General Mills has announced its partnership with Organic Valley. This relationship will help about 20 dairy farms to add around 3,000 acres to organic dairy production over the next three years.
This unique program will support General Mills’ commitment to double the organic acreage from which it sources its ingredients by 2019. It will also build General Mills’ relationships with the organic farmers who support its yogurt operating unit in the U.S., which manufactures brands like Yoplait, Annie’s, Liberté and Mountain High.
“To ensure we are able to deliver great tasting organic yogurt offerings to our consumers, we are committed to supporting a framework in partnership with Organic Valley that will not only ensure a consistent supply chain, but also make it easier for dairy farmers to successfully manage through the transition to organic,” says David Clark, president of the General Mills Yogurt Operating Unit.
Since 2009, General Mills has increased the organic acreage it supports by 120 per cent and is now among the top five organic ingredient purchasers in the North American packaged food sector.
Along with this announcement, General Mills will launch the Organic & Regenerative Agriculture Transition Council. This project will bring together sustainable agricultural leaders, farmers and industry stakeholders with the mission of advancing organic and regenerative agriculture practices.
