Seven Stars Farm

Rating
Farm/Brand Headquarters	Phoenixville, PA
Products	Fluid milk, biodynamic
Website	www.sevenstarsfarm.com/index.html
Market Area	East, Southeast, Midwest
Total Score	1571

They write: “Seven Stars Farm is a 425 acre certified Biodynamic dairy farm located in northern Chester County, PA. We are one of the oldest organic farms in the United States, founded in the 1930?s. Since then we have used herbal preparations to enhance the vitality of the soil, plants and animals. With our herd of Jersey cows, we strive to create the ideal farm: a self-sustaining and ecologically balanced system that builds and sustains soil fertility through crop rotation and farm composts. The cows graze from early spring through late fall, coming in only for milking. When necessary to meet demand, we purchase milk from neighboring organic farms. These farms treat their land and animals as we do, with sound Biodynamic and organic practices and plenty of loving care. Thus, all the milk used is of top quality making Seven Stars Organic Yogurt simply the finest yogurt available!

Our yogurt is sold via natural foods distributors, natural foods stores and major food store chains throughout the eastern United States. It is available in four 32oz. flavors: Whole Milk Plain, Maple, Vanilla, and Lemon. For a lighter product, we also provide Low-Fat Plain and Low-Fat Maple. Organic Maple syrup, organic vanilla extract, organic lemon extract and cultures are the only additional ingredients added to our milk. The result is an old-fashioned, European-style yogurt that is unique, delicious and nutritious.

All of our products are NON-GMO verified, Certified Organic, Kosher and amazingly delicious!”

Note that the Seven Stars home farm is certified Biodynamic, but their yogurt is made with help of certified organic milk from our organic partner farms. This makes the final product certified organic, but not certified Biodynamic.

Criteria	Rating	Comment
TOTAL (possible score is 1600) Organic Dairy Scorecard Criteria	1571	5-Cow Rating | Top-Rated—Beyond Organic
Farmstead dairies who live on-site (or work their own dairy daily) receive top points for this category. No transparency and/or no answer receive no points. Ownership structure	100	Farmstead dairy
Farmstead dairies and well-managed cooperatives with only their own patrons get top points in this category. Fewer points go to brands that have less control over their milk supply. Milk Supply	90	Multiple farms around one main farmstead, closely knit
Brands that do not also market any conventional products receive top points in this category. Brands that are less dedicated to organics receive fewer points. Organic Production	100	Brand only markets organic
The best transparency toward Cornucopia investigators is rewarded by full points. Disclosure of Information for Verification	100	Full disclosure
If a top-rated organic certifier certifies this brand they receive full points. Certifiers with questionable practices receive fewer points. Organic Certification	91	Stellar Certification Services for two farms (and organic yogurts); Pennsylvania Certified Organic (PCO) for three farms
If this brand has other third-party labels, particularly animal-welfare labels, that will provide them extra points in this category depending on the particular label and its standards. Other Labels/Standards	100	Home farm is certified biodynamic , salmon safe, some products certified non-GMO
100% Grass-fed with independent verification or independent standards to ensure compliance will receive full points in this category. Other points are attributed to how much forage composes the dairy cows’ diets. Grass-fed	75	Well exceeds usda percent intake requirements
No point value – this information is offered for buyers interested in milk from cows without soy in their diets. Soy Free Ration?		No
Rating based on (a) policies of brand, (b) enforcement/oversight (c) acreage available per cow, (d) average days on pasture (e) investigative actions. Pasture	90	Excellent pasture compliance
Where cows are milked one to two times per day they receive top points. It's standard organic protocol to milk two times a day. Dairies that milk three-to-four times a day is one indicator of factory-organics. Times Milked	90	Two times a day (standard protocol on legitimate organic dairies)
A cull and/or death rate under 10% annually receives full points. Cull/death Rate	60	Moderate cull rate and low death rate
Closed herd (meaning the brand raises all their replacement cattle) receives full points. If conventional animals are purchased, the brand receives fewer points. Replacements	100	Closed herd
If this brand has a unique way of managing calves they receive more points. If they remove the calf shortly after birth (the standard practice) they receive 70 points. Calves	80	Calves raised with mothers for one week before going to group housing
When the brand prohibits all antibiotic use they receive full points. No answer receives no points. Antibiotic Use	100	No antibiotic use
When no hormones are used on farm(s) this brand receives full points. When the brand uses hormones therapeutically post-birth the brand receives 50 points. Hormone Usage	100	No hormones used
Farmstead dairies (lives on site) get full points and cooperative/corporations that set standards and have staff that visit the supplying dairies also receive top points. No direct supervision and/or personal relationship with farm(s) gets low or no points. Farm Support	95	Staff visits farms frequently
Full control of any added ingredients (100% come from within organization) receives top points. Dairy ingredients purchased from a number of different vendors (with less direct control) receives fewer points in this category. Procurement of Ingredients	100	No outside ingredients used
Several questions were asked in addition to the original survey questions that would ultimately give producers “extra credit” points. Look for details in individual brand explanations. Extra Credit	100	With respect to the concern of fraudulent grain imports, this dairy produces 100% of their own feed.