Organic milk is milk that is produced without the use of antibiotics, hormones or pesticides. Specifically, cows are raised on 100% certified organic feed for at least one year before producing certified organic milk; feed is grown on land that has been pesticide-free for at least three years; synthetic growth hormones (rBGH) and antibiotics are prohibited; and organic milk is isolated throughout milking, transporting, processing and packaging, meaning that it does not come into contact with any non-organic milk during any of these stages.

Pasteurization is the process of heating milk to make it bacteriologically safe and to increase its keeping quality. Horizon Organic™ milk uses two types of pasteurization processes: high-temperature short-time (HTST) pasteurization, referred to simply as pasteurization, and ultra-high temperature pasteurization (UHT), also called ultra-pasteurization.

Pasteurization requires heating milk at a temperature of 162°F for only 15 seconds. Horizon Organic offers whole, reduced fat (2%), lowfat (1%) and fat free milk in both HTST and UP varieties. You can look on the carton to see if the milk you are buying is pasteurized or ultra-pasteurized.

Yes. Homogenization is simply the process of breaking up and dispersing the milkfat throughout the milk, resulting in a smooth, uniform texture. Homogenization does not impact the organic qualities of milk. We homogenize our milk so that the butterfat, or cream, does not rest at the top of the milk. Homogenization provides smooth, drinkable milk, and the process also allows us to offer you a variety of choices of fat levels.

Ultra-pasteurization is the process of heating the milk at an even higher temperature for a shorter period of time than that used for pasteurization. Pasteurization allows the milk to have an extended shelf life without the use of preservatives.

According to the American Dietetic Association's Complete Food and Nutrition Guide, "This process of flash heating minimizes loss of nutrients, texture, color and flavor." There is no credible scientific evidence showing a significant nutritional difference between UP and HTST organic milk. In fact, there are no differences in the Nutrition Facts panels for UP and HTST milks.

We like to provide you with choices. Horizon Organic(TM) has seven ultra- pasteurized milks and creams: whole, reduced fat (2%), lowfat (1%) and fat free milk in half-gallons, chocolate milk in half-gallons and quarts, and heavy whipping cream in pints.

Our half-gallon and quart milk cartons are constructed out of an earth-friendly, recyclable opaque paperboard. Horizon Organic uses the safest packaging possible which is why our milk cartons do not contain harmful chemicals, such as chlorine, and are colored using food-safe water-based inks. The state-of-the-art, chlorine-free process used to whiten our paperboard results in no harmful residues, including dioxins. Gallon containers are made of recyclable #2 HDPE plastic. Their opaque-white color serves as a barrier to the ultra-violet rays of store lights, thus protecting milk's freshness and nutritional value. When recycled, the materials used in our aseptic cartons, including the polyethylene and aluminum, are recovered and used again. The fibres of a milk package can be reused up to six times and converted into different non-food paper products.

Single serve milks are packaged in aseptic tetrapaks and unopened will keep at room temperature up to seven months or until the date code. The milk is pasteurized using UHT or ultra-high temperature process which is similar to UP or ultra-pasteurization, in which the milk is heated to >280° F for 2-3 seconds, but packaged in a sterile environment thus extending its shelf life. The package itself is durable, lightweight, convenient for transport, and uses low energy and few materials. It is recyclable at any local program that accepts aseptic packages.

The milk is pasteurized using UHT or ultra-high temperature which is the same as ultra-pasteurization (or UP) in which the milk is heated to >280° F for 2-3 seconds. This pasteurization process coupled with the aseptic packaging extends the shelf life of the milk and allows it to be stored at room temperature. You can find the "UHT" symbol on the back panel in the upper right corner underneath the straw.