Alexandre Family Farm EcoDairy

Summary

Alexandre Family Farm EcoDairy products are their non-grassfed “red cap” (with some exceptions, like seasonal choices, whipping cream, and chocolate milk).

Alexandre Family Farm is currently “under increased scrutiny” per Cornucopia’s scorecard adjustment policy, impacting the scores of both lines of dairy products they sell. This increased scrutiny is due to confirmed events on their supplier farms that Cornucopia considers animal abuse and neglect along with confirmed non-compliances with the National Organic Program standards. (Learn more here.) Throughout the inspection process, the operation corrected the existing non-compliances, according to the NOP Report of Investigation.

Rubric	Points	Comments and Notes
TOTAL	35	1-star
Possible score: 1100 (plus extra credit)
Transparency and Disclosure	50	Brand transparent with Cornucopia’s survey (including sharing additional supplemental information) but with history of some transparency concerns (see notes)
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	50	Sources from several Alexandre-run farms along with purchasing A2 organic milk from partner supplier farms. Large suppliers. Maintains a close relationship with suppliers with regular 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	50	An independent organic dairy brand with dedicated organic sourcing, but with history of some non-compliance with organic standards
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	50	Pasture management includes maintaining year-round vegetative cover, rotational grazing, irrigation, etc. in a beneficial climate. Works with pasture-quality consultants
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	50	Suppliers have 200-days or more grazing season but below 30% DMI beyond the required 120 days. Meets or exceeds minimum 30% during the 120 days required
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	50	Some feed is produced on-farm along with access to pasture and some farms in same region are used specifically for hay and feed; unknown if grain is from domestic sources
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	0	Single calf hutches with a history of concerns (not including outdoor paddocks, etc)
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 daily
Lower cull and death rates receive more points (with some exceptions), as it is one indicator of high animal welfare. Deaths & Culls	60	High cull rate but death/illness rate around 5%; some history of unusually high death/cull rates impacting score
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	75	Currently maintains close attention to environmental impacts including soil and water testing, maintains 90% vegetative cover, plant natives, and manage manure to re-use on farm, 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	0	History of animal welfare complaints (see notes)
This category is non-scoring and provided for information. Organic Certifier (Informational)		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)		Alexandre suppliers are Land to Market Verified Regenerative and partner suppliers are Land to Market Verified Regenerative.
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, medium, and large
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	-500	A history of non-compliance has led to adjustments of several scores under Cornucopia’s policy. See the informational page on this brand for more details.