Organic Valley

Corporate brand

Organic Valley is a farmer-owned American organic food cooperative best known for organic milk, dairy products, eggs, and family-farm-centered food production.

Last updated October 19, 2026

AI crawler reads

No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.

Overview

Organic Valley is the principal consumer brand of CROPP Cooperative, an independent farmer-owned agricultural cooperative headquartered in La Farge, Wisconsin. Established in 1988 by a group of Wisconsin farmers concerned about the decline of family farms and the environmental effects of industrial agriculture, the organization initially operated under the name Coulee Region Organic Produce Pool, or CROPP. It began by marketing organic vegetables and dairy products and later adopted Organic Valley as its principal consumer-facing brand. The cooperative’s legal name was subsequently expanded to Cooperative Regions of Organic Producer Pools, while CROPP remained the commonly used corporate abbreviation. The cooperative was formed around a distinctive economic and agricultural proposition: small family farms could remain viable if they collectively created a market for organic products, established dependable payment systems, and maintained control over production and marketing. George Siemon was a central organizer and early leader. The cooperative’s founding farmers developed production expectations before the United States had a comprehensive federal organic certification system, including restrictions on synthetic agricultural chemicals, genetically modified inputs, artificial hormones, and routine antibiotic use, together with expectations for outdoor access and pasture-based animal management. These principles later became closely associated with the USDA organic system, although Organic Valley also maintains cooperative-specific standards and programs. Organic Valley’s core business is organic dairy. Its portfolio includes fluid milk, grass-fed and pasture-oriented milk, cream, half-and-half, butter, cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, sour cream, and related refrigerated products. The brand has also expanded into organic eggs, plant-based oat beverages and creamers, and other food categories. Sister and related businesses have included Organic Prairie, which markets organic meat, and Organic Valley Fresh, a historically separate distribution and joint-venture initiative intended to extend the brand’s reach in fluid milk. The cooperative has also operated ingredient and logistics activities associated with its farmer-owned supply chain. The brand’s positioning combines certified-organic production with a narrative about family farms, animal care, environmental stewardship, and cooperative ownership. Its marketing emphasizes that consumers are supporting farmer-members rather than a conventional investor-owned food conglomerate. Organic Valley also highlights pasture access, farm inspections, regenerative and climate-smart agriculture, pollinator protection, renewable electricity at owned facilities, and efforts to keep agricultural chemicals off farmland. The cooperative’s claims and imagery have nevertheless attracted scrutiny, especially from animal-rights organizations that challenge conventional dairy practices such as separating calves from their mothers. Organic Valley became one of the largest organic food cooperatives in North America and a major national organic brand. It distributes products across the United States and has reported export activity in multiple international markets. The cooperative’s membership has fluctuated over time but has generally consisted of approximately 1,500 to more than 1,600 family farms, with farms located across numerous U.S. states and, at various times, in Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Its products are sold through supermarkets, natural-food retailers, food-service channels, and other distribution partners. The organization has remained privately held and cooperatively governed. Its leadership has included founder and longtime chief executive George Siemon, Bob Kirchoff, Jeff Frank, and, from March 2025, Shawna Nelson, the cooperative’s first female chief executive. Nelson began at Organic Valley as an intern and progressed through membership, human-resources, commercial, and executive roles. Under its current strategy, Organic Valley continues to combine national consumer-brand operations with an explicit mission to preserve independent organic family farms, strengthen rural communities, and maintain farmer control over the food system.

