White Mountain Foods
| Rating |  |
| Farm/Brand Headquarters | Austin, TX |
| Products | Yogurt |
| Website | www.whitemountainfoods.com |
| Market Area | Nationwide |
| Total Score | 1130 |
They write: “Since 1980 White Mountain Foods’ mission has been a simple one: to provide our consumers with completely additive and preservative free, minimally processed, organic when possible, tasty, vegetarian foods. All of our products begin with one concept: people before profit. Our ultimate goal is to contribute to changing the way the world eats by providing food that supports our health and does not detract from it.
‘I created White Mountain Foods the way I lived my life. It was not about the money. It was and is about creating and sustaining right livelihood through honest and productive work that enhances individual and community life. My heart was in it. I created delicious health food for a family dinner table. This is our core value.’
Founder, Reed Murray”
| Criteria | Points | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL (possible score is 1600 plus extra credit) | 1130 | 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 | 60 | 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 | Sourced from trusted dairy 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 | 80 | Markets both organic and conventional products, but organic suppliers 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 | 95 | Full disclosure |
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Points determined by integrity of the brand’s organic certifier. Organic Certification | 75 | Texas Department of Agriculture |
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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. Individual farmers may have other certifications. |
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100% grass-fed with independent verification of standards Grass-fed | 40 | Meets USDA percent intake requirements |
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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 | |
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Sliding scale based on policies, enforcement, acreage/cow, days/year on pasture, and permissible exemption. Pasture | 70 | Supplier farms do adequate grazing in a difficult climate. |
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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. Will vary widely between farms. |
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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 | 50 | Conventional cattle may be rotated into organic dairy 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 hormone use |
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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 supplier that sets standards and has a staff that visits farms regularly |
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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 | Outside ingredients from trusted sources |
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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 |
