Organic Valley Milk is a Building Block of the District's School Food Project and Integrated Nutrition/Wellness Policy

LA FARGE, Wis., Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Organic Valley Family of Farms, the nation's largest cooperative of organic farmers, and the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) today announced that Organic Valley is now the official milk supplier for the 28,000-student school district. The milk will be bottled and delivered by Sinton Dairy, a local company.

"School lunch programs across the nation need to make fundamental changes to improve the health and well-being of our children. Unfortunately, public schools are one of the last places where organic milk is usually found," said Chef Ann Cooper, the "Renegade Lunch Lady" and interim BVSD nutrition director. "Not only is organic milk produced without antibiotics, synthetic pesticides and hormones, making it healthier for growing children, but Organic Valley milk is healthier for our local community because it's produced by local family farmers."

"We give the Boulder Valley School District an A+ for its commitment to ensure its students are served the highest-quality food from local, sustainable sources," said George Siemon, one of the founding farmers and chief executive officer for Organic Valley. "Organic Valley has been a pioneer in helping reform school lunches, and our farmer-owners are excited to be partnering with a forward-thinking school district that's redefining traditional school lunch programs."

The "School Food Project" is a public-private partnership whose goal is to improve the health, nutrition and taste of school lunches. Organic Valley began providing its milk to BVSD on August 18, 2009, where it is available to students via lunch line dispensers.

The Benefits of Organic Valley Milk

Organic Valley farmer-owners graze their dairy cows according to strict standards that allow the cows plenty of access to pasture. Research has shown milk from pasture-fed cows to be nutritionally superior with higher CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) and antioxidant levels compared to milk from non-pastured cows. These nutrients may help prevent diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer in both children and adults.

The cooperative employs a regional milk production model, which means Organic Valley Rocky Mountain Pastures milk comes from certified organic cows pastured in Colorado, Utah and Idaho. The farmer-owners of Organic Valley believe the best-tasting and most nutritious milk is produced in harmony with nature. Moreover, Organic Valley's regional model builds local economies, and preserves family farming culture and the environment for future generations.

In addition, Organic Valley farmer-owners farm without the use of antibiotics, synthetic hormones or pesticides. Their organic farming practices promote healthy plants and animals that produce high quality, delicious organic products for a healthy planet and people.

Organic Valley Family of Farms: Independent and Farmer-Owned

Organic Valley is America's largest cooperative of organic farmers and is one of the nation's leading organic brands. Organized in 1988, it represents 1,333 farmers in 32 states and one Canadian province, and achieved $527.8 million in 2008 sales. Focused on its founding mission of saving family farms through organic farming, Organic Valley produces a variety of organic foods, including organic milk, soy, cheese, butter, spreads, creams, eggs, produce and juice, which are sold in supermarkets, natural foods stores and food cooperatives nationwide. The same farmers who produce for Organic Valley also produce a full range of delicious organic meat under the Organic Prairie Family of Farms label. For further information, call 1-888-444-MILK or visit www.organicvalley.coop, www.organicprairie.coop and the cooperative's farmer website, www.farmers.coop. Organic Valley is also on Twitter www.twitter.com/organic_valley and Facebook www.facebook.com/pages/Organic-Valley/20674850824

SOURCE Organic Valley

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RELATED LINKS
http://www.organicvalley.coop
http://wwww.farmers.coop
http://www.organicprairie.coop
http://www.twitter.com/organic_valley