Alpine Heritage Creamery

Rating
Products	Cheese, 100% Grassfed
Website	https://www.alpineheritagecreamery.com/
Market Area	Online, Wholesale, PA
Total Score	300

Alpine Heritage Creamery did not participate in Cornucopia’s investigation, and we lack some fundamental information about their organic milk suppliers. If you are a customer of this brand, please encourage them to participate in our survey so we can provide more accurate information on this listing!

Located in the heart of Lancaster County, Alpine Heritage Creamery specializes in making hand-crafted cheeses from 100% grassfed cows. Their cheese is made from our own jersey dairy cows grazing on our lush green pastures in Paradise, PA.

Rubric	Points	Comments and Notes
TOTAL (possible score is 1100 (plus extra credit))	300	2-Cow Rating | Fair
Transparency and Disclosure	50	Did not participate but some information was found in the investigation
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	Unknown business scale but likely high-integrity milk sourcing (for organic products)
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	25	Mixed conventional and organic dairy products with parent brand but Alden's is entirely organic; unknown if milk supply is from split operations
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	Likely exceeding minimum organic standards for pasturing
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	Likely exceeding 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	25	Likely local feed and ingredient stream
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	Unknown
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	50	Likely 2x a day, but unconfirmed
Lower cull and death rates receive more points (with some exceptions), as it is one indicator of high animal welfare. Deaths & Culls	0	Unknown
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	0	Unknown
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	Unknown
This category is non-scoring and provided for information. Organic Certifier (Informational)		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)		Alden's parent company is a Certified B Corp. Some products are Non-GMO certified.
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)		Unknown
Brands may receive extra credit for practices and polices not reflected in the scorecard (see notes for details). Extra Credit	0	The brand makes a point to not use carrageenan in their products
The adjustment section is where any notes and adjustments to the score are indicated, such as penalties for non-compliances. Adjustments & Notes	0	None