Butterworks Farm
| Rating |  |
| Farm/Brand Headquarters | Westfield, VT |
| Products | Yogurt, A2 milk |
| Website | www.mycadia.com/subcategories.php?p=Food&c=Dairy |
| Market Area | VT, NH |
| Total Score | 1455 |
Jack and Anne Lazor are two longtime heroes in the organic farming community. In addition to manufacturing Vermont’s “most popular yogurt,”for decades, they’ve helped educate younger farmers and dairy producers transitioning to organic. They write:
“Butterworks Farm is a real farm, located in the mountains of Vermont’s pristine and unspoiled Northeast Kingdom. We are unique among New England organic dairies and yogurt makers for a number of reasons. We’ve been farming organically for 25 years and are always willing to share our knowledge and experience… We grow all the food our cows eat, including corn, oats, barley, soybeans, and alfalfa. All of our cows were born here on the farm. We have a closed herd, which means we don’t buy cows from other farms. Since 1975, during our first days as homesteaders with just a family cow, we have made our yogurt right here on the farm. We use only our own milk to produce this delicious yogurt. Our soils are sweet and mineralized. The extra special “nutty” flavor of our whole yogurt begins with the land we farm.”
Butterworks Farm products can be found at co-ops, health food stores, smaller grocery markets and a few chain stores near their farm location in Vermont and neighboring New Hampshire. Black River Produce of Springfield, Vermont does some Vermont distribution for us as well. Some of their products are sold to and distributed around the Northeast by UNFI (United Natural Foods). Also find them in most Whole Foods Markets in the North Atlantic region.
| Criteria | Points | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL (possible score is 1600 plus extra credit) | 1455 | 5-Cow Rating | Top-Rated—Beyond Organic |
| Ownership structure | 100 | Farmstead dairy |
| Milk Supply | 95 | Gets some milk from another farm with matching practices |
| Organic Production | 100 | Brand only markets organic |
| Disclosure of Information for Verification | 100 | Full disclosure |
| Organic Certification | 100 | Vermont Organic Farmers (VOF) |
| Other Labels/Standards | 0 | None |
| Grass-fed | 90 | 100% grass-fed |
| Soy Free Ration? | Yes | |
| Pasture | 100 | Respected leaders in rotational grazing |
| Times Milked | 90 | Two times a day (standard protocol on legitimate organic dairies) |
| Cull/death Rate | 100 | Very low cull rate |
| Replacements | 100 | Closed herd |
| Calves | 80 | Calves spend the first week spent with mothers |
| Antibiotic Use | 100 | No antibiotic use |
| Hormone Usage | 100 | No hormones used |
| Farm Support | 100 | Lives on premises |
| Procurement of Ingredients | 100 | No outside ingredients used |
| Extra Credit | 0 | None |