Larson Farm & Creamery
| Rating |  |
| Products | Raw, Fluid Milk, A2, 100% Grassfed, Yogurt |
| Website | https://www.larsonfarmvt.com/ |
| Market Area | VT |
| Total Score | 1090 |
The Larson Farm and Creamery has a Raw Milk CSA on top of selling 100% grassfed products, including yogurt. Their on-farm store is open daily, and you can also find their products at area natural food stores.
They say: “2017 was the first year of operation for the creamery. The new facility allows us to transform our organic milk from 100% grass-fed Jersey cows into pasteurized products, allowing us to expand our markets. We now provide low-temperature pasteurized products including maple and plain yogurt, gelato, butter, and cream-line pasteurized milk, all of which is certified organic.
The creamery is quite small by commercial standards, but just right for our herd size. We have two pasteurizers, 80-gtallon and 15-gallon, a yogurt incubator, gelato freezer, butter churn, and lots of stainless steel tables and other dairy processing tools.
Our pasteurized dairy products are available and the farm store from 7am to 7pm daily, and at area natural food stores.”
| Rubric | Points | Comments and Notes |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL (possible score is 1100 (plus extra credit)) | 1090 | 5-Cow Rating | Top-Rated |
| Transparency and Disclosure | 100 | Superb transparency with a history of high integrity |
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 | 100 | Farmstead dairy producing all the milk |
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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 | 100 | Dedicated to organic production |
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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 | 100 | Excellent pasture management, exceeding standards |
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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 | 100 | Exceeds 80% DMI and has long grazing season with a portion of the grazing season at 100% DMI |
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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 | 100 | Domestic and local sourcing |
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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 | 75 | Single calf housing before moving to mixed group housing |
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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 | 90 | Low cull/death rate |
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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 | 100 | Close attention to environmental sustainability |
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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 | 100 | Excellent animal welfare |
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This category is non-scoring and provided for information. Organic Certifier (Informational) | NOFA | |
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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) | Real Organic Project (provides extra credit points) | |
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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) | Small | |
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Brands may receive extra credit for practices and polices not reflected in the scorecard (see notes for details). Extra Credit | 25 | Real Organic Project |
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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 | 0 | None |
