Smari Organics
| Rating |  |
| Farm/Brand Headquarters | Petaluma, CA |
| Products | Yogurt (skyr) |
| Website | smariorganics.com |
| Market Area | Nationwide |
| Total Score | 1120 |
They write: “In Iceland, we call yogurt “skyr.” It’s thick, high in protein and calcium, and low in sugar. It kept our Viking ancestors strong through long dark winters.
This is the yogurt of Icelander, Smari. When Smari came of age, he moved from Iceland to California. Then, a few years ago, he became a father. He began thinking about what to feed his son. He wished more foods were tasty enough to make a child happy, and healthy enough to make a parent feel good. He realized the world needed an organic Icelandic yogurt.
Smari is the only certified organic Icelandic yogurt in the U.S. Our milk is from pasture-based, family-farm cows never treated with hormones and our fruit is grown without pesticides and herbicides. We think pure, natural food tastes more interesting than factory-farmed stuff. And it’s better for you. Better for your kids, too.
By implementing authentic Icelandic methods, Smari boasts the highest protein content per ounce of any yogurt on the market: 20 – 30% higher than Greek yogurt. It?s also lower in sugar and, due to the straining process, ultra thick, creamy, and delicious.
Spoons speak of it in awe. According to legend, people in remote Iceland villages eat it with a knife and fork. It may be the best yogurt on earth.” This brand is found nationwide at Sprouts, Whole Foods, NCG, and other smaller retailers.”
| Criteria | Points | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL (possible score is 1600 plus extra credit) | 1120 | 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 | 70 | Family-run corporation |
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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 | 70 | Milk supplied by highly-rated milk cooperative |
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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 | 90 | Processes both organic and conventional products; organic farms do not have split operations |
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Farms that completed the survey in detail received the most points.
Disclosure of Information for Verification | 90 | Excellent disclosure |
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Points determined by integrity of the brand’s organic certifier. Organic Certification | 100 | Midwest Organic Services Association (MOSA) |
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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 | 0 | None. Produces are kosher and gluten free. |
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100% grass-fed with independent verification of standards Grass-fed | 50 | Meets minimum standards for grazing |
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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? | No - soy may be included in feed. | |
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Sliding scale based on policies, enforcement, acreage/cow, days/year on pasture, and permissible exemption. Pasture | 75 | Good pasture compliance |
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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 | 0 | supplier did not answer this question |
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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 | 100 | 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 | 60 | A portion of milk supplied may use hormones therapeutically |
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Farmstead dairies (owner lives on-site) receive the most points. Fewer points are given as oversight declines. Farm Support | 60 | Cooperative staff visits farms at least once a year but brand representatives do not visit the farms |
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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 | 90 | High integrity outside 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 |
