Moscow is not exactly on the beaten path – the well-traveled Interstate 90, that is. That fact is a bit frustrating for us buyers because brokers, sales reps and natural food distributors often are not willing to detour 85 miles south to visit our Co-op as they travel from Seattle to Bozeman. So it’s a treat when someone comes to see us, especially when he represents Organic Valley Family of Farms, our biggest chill line.

Jack Lee, Organic Valley’s Northwest Sales Rep, spent an afternoon at the Co-op in September. Besides offering samples of their products (cheese, soy milk and orange juice) he also handed out bandanas, coloring books, and “Rootstock,” an informative magazine published by Farm Friends, an affiliate of Organic Valley. The main purpose of his visit, though, was to educate Co-op shoppers about Organic Valley’s products, philosophy and farmer/owners

Jack told me the question he was asked the most was: Of the 57 Organic Valley farms located in the Northwest, why aren’t there more in eastern Washington and Idaho? The answer is because milk production, milk processing facilities and a large population of consumers buying milk products are located in the corridor between Seattle and Portland. The closer the dairies are to where the milk is processed, the better the quality of the milk, the lower the cost of the milk, and the smaller the carbon footprint left behind by the process. Our Co-op shoppers wanted to see more farmer/owners in our region, which could happen, he felt, if more consumers here supported organic dairy products.

Other areas our Co-op shoppers were interested in were the fact that Organic Valley has grown from a seven-member family farm Co-op to over 1,300 farms nationally in the past 20 years. These farmer/owners all have a say in every decision made by Organic Valley. Organic Valley is especially committed to saving and preserving small family farms. Many shoppers didn’t realize that Organic Prairie meats are part of Organic Valley’s Co-op.

Jack was pleased our Co-op shoppers thought the orange juice tasted so good. To further tantalize taste buds, he suggested mixing it with the soymilk. Hmmm. Joan and I gave it a try and … YUM! The flavor brought back childhood memories of cooling summer’s heat with Creamsicle bars. Enticed? Try it! And support Organic Valley by purchasing their milk, egg and cheese products too.

Organic Valley “Creamsicle”