Did you know that when you buy Organic Valley products, you're supporting certified Vermont Organic dairy farmers like Mat and Guy
Choiniere?
Guy's grandparents started dairy farming in Highgate in 1945 with a herd of 14 cows.
His dad took over the farm. Then Guy. Now, Guy's son Mat. Five generations!
Guy transitioned the conventional dairy farm to organic in 2005 in search of more pay stability and a better life for his family and his herd.
Now Choiniere Family Farm manages a herd of about 90 Holsteins and is part of the Organic Valley co-op. The certified Vermont Organic farm is renowned for its intensive rotational grazing practices, land stewardship, and conservation.
Guy described a multi-year project planting 5,000 trees and restoring a river bank on his organic farm as "addicting." When we saw how organic farming could
increase the biodiversity of the local ecosystem and engage the broader community in land stewardship, he couldn't stop.
A couple years ago, the Choinieres received a Vermont Family Farmer of the Month Award to help fund a new milking parlor which brought much-needed efficiency
to their operation.
With the time and energy saved by the milking parlor, Mat says they're able to prioritize other work to make
their farm more viable, including:
🌳 exploring agroforestry
🌰 adding more diversity by planting nut trees and raising poultry and pork
🍽 opening a farm store to feed their community in Highgate
🪱 knowledge sharing with other farmers around the state who are as obsessed with soil health and happy cows as they are
We love the Choinieres and all of Vermont's organic dairy farms!
You can support them by buying Organic Valley and Stonyfield, and seeking out local Vermont organic dairy brands–just look for the Vermont Organic label!
Shout out to Copper, the barn kitty.
