Maple Hill Creamery
| Rating |  |
| Farm/Brand Headquarters | Stuyvesant, NY |
| Products | Cheese, kefir, yogurt, fluid milk, grassfed |
| Website | maplehillcreamery.com |
| Market Area | Nationwide |
| Total Score | 1420 |
They write: “Maple Hill Creamery is a farm-family owned dairy manufacturer founded in 2009, and is widely recognized as the preeminent leader in the emerging 100% grass-fed dairy category. They are the first dairy brand to receive the Pennsylvania Certified Organic 100% Grassfed Certification. Since day one, Maple Hill has stood by their conviction that 100% grass-fed organic dairy farming is better for everyone from cows to consumers. 100% grass-fed dairy farming produces the highest quality milk, supports the healthiest lifestyle for cows, improves the fertility of grazing land, and allows farmers to prosper. The Maple Hill Creamery Milkshed now numbers over 100 small farms, and is looking to transition at least several dozen more farms to certified 100% grass-fed in 2017. Maple Hill Creamery products are available nationwide in over 6,000 retailers, including many specialty and independent retailers. For more information, visit www.maplehillcreamery.com, and follow us on Twitter @MapleHillCream, Facebook (www.facebook.com/maplehillcreamery), and Instagram @maplehillcreamery.”
| Criteria | Points | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL (possible score is 1600 plus extra credit) | 1420 | 4-Cow Rating | Excellent |
Farmstead dairies earn the most points. Corporations that have a history of skirting the organic rules receive the fewest. Ownership structure | 80 | Majority family-owned with outside equity investment (brand has a good track record) |
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Farms that produce 100% of their milk receive the most points. Milk from "open market" or known confinement dairies receive the fewest. Milk Supply | 80 | 100% of milk from own patrons |
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100% organic farms receive the most points. Split operations with conventional dairy on the same property receive the fewest. Organic Production | 100 | Brand only markets organic dairy products |
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Farms that completed the survey in detail received the most points.
Disclosure of Information for Verification | 100 | Full disclosure |
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Points determined by integrity of the brand’s organic certifier. Organic Certification | 85 | Products certified by Pennsylvania Certified Organic (PCO) |
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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 | 80 | PCO 100% Grassfed Certification |
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100% grass-fed with independent verification of standards Grass-fed | 100 | 100% of farms are certified grassfed by PCO |
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No points are given for this but the information may be useful to certain consumers looking to avoid soy. Soy Free Ration? | Yes | |
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Sliding scale based on policies, enforcement, acreage/cow, days/year on pasture, and permissible exemption. Pasture | 80 | Excellent pasture compliance; most farms use intensive rotational grazing |
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One time/day receives the most points. Two times per day is standard. Times Milked | 90 | Two times a day (standard protocol on legitimate organic dairies) |
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Lower cull rate scores better, with under 10% receiving the most points. Cull/death Rate | 75 | Moderate cull/death rate |
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Farms with closed herds receive the most points. Farms that sell organic calves and buy conventional replacements receive the fewest. Replacements | 90 | Some outside organic animals may be purchased; most have closed herds |
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Standard practice is removing calves shortly after birth, with extra points given for unique ways of managing calves
Calves | 75 | Removed shortly after birth (standard practice) |
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Farms that prohibit antibiotics receive the most points. Farms that allow young stock to receive antibiotics (under one year), receive the fewest.
Antibiotic Use | 100 | No antibiotic use |
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No hormones is the standard, however some farms do use oxytocin for therapeutic purposes. Hormone Usage | 100 | No hormones used |
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Farmstead dairies (owner lives on-site) receive the most points. Fewer points are given as oversight declines. Farm Support | 85 | Representatives visit farms at least once a year, usually more often, and are very involved in farms at the beginning |
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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 | 100 | No outside dairy ingredients used |
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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 | 0 | None |
