| We know that organic food production is | | | | After a noticeable organic milk boom this industry |
| supervised and controlled by strict state | | | | is going bust in Maine. One of the main reason of |
| standards. The farms producing organic dairy | | | | deterioration is that HP Hood have refused to |
| must undergo certification process to prove that | | | | renew contracts with eight organic dairy farms. |
| farmers do not use any conventional pesticides, | | | | Besides HP Hood recommended other organic milk |
| artificial fertilizers or antibiotics, and cows have | | | | producers in Aroostook and Washington counties |
| enough grazing space. | | | | to reduce milk production by fifteen percent for |
| When you go shopping and check prices at | | | | this year. Their collaboration with HP Hood |
| grocery stores, you can notice that organic milk | | | | commenced only three years ago. |
| costs as much as two times the regular milk | | | | Hood's spokesperson Lynn Bohan said that this |
| price. This means larger profits for farmers who | | | | difficult decision was mainly based upon increased |
| decided to reorganize conventional dairy farms to | | | | transportation costs. Hood pays for transportation |
| organic. A few years ago, at the peak of organic | | | | of ray organic milk produced in outlying areas to |
| boom, many farmers were convinced that | | | | the company's processing plants, and then to |
| organic food business is a great way to go. But | | | | deliver finished product to consumers. |
| nowadays as more consumers go back to regular | | | | It is interesting to know that Hood's organic milk |
| milk due to economic crisis, the situation in many | | | | from Maine is packaged in New York, then it is |
| cases is just the opposite. People try to save | | | | shipped to Maine to be sold under Stonyfield |
| money even on food and drinks and are cautious | | | | brand. |
| about the smallest expenditures. | | | | Many farmers are dumbfounded and appalled by |
| There are seventy-two organic dairy farms in | | | | this decision. They really do not know what to do |
| Maine, and this number as related to the overall | | | | next. They have options of selling organic milk |
| dairy production farms is the highest in the | | | | cows for beef or else switch back to conventional |
| country. The main processors buying milk from | | | | milk. But at least two farms in Washington county |
| these farms are HP Hood, Organic Valley and | | | | cannot do this as there are no conventional trucks |
| Horizon Cooperative. | | | | in their area. |
| HP Hood LLC is one of the largest dairy | | | | At the same time organic farmers from |
| companies in the US with twenty-three | | | | Aroostock and Washington try to establish new |
| manufacturing plants and annual sales of about 2.3 | | | | relations with Organic Valley and Horizon to sell |
| billion dollars. | | | | them organic dairy products. |