History

Organic Valley emerged from the organic and back-to-the-land movement in southwestern Wisconsin during the farm crisis of the 1980s. At that time, many small farms were under pressure from consolidation, volatile commodity markets, and production systems that favored scale. A group of Wisconsin farmers believed that organic agriculture could provide a different economic and environmental model, but they lacked a reliable channel through which to market their products. Led in large part by George Siemon and supported by other farmers and organizers, they formed a cooperative in 1988. The organization was initially called Coulee Region Organic Produce Pool, abbreviated CROPP. Its first activities included marketing vegetables and dairy products produced by member farms. The cooperative’s first milk shipment was collected in July 1988. Because federal organic rules were not yet fully established, the founding farmers developed their own requirements for production. These included avoiding synthetic agricultural chemicals, artificial hormones, routine antibiotics, and genetically modified inputs, while requiring meaningful outdoor access and pasture-based management for livestock. The cooperative’s early standards reflected both consumer concerns and the farmers’ desire to protect the integrity of organic agriculture. As consumer demand developed, the cooperative adopted Organic Valley as its consumer brand. CROPP later became shorthand for Cooperative Regions of Organic Producer Pools, reflecting the organization’s expansion beyond its original Wisconsin production area. The brand grew from a regional enterprise into a national supplier of organic milk, butter, cheese, cream, eggs, produce, and other foods. Its growth depended on organizing farmer-members across different regions, coordinating processing and distribution, and persuading retailers that certified-organic products could support a stable premium market. George Siemon served as the cooperative’s most visible early leader and eventually became its longtime chief executive. He advocated for organic agriculture, family-farm economics, and stronger national organic standards. Organic Valley’s operating philosophy differed from that of an investor-owned food company: the cooperative was owned by farmer-members, and its commercial activities were intended to create a dependable outlet for their production. The organization therefore treated market access and farmer pay as central parts of its brand identity rather than as secondary social-responsibility programs. During the 1990s and 2000s, Organic Valley expanded its distribution across the United States and built a broader portfolio. The business added more dairy formats and developed egg, meat, and produce activities. Organic Prairie became the principal related brand for organic meat, while Organic Valley continued to focus heavily on dairy and eggs. The cooperative also developed logistics, ingredient, and food-service capabilities. A 2017 joint venture with Dean Foods, known as Organic Valley Fresh, was intended to improve distribution of fluid milk by combining Organic Valley’s farmer-owned supply with Dean Foods’ processing and distribution network. The cooperative’s physical and organizational infrastructure expanded alongside its sales. Its La Farge headquarters remained the center of governance and administration, while the organization developed a broader network of member farms and processing partners. By the 2010s, Organic Valley described itself as one of the largest farmer-owned organic cooperatives in North America. Its products were sold nationally and exported to a range of international markets. The cooperative also invested in sustainability reporting, animal-care oversight, renewable electricity, pasture management, and climate-related farming programs. Leadership changed in 2019 when George Siemon stepped down as chief executive. Bob Kirchoff, previously a senior business executive, initially became interim CEO and subsequently led the cooperative through the pandemic period. Organic Valley reported record sales of approximately $1.2 billion for 2020 and emphasized that it maintained a stable pay price for farmer-members while conventional dairy markets experienced severe disruption. In 2022, the cooperative launched a major initiative to provide a market for Northeast organic dairy farms whose previous contracts were ending. This initiative linked the brand’s commercial strategy directly to its historic mission of preserving small family farms. The organization also faced criticism. In 2022, PETA Foundation attorneys filed a proposed California consumer class action challenging animal-welfare representations on Organic Valley packaging and alleging that consumers could be misled by claims about humane care while calves were separated from their mothers. Separately, certain shelf-stable Organic Valley products packaged by Lyons Magnus were included in a 2022 recall over potential microbial contamination. These events did not end the brand’s operations but demonstrated the tension between Organic Valley’s pastoral, animal-care-centered positioning and the scrutiny applied to modern dairy production and contract manufacturing. Bob Kirchoff retired as CEO in early 2023 and was succeeded by Jeff Frank, a former Hormel executive. Frank’s tenure emphasized consumer packaged goods experience, commercial growth, and continuity with the cooperative’s mission. He left in 2025 to join another company, and Shawna Nelson became Organic Valley’s first female chief executive. Nelson had begun her career at Organic Valley as an intern and had held roles in human resources, membership, commercial planning, and executive leadership. In 2025, the cooperative also promoted several long-tenured executives and created a chief transformation officer role, signaling an effort to combine internal succession with organizational innovation. Today, Organic Valley remains an active private cooperative whose business is built around organic dairy, eggs, related food products, and the economic interests of farmer-members. Its identity rests on the combination of national distribution and local family-farm ownership. The brand continues to market organic products through themes of real food, pasture, animal care, environmental stewardship, cooperative governance, and the preservation of independent farms.

