Some of you have asked me how Natureman ended up here in the End of the Rainbow Valley in the late 70's and the answer quite simply is he was part of the 'Back to the Land Movement' who lived off the grid growing their own food, learning as they went becoming market gardeners living off the land. Many become carpenters and artists to make a living. He was approached by one of his friends if he would like to join an organic produce cooperative with other friends called CROPP (Coulee Region Organic Produce Pools).
One could say fate had another path for Natureman as he opted not to join this local endeavor. The cooperative continued to grow and expand into dairy using the now very well known brand name OrganicValley. Financially, quite a change for some of its founders like CEO George Siemon who addressed a gymnasium full of investors last Saturday at Organic Valley's 10th Annual Investor's reception in La Farge WI.
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| Siemon-Organic Valley CEO |
Today CROPP's (now Coulee Region Organic Producer Pools) mission continues and has grown "to promote regional farm diversity and economic stability by implementing organic methods in selling certified organic products in a marketing cooperative. "
We heard about the 3 year strategic planning and also the changing economics of dairy dealing with the price of land, farm succession and organic transition premiums.
Organic Valley is doing very well by the 2014 Highlights.
CROPP'S long term stability is good for its farmers as it is a known brand with a diverse use of the milk, a diverse customer base, a board made up of farmers as the ultimate decision makers and most important of all, transparency. Fuel costs have been lower this year, there's an improved product mix and product price increases.
Organic Valley has expanded into Missouri for both dairy and egg as well as Colorado, a Dairy Pool in Colorado along with development in northern KY, southern OH, West Va, western Pa and NY, Amtrak through the Rockies, some Idaho/Utah farms, Teton NP cruise and a 12,000 conventional dairy.
Those present sampled new Organic Valley products and had a scrumptious local organic lunch followed by a farm tour for those interested.
It makes me super proud to live in the Coulee where organic food is not only respected and bought from small scale family run farms but has reached not only a national market but an international one as well.
WTG Organic Valley for showing the country what needed to happen in our nation's growing practices for our health and for sponsoring local growers.
*For those interested here's Organic Valley's website:Organic Valley
And now we know how he began his natureman quest.
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