Organic Valley hosting informational meeting

By LORI COPE | East Texas Edition

January 29, 2004 -- In a continued effort to create an organic milk supply in Northeast Texas, Organic Valley, the largest organic farmer-owned cooperative in North America, is hosting an informational meeting on Friday, Jan. 30, in Sulphur Springs.

In May 2002, representatives from the cooperative met with dairy farmers, and agribusiness leaders, from the Hopkins County and surrounding area. From that meeting, several dairy farmers showed interest in converting their farming operation to one that could be certified organic.

Tim Griffin, East and West dairy pool coordinator for Organic Valley, said although some producers have worked toward the organic certification, the cooperative is looking to have about 15,000 pounds of organic milk produced each day. This amount would be attractive to a processor in the region to handle for bottling.

Griffin cited the cooperative is "excited" about their prospects in Texas, and organic milk is a "tremendous attraction to the conventional marketplace." Griffin noted Texas would be the 13th state for the cooperative to "have online" in organic production.

Organic Valley posted a $160 million year in 2003, and Griffin said $185 to $190 million is expected for 2004.

"What we hope to achieve with this (Jan. 30) meeting, is to attract the balance of the milk needed from producers, ... and the generation of producers behind them," Griffin said. The meeting is set for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Heritage Hall, next to Best Western Trail Dust Inn on the south side of Interstate 30. "We need (these producers) to achieve their organic certification at the same time."

Lunch will be provided free at the meeting, and several speakers will address the topics of pricing, alternative medical treatments, feeds, and other aspects of converting a dairy operation to organic.

Persons planning to attend are asked to call (for meal count) toll-free 888-809-9297.