Horizon Organic NYS Initiative

NEW YORK - Jan 27/06 - SNS -- Horizon Organic plans to help more dairy producers in New York State switch to organic production methods, and process more milk locally to meet the ever-increasing demand for organic milk in New York and the region.

Horizon Organic currently works with 119 certified organic dairy farmers in the state of New York. Its Horizon Organic Producer Education (HOPE) Program seeks to encourage many more family farmers in New York to convert to organic farming by offering comprehensive support services. The program also provides financial support, which means that dairy farmers in transition to organic have the ability to purchase more expensive organic feeds and convert their farms to meet the organic standards.

Coupled with the HOPE program, Horizon Organic is also expanding its organic milk processing capabilities in-state. It will invest $5 million in a planned $18 million expansion of Steuben Foods of Elma, New York (near Buffalo) that will help increase Horizon Organic's in-state processing capabilities.

"The New York organic dairy community is vital to Horizon Organic and the national organic milk supply," said Jule Taylor, Director of Milk Supply for Horizon Organic.

"Of our more than 300 family farmer partners across the U.S. who supply milk to Horizon Organic, more than a third of them are in the state of New York. But we need to continue to grow that number to supply the region and the nation's ever-increasing demand for organic dairy products. We'd like nothing more than to find more New York partners to fill this demand and enjoy the economic opportunities converting to organic agriculture provides."