The Organic Valley line expands with the launch of the first organic cream cheese. The nation's first organic Swiss cheese is introduced. Organic Valley Sharp Cheddar cheese i becomes the first organic cheese to win the prestigious first place award in the American Cheese Society's competition. The first organic cottage cheese is launched and shipped nationally. The first organic sliced cheese is also introduced.
Organic Valley organizes the first national initiative to certify organic meat.
The co-op does give many more farmers a chance to do organic. We've only lost two of our original seven farmer-members. A few more would have disappeared if the co-op hadn't existed. Preserving farms, saving the environment and making a closer connection with the people who grow the food supply are the reasons behind consumers' willingness to pay more for organic dairy products, says Marquez. But the No. 1 reason organic sales continue to climb is health.