Champlain Valley Dairy

Rating
Farm/Brand HeadquartersMiddlebury, VT
ProductsFluid milk
Websitecvcream.com
Market AreaNortheast
Total Score790

Cornucopia’s investigations show that this brand does not source from  “factory dairy”, and appears to support family-scale production. However, partial scores have been given due to incomplete information. This brand may be a good choice, but we recommend that consumers do their homework and reach out to brand representatives to ensure it meets a consistent, high-integrity, organic standard.

CriteriaPointsComment
TOTAL (possible score is 1600 plus extra credit) 790
3-Cow Rating | Very Good
Farmstead dairies earn the most points. Corporations that have a history of skirting the organic rules receive the fewest.
Ownership structure
80Smaller brand, appears to have single-farm source
Farms that produce 100% of their milk receive the most points. Milk from "open market" or known confinement dairies receive the fewest.
Milk Supply
80Investigation shows supply is from family scale farm(s)
100% organic farms receive the most points. Split operations with conventional dairy on the same property receive the fewest.
Organic Production
100Appears to only have organic products
Farms that completed the survey in detail received the most points.
Disclosure of Information for Verification
0Did not participate
Points determined by integrity of the brand’s organic certifier.
Organic Certification
100VOF
Animal Welfare Approved and Biodynamic certifications receive the most bonus points. Producers are not penalized for not having additional certifications beyond organic.
Other Labels/Standards
0Unknown
100% grass-fed with independent verification of standards
Grass-fed
80Exceeds minimum standards; markets 100% grassfed
No points are given for this but the information may be useful to certain consumers looking to avoid soy.
Soy Free Ration?
No answer. Soy is likely used in feed.
Sliding scale based on policies, enforcement, acreage/cow, days/year on pasture, and permissible exemption.
Pasture
80Likely exceeds minimum standard
One time/day receives the most points. Two times per day is standard.
Times Milked
50Likely twice a day (standard)
Lower cull rate scores better, with under 10% receiving the most points.
Cull/death Rate
0No answer
Farms with closed herds receive the most points. Farms that sell organic calves and buy conventional replacements receive the fewest.
Replacements
0No answer
Standard practice is removing calves shortly after birth, with extra points given for unique ways of managing calves
Calves
0No answer
Farms that prohibit antibiotics receive the most points. Farms that allow young stock to receive antibiotics (under one year), receive the fewest.
Antibiotic Use
100No antibiotics used
No hormones is the standard, however some farms do use oxytocin for therapeutic purposes.
Hormone Usage
50Hormones may be used therapeutically
Farmstead dairies (owner lives on-site) receive the most points. Fewer points are given as oversight declines.
Farm Support
70Sourced from family-scale farm that is on-site
All ingredients sourced from inside the organization or on the farm receives the highest points. Ingredients from confinement factory farms and/or imported ingredients receive the fewest.
Procurement of Ingredients
0No answer
Various levels of extra credit given for 1) providing full organic systems plan, 2) providing details on all farms (multi-farm brands, details on largest five required), and 3) sourcing feed on-farm or domestically.
Extra Credit
0None