Trader’s Point Creamery

Rating
Farm/Brand HeadquartersZionsville, IN
ProductsFluid milk, yogurt
Websitetraderspointcreamery.com
Market AreaIN, IL, Midwest, Northeast, Mid Atlantic
Total Score1120

Trader’s Point Creamery was top-rated (with five cows) in the previous iteration of the scorecard. They have not yet responded to our investigation and so have been downgraded. This is unfortunate because we have every reason to believe their management and exemplary farming practices have not changed. We hope they will follow through with their commitment to send us their survey information, and we can follow up with a site visit, so we can move them back up in the rankings.

CriteriaPointsComment
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
80Family business
Farms that produce 100% of their milk receive the most points. Milk from "open market" or known confinement dairies receive the fewest.
Milk Supply
85Majority of milk from own farm plus some from neighbor
100% organic farms receive the most points. Split operations with conventional dairy on the same property receive the fewest.
Organic Production
100Dedicated to organic production
Farms that completed the survey in detail received the most points.
Disclosure of Information for Verification
0No answer; score downgraded from previous scorecard.
Points determined by integrity of the brand’s organic certifier.
Organic Certification
100ICO & OEFFA
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
0No answer
100% grass-fed with independent verification of standards
Grass-fed
0No answer
No points are given for this but the information may be useful to certain consumers looking to avoid soy.
Soy Free Ration?
NoNo answer. Soy is likely used in feed.
Sliding scale based on policies, enforcement, acreage/cow, days/year on pasture, and permissible exemption.
Pasture
100Fully pasture-based production
One time/day receives the most points. Two times per day is standard.
Times Milked
90Two times a day (standard protocol on legitimate organic dairies)
Lower cull rate scores better, with under 10% receiving the most points.
Cull/death Rate
100No answer
Farms with closed herds receive the most points. Farms that sell organic calves and buy conventional replacements receive the fewest.
Replacements
100Closed herds
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
100No hormones used
Farmstead dairies (owner lives on-site) receive the most points. Fewer points are given as oversight declines.
Farm Support
85Staff live on-farm and visit other farm(s) regularly
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
80Milk powder purchased from known source
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