Stonyfield Farm: All Organic, All the Time
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 11. 7.07
Now that the last of its dairy products is stamped with the USDA Organic seal, Stonyfield Farms can pride itself for being 100 percent organic—and just in time for its 25th anniversary.
The final step toward total conversion occurred last month when Stonyfield gave its fat-free 6-ounce yogurt line the organic makeover, resulting in an all-organic line of 32-ounce and 6-ounce yogurts, drinkable yogurt smoothies, YoBaby yogurts for babies and toddlers, YoKids squeezers and yogurts, frozen yogurt and ice cream, Oikos Greek-style yogurt, and milk.
"This is a goal that often seemed out-of-reach, due to the scarcity of organic milk and other ingredients," said Gary Hirshberg, president and "CE-Yo" of the company. "But our strong supplier relationships—primarily with Organic Valley/CROPP—and their steadfast support of this company and our consumers made this monumental achievement possible."
Now that's something to moo about. ::Stonyfield Farms
You're forgetting how GOOD their yogurt is, LOL. Their vanilla is the best I've had. :)
Now they can concentrate on reducing the sugar content of their products marketed towards children: Currently, per ounce, it's as much as a soft drink. Organic doesn't matter if the food isn't healthy.
@Johnny: Their organic, fair-trade chai ice cream is DIVINE.
I love the idea that Stonyfield has gone all the way, and yet....
In an October cover story of BusinessWeek (http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_42/b4005001.htm), the delicious dairy producer admitted to importing the milk for its yogurt products over 9,000 miles from New Zealand. Apparently this is a common and necessary practice with organic food manufacturers. CEO Hirshberg says, "Once you're in organic, you have to source globally."
I find this very distressing. It seems like the growing popularity of organic, whole nutrition at once makes it easier to choose more environmentally and heathfully viable options with a wealth of accessible products but overly-complicated with choices "necessarily" compromised to meet market demands! Before, I could buy organic with confidence, but now I have to be just as wary of it as I am of conventional foods.
I agree with the sugar issue, I search the supermarket shelves for an organic yogurt in a recyclable cup with less than 19g sugar. That is a lot of sugar!!!!
I think the orgainic/fair trade market will force the local issue on them. Just as we have demanded the growth of organics.
Just as we shop for organics, shop for and ask for local sourcing. The market will change.
I sometimes feel as if my vote is meaningless. But I know marketers want my dollar. That is my most powerful vote!
I'd rather have real sugar than HFCS any day.
Thanks, Jasmin! I'll definitely try to find some of that:)
Along with the sugar and travel issues associated with Stoneyfield, I have a huge problem with the entire yogurt industry. Their bottles are not easily recyclable! In many places, only 1 and 2 type plastics are recyclable, and most yogurts are 5 and 6. I love Stoneyfield and have a YoBaby for breakfast every morning, but I hate throwing out those containers, simply because I don't live somewhere that recycles them.