Horizon Organic News

Horizon Organic(R) Honors Organic Dairy Farmer Partners

BROOMFIELD, Colo., July 22 PRNewswire — Horizon Organic(R), the first certified organic dairy to distribute products nationally in the United States, today announced the winners of the 2007 Exceptional Quality Awards program, which recognizes the top ten percent of Horizon Organic farmer partners in each state whose milk is the highest quality within Horizon Organic's network. In order to be considered for the award, producers must ship organic milk to the brand for one full calendar year, and the average test results for each shipment must be among the best in their respective states.

"Horizon Organic is dedicated to producing the highest quality of organic milk on the market, and our Quality Awards program is a great way to recognize and honor our farmer partners that exceed our high standards," said Jule Taylor, vice president of dairy operations. "The Producer Milk Quality Program reflects our mission of providing consumers with great-tasting, high-quality products nationwide."

This year's national winner for the best quality milk in Horizon Organic's total producer supply is awarded to Jos and Deanna Poland of Poland Farms in Madras, Ore. The Polands built a new farm when they switched to organic dairying and were certified organic three years ago. Jos and Deanna milk 220 Holsteins on their farm and they credit their success in organic dairy quality to keen attention to detail. Upon receiving the National Quality Award, the couple was presented with a plaque in their farm's name and a cash award.

"After we switched from conventional farming to organic, I feel that the quality of milk is higher," said Jos Poland of Poland Farms. "With organic, the cows are much healthier and their immune systems are stronger."

The second and third place National Award winners also hail from Oregon. The second place honors went to Perrin Farms in Woodburn, Ore. and the third place award was bestowed upon Staehely's Valley Veue Dairy in Oregon City, who were the winners of the 2006 National Award.

The complete list of 2008 Exceptional Quality Award recipients include: OREGON — Jack Perrin — Staehely's Valley Veue Dairy CALIFORNIA — Mario & Victor Avelar MAINE — Wayne & Patti Bragg — John & Marcia Donald MINNESOTA — Paul & Amy Primus MICHIGAN — Brian & Agnes Koenigsknecht NEW HAMPSHIRE — James & Ellen Putnam NEW YORK — Brett & Audrey Stevenson — Jeffrey Sheen — Jerry Schwartz — Martin Syvertson & Vickie McClain — Jonas Gingerich — Charles & Julia Deichmann — Brenda & Scott McAuslan — George & Linda Wright — Douglas Morse — Eugene Dana — Chris Schwartz — Ron Franklin PENNSYLVANIA — Henry & Emma Zook — Samuel Kaufmann — Jacob K. Stoltzfus — Elmer F. Esh — Stephen & Charlotte Lyon VERMONT — Michael & Marilyn Gardner — Dorothy & George Muzzy — Howacres, Inc. — Gene & Pamela Manning VIRGINIA — Sidney Beery WISCONSIN — James Greenberg LOWEST SOMATIC CELL WINNERS: — Gilman Littlefield (ME): 57,567 — Ralph Caldwell (ME): 74,058 — John Donald (ME): 82,439

ABOUT HORIZON ORGANIC

Horizon Organic, founded in 1991, was the first certified organic dairy to distribute products nationally in the United States. The company remains true to its vision for a more organic planet, purchasing milk from 450 certified organic dairy farms and providing certified organic dairy products to natural foods retailers and supermarkets across the country. Horizon Organic's products are produced without the use of antibiotics, growth hormones, pesticides or cloning. That's the organic promise from our farmers to consumers. For more information on the growing world of organic, visit http://www.horizonorganic.com.

SOURCE Horizon Organic

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