Cedar Grove Cheese
| Rating |  |
| Products | Cheese |
| Website | https://cedargrovecheese.com/ |
| Total Score | 805 |
They say: “Cedar Grove Cheese is committed to helping small organic dairy farms survive in a market where many buyers only want to work with large farms. We are developing ways to connect consumers with authentic stories about choices the farmers make to help protect their families, their animals and the long-term health of their farms and communities. At the same time, we are very respectful of the privacy concerns and independence of the farmers that we work with. We pay significant premiums for high quality milk produced with integrity because we believe that enables us to make cheese that tastes better and is healthier for our customers.”
| Rubric | Points | Comments and Notes |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL (possible score is 1100 (plus extra credit)) | 805 | 4-Cow Rating | Excellent |
| Transparency and Disclosure | 100 | Superb transparency including sharing detailed supplier info |
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 organic milk primarily from dedicated small organic farms and occasionally supplements with other high quality milk as needed for supply |
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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 | 75 | Brand has both conventional and organic products without split operations |
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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 | 75 | Good pasture management exceeding minimum standards for main suppliers |
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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 confirmed to exceed minimum % DMI with longer than minimum grazing seasons |
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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 sources feed that originates exclusively from a domestic source |
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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 | 30 | Single calf hutches before moving to group housing for majority of suppliers |
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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 |
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Lower cull and death rates receive more points (with some exceptions), as it is one indicator of high animal welfare. Deaths & Culls | 75 | Low cull and death rates for main suppliers |
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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 | Good attention to environmental sustainability on most supplier farms, including soil testing/monitoring, managing native species, etc. |
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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 | 75 | Good attention to animal welfare without history of concerns |
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This category is non-scoring and provided for information. Organic Certifier (Informational) | MOSA | |
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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) | Non-GMO Project | |
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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) | Main suppliers are small farms | |
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Brands may receive extra credit for practices and polices not reflected in the scorecard (see notes for details). Extra Credit | ||
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The adjustment section is where any notes and adjustments to the score are indicated, such as penalties for non-compliances. Adjustments & Notes | None |
