The biggest organic dairy brands in the USA are Horizon and Aurora.

Horizon has own two farms and buys milk from more than 300 independent farmers. Market share of Horizon is 55%. The other one giant is Aurora Organic, which has two farms and has relationships with numerous stores through all country. Market share of Aurora Organic is 10%.

Now we can say with all confidence organic milk is one of more attractive product of dairy industry because of damand of this product much higher than supply, that’s why organic market with big steps and that’s why the largest food corporations are trying to squeeze in to this niche. In one side we have wide choice of organic goods but from an other side lure of high profit margins leads to lower quality so-called organic products.

It’s need to make a note that usual organic farm has between 50 and 100 cows, but, for example, the Horizon’s farm in Paul, Idaho has 4000 cows, besides they buys between 5 to 10% from Vander Eyk’s farm, which has 8000 cows. In 2001 the USDA accept the decision that cows must have an “access to pasture” and get part of nutrition from fresh green grass. That decition was realized in USDA’s standards.

But these standards just sow confusion, because it permit to confine cows in case illness, lactation, birth and slaughter. Well known fact is that in Horizon lactation lasted approximately half of cow’s life, in this period cow must be confine. But it’s interesting another fact that the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), which is advisory body of the USDA have already known about this in 2001. This loophole can be succefully used by other big players of organic market.

Of couse Horizon and Aurora have farms with arid lands and extensive grazing can spoil land, but this is lame excuse. Another point of view is that these companies just save their money.

Since then organic dairies continued growth rapidly and in 2005 representatives of the Cornucopia Institute decided don’t wait any more, they gethered all nessesry information with photographs of employees and confined cows and make a request to the USDA to compel Horizon, Aurora and Vander Eyk meet one’s engagements that concerning pasture requirements.  4700 consumers signed a petition that was presented in February 2005 by OCA. This event engrossed attention of farmers from all parts of the country. After this NOSB offered some changes in rules that would have  made things concerning “access to pasture” clear.

But in August the USDA have refused the NOSB’s suggestions calling them equivocal and without plain regulatory intent.

Of couse  the USDA has own favourites. Jim Riddle, says “It’s business as usual. That’s the way USDA works at higher levels”.