2025
Shawna Nelson becomes the first female CEO
[8]Organic Valley Continues Pioneering Legacy by Selecting First Female Chief Executive Officerorganicvalley.coop
Shawna Nelson succeeds Jeff Frank and becomes the first woman to lead Organic Valley as chief executive.
2025
Internal executive succession is expanded
[9]Organic Valley Builds New Executive Teamorganicvalley.coop
Organic Valley promotes Cheree Tauschek and Kimberly Turnmire to executive vice president roles and appoints Jerry McGeorge as its first chief transformation officer.
2023
Organic Valley marks its 35th anniversary
[12]First milk shipment is collectedorganicvalley.coop
The cooperative commemorates 35 years of farmer ownership and organic production while reporting continued expansion of its membership and product reach.
2022
Northeast family-farm support initiative is launched
[14]Northeast family-farm support initiative is launchedorganicvalley.coop
The cooperative offers potential membership and market access to organic farms in the Northeast facing the loss of previous dairy contracts.
2021
Impact-reporting program highlights sustainability work
[6]Ethically Made: Organic Valley's Transparent Approach to Food and Farmingorganicvalley.coop
Organic Valley publishes an impact report covering farmer economics, animal care, renewable electricity, chemical reduction, employee practices, and climate-related farming programs.
2019
George Siemon steps down as CEO
[13]George Siemon steps down as CEOorganicvalley.coop
Founder and longtime chief executive George Siemon leaves the CEO role, with Bob Kirchoff appointed to lead the cooperative.
2017
Organic Valley Fresh joint venture is announced
[4]Organic Valley: Wikipedia articleen.wikipedia.org
Organic Valley and Dean Foods establish Organic Valley Fresh, a 50:50 joint venture intended to expand fluid-milk distribution through Dean Foods' network.
2016
Additional office capacity is completed
[4]Organic Valley: Wikipedia articleen.wikipedia.org
A second office building is completed at the Cashton campus to accommodate organizational growth.
2004
La Farge headquarters campus is developed
[4]Organic Valley: Wikipedia articleen.wikipedia.org
The cooperative develops its headquarters campus in La Farge, Wisconsin, providing a permanent administrative center for its expanding farmer-owned organization.
1988
CROPP Cooperative is founded
[1]Organic Valley Historyorganicvalley.coop
A group of Wisconsin organic farmers establishes the Coulee Region Organic Produce Pool to create a dependable market for organic farm products and strengthen small family farms.
1988
First milk shipment is collected
[12]First milk shipment is collectedorganicvalley.coop
The cooperative records its first shipment of member-produced milk on July 12, marking the beginning of its long-term dairy business.

Products and positioning

Organic, farmer-owned, family-farm-centered food production emphasizing certified-organic agriculture, animal care, pasture access, sustainable and climate-smart farming, cooperative ownership, and dependable markets for small organic farms.

Dairy · 1988
Organic Valley Organic Milk
The brand's foundational product line includes whole, reduced-fat, low-fat, and fat-free organic milk in multiple package sizes. Organic Valley markets the line around USDA organic certification, farmer ownership, pasture access, and production from member family farms. Regional availability and specific package formats vary, and some shelf-stable single-serve products have been produced or packaged through external manufacturing partners.
Dairy
Organic Valley Grassmilk
Grassmilk is a premium milk line associated with cows receiving a predominantly grass-based diet. The offering extends Organic Valley's pasture-centered positioning and appeals to consumers seeking organic dairy with additional grass-fed or grass-based production attributes. The range has included whole and reduced-fat variants, with availability depending on market and package format.
Dairy
Organic Valley Cream and Half-and-Half
The cream portfolio includes half-and-half, heavy cream, coffee creamers, and related refrigerated products. It is used in household cooking, baking, coffee, and food-service applications. Organic Valley presents these products as organic alternatives to conventional dairy cream, with selected items carrying pasture-raised, lactose-free, or other specialized claims.
Dairy
Organic Valley Butter
Organic Valley butter is produced from organic cream and sold in standard household formats. It is one of the cooperative's long-standing value-added dairy lines and reinforces the brand's emphasis on simple ingredients, organic production, and farmer-owned sourcing. The line has included salted and unsalted formats in selected markets.
Dairy
Organic Valley Cheese
The cheese portfolio includes sliced cheese, shredded cheese, specialty cheeses, cottage cheese, and snack formats such as mozzarella string cheese. Products are positioned as organic dairy staples for families, lunch occasions, cooking, and snacking. The range demonstrates the cooperative's expansion beyond fluid milk into higher-value refrigerated categories.
Dairy
Organic Valley Yogurt and Cultured Dairy
Organic Valley has marketed yogurt and other cultured dairy products as part of its broader refrigerated portfolio. These offerings extend the brand into breakfast and snack occasions while maintaining its organic and farmer-owned positioning. Product flavors, formulations, and availability have changed over time and differ by market.
Eggs
Organic Valley Organic Eggs
Organic Valley organic eggs are sourced through the cooperative's egg-farming network and sold in conventional organic, free-range, and pasture-oriented formats depending on the market. The line extends the cooperative's family-farm identity beyond dairy and uses animal-care, outdoor-access, and organic-feed claims as key points of differentiation.
Plant-based beverages
Organic Valley Oat Beverage and Oat Creamers
The cooperative has expanded into plant-based products, including organic oat beverages and oat-based coffee creamers. These products address consumers seeking dairy alternatives while allowing Organic Valley to retain an organic, ingredient-conscious positioning. Product formulations include original and flavored varieties, and availability is subject to regional distribution.
Organic meat
Organic Prairie Organic Meat
Organic Prairie is a related brand associated with CROPP Cooperative's organic meat activities. Its portfolio has included organic beef, pork, chicken, and turkey. The brand broadens the cooperative's family-farm and organic-production platform beyond dairy and eggs, although its products and distribution have varied over time.

