| When it comes to organic food trends, there's | | | | risk of heart disease, preventing certain types of |
| good news and bad news for the dairy industry. | | | | cancers, lessening the severity of menopause and |
| Market research data culled from SPINS, | | | | helping the growth of lean muscle mass," he tells |
| ACNielsen, the Organic Trade Association (OTA) | | | | OrganicAuthority.com. "Dairy can't make all those |
| and Mintel indicate that organic dairy sales hit $521 | | | | claims." Hooked on Packaged Foods As with |
| million in 2002 and $769 million in 2004-an increase | | | | mainstream consumers, organic food shoppers |
| of almost 48%. While this is certainly healthy | | | | are pressed for time, and they're filling their carts |
| growth for any industry, dairy represents only | | | | with larger quantities of prepared and packaged |
| 14.5% of all organic food sales, and its share of | | | | foods. |
| the overall organic market has decreased slightly. | | | | "As packaged products increase, sales in other |
| Statistics, of course, need to be interpreted | | | | areas, such as dairy, might remain the same in |
| correctly, and there are two trends that have an | | | | dollar volume, while their percentage of the whole |
| impact on dairy sales: a switch from milk products | | | | decreases," says Luddene Perry, author of A Field |
| to soy-based foods and the skyrocketing | | | | Guide to Buying Organic. "Moreover, most organic |
| popularity of prepared and packaged foods. In | | | | dairy companies-Horizon and Organic Valley, |
| fact, soy-based drinks were the fastest-growing | | | | specifically-cannot find enough producers to meet |
| product in the global marketplace, outperforming | | | | the demand," she tells OrganicAuthority.com. |
| all other foods and beverages with a 31% | | | | "There is no such problem for organic grains such |
| increase in sales between 2003 and 2004, | | | | as wheat, a major component of packaged |
| according to a January study from ACNielsen. | | | | products. |
| Convenience, consumer recognition of soy's health | | | | The U.S. could make organic crackers until the |
| benefits and attractive pricing were the key | | | | cows come home, but there probably wouldn't be |
| reasons for soaring sales. | | | | enough organic cheese to put on them. Therein |
| Nonetheless, experts agree dairy products will | | | | lies the incentive to create the organic mega-cow |
| continue to experience solid growth in the organic | | | | herds that have been derided in the news lately." |
| foods marketplace. The OTA predicts dairy sales | | | | (See sidebar below.) That's why Organic Valley |
| will increase by 15.3% between 2004 and 2008. | | | | CROPP-the largest independent farmer-owned |
| "Organic dairy products have been one of the | | | | organic dairy cooperative in the United States, |
| latest growth segments in organic foods and have | | | | representing 689 farmers-has launched its |
| been the fastest-growing segment in the past | | | | Transition to Organic Fund, which provides financial |
| few years," confirms Rick Kment, a dairy analyst | | | | help to dairy producers who go organic. |
| for DTN, an Omaha, Nebraska-based private | | | | "The farmers of Organic Valley are committed to |
| company that provides information services to | | | | helping dairy farmers make the transition to |
| leading businesses, including the agricultural sector. | | | | organic," says Tim Griffin, national milk |
| "Though the comparative percentage in | | | | procurement manager. "We know how tough the |
| consumption of organic dairy products in relation | | | | transition process can be, and we hope our |
| to the overall organic food market has declined | | | | Transition to Organic Fund can help farmers meet |
| slightly over the last couple of years, organic dairy | | | | the challenge." How Healthy Are Your Local |
| products continue to be a growing part of the | | | | Cows? Geography plays an important role in |
| dairy industry," he tells OrganicAuthority.com. | | | | buying organic, according to Luddene Perry, a |
| The Switch to Soy William Hawkins, a marketing | | | | Minneapolis-based teacher of horticultural food |
| consultant with Philadelphia-based Kings Road | | | | production and garden/ landscape design, as well |
| Consulting and a vegetarian for 20 years, cites | | | | as a member of the Independent Organic |
| three reasons why the formerly narrow soy | | | | Inspectors Association. Non organic milk is less |
| market-once the limited domain of animal-rights | | | | worrisome on the East Coast, she notes, while |
| activists-has broadened: Organic consumers are | | | | West Coast consumers-even those who have |
| concerned about health issues associated with | | | | not adopted an organic lifestyle-should consider |
| dairy products. | | | | buying organic dairy products. |
| General consumers-especially older women-are | | | | Health and size of dairy herds, climate and |
| worried about the detrimental effects of | | | | population demographics are what determine milk |
| consuming too much dairy, including weight gain. | | | | quality. Hot, dry weather scorches green |
| General consumers are now experimenting with a | | | | pastures-a problem for California's dairy farmers, |
| wide range of soy offerings. | | | | who work at approximately 2,500 dairies |
| Distribution methods have also expanded, Hawkins | | | | statewide, with more than 3 million cows. By |
| notes. | | | | contrast, Wisconsin-often considered "America's |
| "Instead of hole-in-the-wall health stores catering | | | | Dairyland," according to Perry-has more than |
| only to the very 'informed' or 'concerned' | | | | 15,000 dairies, with only 1.23 million cows (an |
| consumer, major store chains are carrying soy | | | | average of 82 cows per farm versus California's |
| products," he tells OrganicAuthority.com. "Here in | | | | 1,000-1,500 per farm). Midwest and East Coast |
| the Philly region, for example, the greatly | | | | dairies mirror Wisconsin's statistics, while Arizona, |
| respected and reasonably mainstream Whole | | | | New Mexico, Colorado and Idaho face California's |
| Foods Market and the very mainstream Super | | | | challenges. |
| Fresh stores now carry more and more soy | | | | "Large herds have inherent problems-mainly, more |
| products. | | | | health issues, environmental troubles and |
| Displays in stores are also more prominent." | | | | worker-safety concerns," Perry tells |
| Especially committed to soy is Dr. Greg Paul, | | | | OrganicAuthority.com. "Although antibiotics are not |
| director of health and nutrition for The Solae | | | | present in milk, their overuse could lead to |
| Company in St. Louis, which has researched the | | | | resistance. |
| health benefits of soy protein for more than 30 | | | | Large herds use more antibiotics than small herds. |
| years and helps bring new products to the | | | | Moreover, rBGH [recombinant bovine growth |
| marketplace. | | | | hormone] is used more in larger herds because its |
| "Soy protein continues to live up to its promise of | | | | cost is prohibitive to smaller dairymen." |
| providing nutritional benefits, such as reducing the | | | | |