Hawthorne Valley Farm And Creamery
| Rating |  |
| Product offerings | Retail cuts |
| Website | farm.hawthornevalley.org |
| Market area | Locally in NY, farm direct |
| Location | Ghent, NY |
| Specialty labels | Animal Welfare Approved, biodynamic |
| Participated in Survey? | No |
| Total Score | 770 |
This brand did not participate in Cornucopia’s survey. Hawthorne Valley Farm and Creamery is part of a non-profit for local Waldorf school. This brand sells at the Hawthorne Valley Farm Store, Farmer’s Markets, through a CSA, and local retail stores and markets.
They write: “At Hawthorne Valley Farm, we’ve been dedicated to producing high quality food for more than 35 years. Our biodynamic farming practices reflect our commitment to protecting the health of the earth and all who live on it, and our education and outreach programs strive to raise awareness of the social, ecological, and economic importance of agriculture in our daily lives.”
This farm is certified by the Real Organic Project:
| Criteria | Points | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL (possible score is 1100) | 770 | 4-Steak |
Farms that participated in Cornucopia’s research providing full transparency receive the most points. Transparency and Disclosure | 50 | Did not participate; investigation found some information |
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Family farms and farmer cooperatives that market their own beef receive the most points. Corporations that do not directly produce any beef receive the fewest points.
Ownership History | 90 | Non-profit farm |
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Beef sourced from a single operation receives the most points. Beef of unclear origins and/or with poor oversight receives the fewest points. Beef Supply | 90 | Likely single-farm/ranch source |
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Farms that are 100% certified organic receive the most points, farms/brands that are split conventional and organic receive fewer points. Commitment to Organics | 50 | Appears committed to organic label, but did not participate, can't confirm |
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This category is non-scoring and provided for information purposes. Organic Certifier | NOFA-NY | |
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Animal Welfare Approved, Real Organic Project, and Biodynamic certifications receive the most bonus points. Producers are not penalized for not having additional certifications beyond organic.
Other Labels and Standards | 100 | Real Organic Project, Biodynamic and Animal Welfare Approved |
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100% grass-fed and finished or cattle finished with site-grown supplement receives the most points. Cattle finished exclusively in a feedlot receive the fewest points. Beef Finishing | 90 | 100% grass fed, finished on pasture, AWA requires high welfare |
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Points are awarded for quantity of time cattle are on pasture above and beyond what the USDA requires, and for the quality and care of the pasture. Pasture and Grazing Management | 75 | Rotational grazing management, appear to care for pastures |
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Brands that closely monitor and manage for health of soil, native species, and water quality receive the most points. Environmental Stewardship | 75 | Some evidence of good land stewardship, through biodynamic practices and devoting farm land to wildlife preservation |
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Cattle finished on pasture or on feed that is grown on-farm or procured locally receive the most points. Feed of unknown origin, or known to be imported, receives the fewest points. Feed Sourcing | 75 | At least some feed produced on site, otherwise unknown |
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Lower cull and death rates recieve more points. Cull and Death Rates | 0 | Unknown |
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More points are given for greater frequency of contact and close management with cattle and closed herds. Oversight | 75 | Evidence of good oversight, unknown if closed herd |
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Brands may receive extra credit for above and beyond transparency, or special practices not otherwise covered in the scorecard (see description for an explanation). Extra credit | 0 | None |
