Sidehill Farm

Rating
Products	Yogurt, Sour Cream
Website	http://www.sidehillfarm.net/
Market Area	Northeast
Total Score	1125

They say: “Sidehill Farm Yogurt is a small family-owned creamery producing fresh, delicious, certified organic yogurt from the milk of grass-fed cows. We began as farmers, and for nearly 15 years, we made Sidehill Farm yogurt from the milk of our own grass-fed herd of cows. In 2020, we decided that we could do more good for our community, and the community of local dairy farmers, by purchasing milk from a handful of small family farms who treat their cows the same way we did. Now more cows live satisfying lives grazing grass and acting like cows, more soil biology improves and gains fertility, more dairy farmers receive a high pay price for their milk, more yogurt makers make yogurt and provide for their families, and more loyal customers get to buy fantastic organic, grass-fed yogurt made here at Sidehill Farm. That sounds pretty exciting to us! Please try our yogurt and taste the deliciousness a healthy farming community can create!”

Sidehill products can be found in New England and Upstate NY, with a focus on Massachusetts. You can find their products at Whole Foods Market (selected stores), Big Y Supermarkets (selected stores), Guido’s Fresh Marketplace, and many small independent grocery stores and farm markets. The brand website, sidehillfarm.net, has a list of where to find their products.

Rubric	Points	Comments and Notes
TOTAL (possible score is 1100 (plus extra credit))	1125	5-Cow Rating | Top-Rated
Transparency and Disclosure	100	Full and open disclosure with a history of reliability
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	100	Two farmstead community-scale producers supply the milk that becomes yogurt, both with close input into the quality and frequent visits
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	Independent organic dairy brand with dedicated organic sourcing supporting community-scale producers
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	100	Superb pasture management, far exceeding minimum organic requirements.
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	100	High percent DMI (>80%) from suppliers (with 3rd party confirmation), with a long grazing season
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	100	Majority of feed produced on-site
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	100	Raised with mothers or nurse cows on supplier farms
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	100	Very low deaths and culls from suppliers
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	100	Superb environmental stewardship with soil and water testing, manure management, supporting wildlife, 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	100	Superb attention to animal welfare.
This category is non-scoring and provided for information. Organic Certifier (Informational)		Baystate Organic Certifiers, NOFA-NY, and PCO
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)		Real Organic Project
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	25	Real Organic Project
The adjustment section is where any notes and adjustments to the score are indicated, such as penalties for non-compliances. Adjustments & Notes		Bonus points for ROP certification