Controversies

2022
Consumer lawsuit over calf separation and animal-care claims
PETA Foundation attorneys filed a proposed California consumer class action alleging that Organic Valley's packaging and marketing conveyed misleading impressions about animal welfare while farms separated newborn calves from their mothers. The litigation challenged the relationship between the brand's pastoral imagery, humane-care language, premium pricing, and standard dairy practices.
Source
2022
Organic Valley products included in Lyons Magnus contamination recall
Shelf-stable Organic Valley milk products packaged at a Lyons Magnus facility were included in a voluntary recall because of potential microbial contamination. The FDA notice identified possible Cronobacter sakazakii and Clostridium botulinum risks and later reported that the recall had been completed.
Source
2019
Organic Valley fined over milk discharges
Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality fined Organic Valley $26,574 over milk discharged by its McMinnville Creamery into a storm drain leading to a tributary of the South Yamhill River. The article reports the discharges and the fine; it does not state that the fine was appealed or overturned.
Source
2019
Organic Valley creamery fined for milk discharge
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality fined Organic Valley's McMinnville Creamery $26,574 for repeatedly polluting a tributary of the South Yamhill River. Officials said a January 5, 2019 discharge included condensed skim milk and milk solids.
Source

2023Climate Week NYC Farm-to-City Campaign
United States
Organic Valley used Climate Week NYC to bring its small-family-farm message into an urban setting. The campaign featured real Organic Valley farmers and promoted the idea that organic and pasture-centered dairy could contribute to climate and ecological goals.
Outcome. The campaign expanded through social media, streaming video, and digital channels, increasing visibility for the cooperative's climate-smart farming narrative.
Source
2022Save Northeast Family Farms
United States
Organic Valley launched a yearlong effort to provide markets and potential cooperative membership to small organic dairy farms in the Northeast whose prior contracts were being terminated.
Outcome. The cooperative offered membership to a number of farms and letters of intent to additional farms, framing the program as a direct extension of its farmer-preservation mission.
Source
2022Packaging Refresh
United States
Organic Valley introduced refreshed packaging intended to communicate its farmer-owned structure, small-family-farm sourcing, and ethical production story more clearly on supermarket shelves.
Outcome. The updated design was rolled out across selected milk and egg products and became part of a broader effort to modernize the brand without abandoning its cooperative identity.
Source
2021We Give a Cluck
United States
We Give a Cluck is a recurring Organic Valley platform connecting organic farming with animal care, pasture access, sustainability, and concern for the land. The phrase is especially associated with the brand's egg and dairy communications.
Outcome. The platform became an enduring brand expression for Organic Valley's animal-care and environmental positioning.
Source
2012Real Food for Real Kids
United States
Organic Valley used a public-facing cheese tour and educational activation to discuss real food, organic sourcing, and children's nutrition. The program invited consumers to engage with the brand and promoted a pledge focused on providing children with real food.
Outcome. The campaign generated live consumer engagement and reinforced Organic Valley's educational, family-oriented positioning.
Source
The Earth Dinner
United States
The Earth Dinner is an environmental-awareness platform that links shared meals with sustainable agriculture, organic dairy, eggs, produce, soil health, and stewardship of natural resources.
Outcome. The initiative supports Organic Valley's long-term environmental education and sustainability communications.
Source

