek
Michigan: Brian and Agnes Koenigsknecht
The Exceptional Quality Award program also recognizes a national winner for providing the best quality milk in Horizon Organic’s total producer supply. This year’s national winner is Netty and Tony Loos of Oregon.
Horizon Organic is currently soliciting new farmer partners who may be interested in transitioning to organic farming. For more information, please contact Cindy Masterman in the east at 888-648-8377, or Neal Forsthoefel in the midwest and west at 800-237-2711, extension 159.
About Horizon Organic
Horizon Organic Holding Corporation markets the leading brand of certified organic foods in the U.S. and the leading certified brand of organic milk in both the U.S. and the U.K. In the U.S., its products include organic milk, a full-line of organic dairy products, organic eggs and juices. In the U.K., the company markets organic yogurt, milk and butter under the Rachel's Organic brand.
Source:
Horizon Organic
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