UPDATE: Initially, Albert Straus fought tougher USDA regulations for grazing and some of their operations, based on a site visit and testimony of neighbors, were troubling.

However, since the USDA National Organic Standards were updated, with overwhelming support, to crack down on dairies that were not adequately providing pasture for their cattle, Straus has announced positive changes operation.

Straus Dairy had been milked their cows three times a day unlike almost every organic dairy in the country that finds it challenging enough to move cows in and out of pasture, milking twice a day. This was consistent with running a high-production dairy operation which is very hard on the health and longevity of the cattle but produces more milk. This is a positive a material change.

They have also received USDA grant funds, that supports environmentally sound practices on farms, and are reportedly improving their infrastructure for grazing in 2011.

Now that the USDA is implementing tougher pasturing requirements for dairy cattle, despite the lobbying campaign by factory farms and Straus, we will reevaluate their ranking in 2011 based on their compliance with the law pending an additional visit to their farming operation (which they stated they are open to).

The Straus family operates a processing plant and buys additional milk from two neighboring farms. Their brand is widely distributed in California and has been updated to a four-cow rating in our study.

They write, Straus Family Creamery, the first Organic Dairy west of the Mississippi has been producing artisan organic dairy products for over a decade. Straus European-style organic butter is used by leading gourmet restaurants across the country. Straus small-batch super premium organic ice cream, the newest addition to the product line, is available in vanilla, chocolate, raspberry, coffee, and chocolate mint. Straus European-style yogurts are generating rave reviews.