Brand decisions

2025
Promote Shawna Nelson to chief executiveleadership_change
Background
Jeff Frank departed the CEO role after approximately two years, creating an opportunity for an internal succession candidate with long experience in membership and cooperative operations.
Action taken
The board appointed Shawna Nelson as CEO, making her the first woman to lead Organic Valley.
Aftermath
The appointment emphasized internal development, continuity with cooperative values, and leadership rooted in the organization’s farmer-membership operations.
Source
2025
Create chief transformation officer role and expand internal executive teamStrategy
Background
Organic Valley sought to combine succession planning, operational innovation, technology development, and long-term strategic planning while retaining experienced internal leaders.
Action taken
The cooperative appointed Jerry McGeorge as chief transformation officer and promoted Cheree Tauschek and Kimberly Turnmire to executive vice president positions.
Aftermath
The changes formalized an internal-leadership model and added a dedicated executive role for organizational transformation and innovation.
Source
2023
Appoint Jeff Frank as chief executiveleadership_change
Background
Bob Kirchoff announced his retirement after leading the cooperative through a period of pandemic-era growth and organizational change.
Action taken
Organic Valley recruited Jeff Frank, a former Hormel and MegaMex Foods executive, as its next chief executive.
Aftermath
Frank brought large consumer-packaged-goods experience to a cooperative whose strategy remained centered on organic family farms and independent ownership.
Source
2022
Support Northeast organic dairy farms losing market accessStrategy
Background
The termination of contracts by other dairy companies threatened the continuity of numerous small organic farms in the Northeast.
Action taken
Organic Valley offered potential markets to approximately 80 farms and admitted a number of new Northeast farmer-members.
Aftermath
The initiative strengthened Organic Valley's public identity as a cooperative organized around preserving family farms, although the long-term commercial status of every participating farm was not publicly specified.
Source
2022
Refresh packaging across selected milk and egg productsProduct launch
Background
The cooperative considered its existing packaging due for modernization and wanted the brand story and farmer-owned point of difference to be clearer to shoppers.
Action taken
Organic Valley introduced a brighter, more contemporary packaging system across selected milk and egg products.
Aftermath
The refresh preserved farm and cooperative cues while making the products more visually consistent and prominent in retail environments.
Source
2021
Expand sustainability and impact reportingStrategy
Background
Organic Valley wanted to document how its cooperative model affected farmers, employees, animals, communities, and natural resources.
Action taken
The cooperative issued a detailed impact report covering stable farmer pay, employee standards, animal-care oversight, renewable electricity, chemical reduction, and climate-smart agriculture.
Aftermath
Impact reporting became a prominent part of the brand's credibility and sustainability communications, while also creating more explicit claims for outside stakeholders to evaluate.
Source
2019
Transition from founder George Siemon to Bob Kirchoffleadership_change
Background
After approximately three decades of leadership by founder George Siemon, the cooperative sought a leadership transition while preserving its farmer-owned mission.
Action taken
Siemon stepped down as CEO and the board appointed Bob Kirchoff, previously chief business officer, to lead the cooperative.
Aftermath
Kirchoff guided Organic Valley through a period of continued growth, pandemic-related market disruption, and expanded impact reporting.
Source
2017
Create Organic Valley Fresh joint venture with Dean FoodsM&A
Background
Organic Valley sought to expand distribution of its fluid-milk products and use a larger commercial network while retaining its farmer-owned cooperative structure.
Action taken
CROPP Cooperative and Dean Foods established Organic Valley Fresh as a 50:50 joint venture.
Aftermath
The initiative became part of Organic Valley's distribution history, although Dean Foods later entered bankruptcy and was acquired, changing the broader commercial context for the venture.
Source

Recent events

2020-08-31
Organic Valley appoints director of sustainability[23]Organic Valley 任命可持续发展总监prnewswire.com
Reported: 2020-08-31
Organic Valley promoted Nicole Rakobitsch to director of sustainability and launched a new centralized department.
Unconfirmed
Organic Valley fined over milk discharges[21]Organic Valley fined over milk dischargesnbcphiladelphia.com
Reported: 2019-12-30
Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality fined Organic Valley $26,574 over milk discharged by its McMinnville Creamery into a storm drain leading to a tributary of the South Yamhill River. The article reports the discharges and fine; it does not state that the fine was appealed or overturned.
Unconfirmed
Organic Valley creamery fined for milk discharge[22]Organic Valley creamery fined for milk dischargestatesmanjournal.com
Reported: 2019-12-28
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality fined Organic Valley’s McMinnville Creamery $26,574 for repeatedly polluting a tributary of the South Yamhill River. Officials said a January 5, 2019 discharge included condensed skim milk and milk solids.

Sources27 sources

Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/organic-valley · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled