Organic Valley - Company History

Company History

Organic Valley was founded in 1988 under the name CROPP (Coulee Region Organic Produce Pool) Cooperative. What began as a group of family farms selling their produce soon expanded into the production and local distribution of vegetables, and dairy products. The brand name "Organic Valley" was soon adopted, and the abbreviation "CROPP" was adjusted to Cooperative Regions of Organic Producer Pools. Today, Organic Valley is the nation's largest independent cooperative of organic family farmers and one of the largest producers and distributors of organic produce (in season), dairy, soy, and eggs. It markets its line of beef, pork, turkey, and chicken products under the Cooperative's Organic Prairie brand. Organic Valley comprises 1677 farmer-owners located in 32 states and three Canadian province that specialize in sustainable, organic agriculture practices.

The original CROPP farms are located throughout southwest Wisconsin, primarily in the Kickapoo River Basin area. Southwest Wisconsin is the home of many small and mid-sized farms, both organic and non-organic. However, the cooperative network of over 1,300 family farms that now make up Organic Valley's production base are located throughout the Midwest and the continental United States, and range from farms supported by multiple families to small, family owned-and-operated farms. Organic Valley's revenue from sales of its products topped $715 million in 2011.