Cowgirl Creamery (Emmi)

Rating
Products	Cheese
Website	https://cowgirlcreamery.com/
Market Area	Nationwide, Online
Total Score	680

They say: “Cowgirl Creamery’s company roots hold a deep valuation of the local land and our place within it. Just as well, we know the reality that no single individual or company alone can guarantee the good ecological standing of the soil, flora and fauna. Without being farm managers ourselves, we look for transparency of expression in-the-eyes and between-the-lines as we work with dairy management, QA techs and our milk supplier’s administrative team. “True care” is not tightly classifiable, however it is intimately and clearly recognizable. Without well-loved cattle, we can’t do what we do.”

Their organic cheeses are available nationwide wherever fine cheese is sold, including restaurants, as well as their online shop and Goldbelly.com.

Rubric	Points	Comments and Notes
TOTAL (possible score is 1100 (plus extra credit))	680	4-Cow Rating | Excellent
Transparency and Disclosure	90	Brand very transparent; some details about supplier practices unknown
Brands that rate highest have a close relationship to their milk suppliers. Those that buy milk from industrial or unknown organic suppliers rate lowest. Milk Supply and Ownership Structure	75	Sources milk from milk broker sourcing from known Northern California organic farms that is dedicated to organic sourcing
Brands that only produce organic products make the biggest investments — in time and money — in the organic systems that benefit us all. Commitment to Organic Label	100	Very committed to organic label
Pasture management refers to how outdoor areas are managed, with top-rated brands utilizing multiple strategies to maintain high quality pasture, providing environmental and animal welfare benefits. Pasture Management	40	Meeting minimum organic requirements for pasture standards
The grass-fed percentage category reflects diet, with top-rated brands far exceeding the minimum requirements laid out in the organic pasture rule. Grass Fed Percentage	35	Confirmed that the brand meets or exceeds minimum organic standards for grazing
This category focuses on the sourcing of feed, supplements, and any added ingredients in the diet. The category also accounts for brands that source organic dairy from other operations. Top-rated brands produce all feed on farm or buy inputs locally. Supplemental Feed and Ingredients	75	Brand ingredients and feed likely exclusively from a domestic source
Industry standard is to immediately remove calves from their mothers and individually house them. High scores in this area show that brand suppliers use group housing or otherwise promote calf socialization. Calves	40	The majority of supplier farms use single-calf housing or group housing
High scoring brands milk only once or twice per day, allowing maximum time for cows to be outside exhibiting natural behaviors. Times Milked Per Day	100	2x a day
Lower cull and death rates receive more points (with some exceptions), as it is one indicator of high animal welfare. Deaths & Culls	25	Unknown, but meets Validus standards
Brands that closely monitor environmental factors, including soil and water quality, native species, and wildlife, receive the most points. Brands with specific policies and programs to boost environmental sustainability also receive high points. Environmental Impacts and Stewardship	50	Supplier meets minimum environmental benchmarks, including rotational grazing, managing vegetation, water monitoring, etc.
Brands with specific policies and practices to support animal welfare score best. Brands may lose points in this category if they have a history of animal welfare concerns. Animal Welfare	50	Supplier farms meet minimum benchmarks for animal welfare
This category is non-scoring and provided for information. Organic Certifier (Informational)		QAI and CCOF
Third-party labels carried by individual brands or product lines are listed here for more information. These are not scored, but some third-party labels may receive extra credit. Add On Labels (Informational)		Milk supplier has Validus, Non-GMO Project certifications; Cowgirl Creamery is certified CMAB (Real California Milk)
Herd size refers to the number of adult cows in the milking herd. The general denotation for herd size (large, medium, and small) is based on the legal definition of “Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation”. Herd Size(s) (Informational)		Small
Brands may receive extra credit for practices and polices not reflected in the scorecard (see notes for details). Extra Credit		None
The adjustment section is where any notes and adjustments to the score are indicated, such as penalties for non-compliances. Adjustments & Notes		None