Letter from Board of Directors

June 21, 2010

Dear CROPP Dairy Pool Member,

At our May 13th CROPP Board meeting, we approved the attached policy regarding diversions of milk from our cooperative's members' farms. The policy allows for limited diversions such as for cheesemaking and yogurt making only for sales on farm or at farmers’ markets, but prohibits “engaging in the raw milk business”. Sales of products from the approved diversions are only allowed at on-farm stores or farmer's markets.

The policy on raw milk sales was not an easy decision. It was reached by the Board after many of you spent time in committee meetings, at regional meetings, on phone calls, or at the open discussion at the Annual Meeting. Many issues were raised in those meetings, and passionate voices spoke on both sides. Issues ranged from the strong connection many raw milk sellers have made with local consumers, to the breadth of state regulations allowing (or prohibiting) raw milk sales, and to the idea that the cooperative model is one where all join to work together for a common goal.

After hearing all these voices, it came time for your Board to debate and discuss, and ultimately make a decision on this subject. The Board’s vote was a rare 4-3 decision. Our decision was then taken to the DEC for further discussion and possible endorsement. That result was 20 for and 20 against. This reflects the impasse we came to in reaching a clear consensus and led the Board to take the conservative route. At the end of the debate, a central reason for our decision came down to the desire to simply work together cooperatively. We understand that some of our farmers have successfully created businesses based on raw milk sales. We certainly celebrate this return to local food sourcing, and feel strongly that the organic movement is complementary in many ways to the growing local food movement. In those states where raw milk sales are legal, this business can and should provide opportunity for farmers. However, the direct marketing business is simply different than our model of working together. We believe it is important to focus on our model, and be the best at that model - providing opportunity for small to mid-sized organic farmers to market their products for a sustainable pay price.

This policy is addressing the blossoming raw milk business and is not meant to affect raw milk use on the farm and use by those related to your farming operation. Implementing this policy will take cooperation from the producers to make sure this policy is enforced with common sense.

Moving forward, there will be an adjustment period. No members have been terminated, and we hope that none will. All CROPP policies create the boundaries and dimensions we agree to work within. For farmers who are not interested in this particular boundary, we imagine we will part ways. If, in the future, there are members who ignore this policy, we will address that with the member on an individual basis, as we do with all policies. Because we know there are members with customers, and members who have come to rely on the financial benefits of their raw milk sales, we have set the effective date of the policy at January 1, 2011. If you are planning on applying for a diversion allowance for other products, then you need to contact the office for an application which will be due back on September 1 for continuation of your diversion after January 1. We will also be developing a process for the approval of these diversions.

This decision comes from our cooperative's foundation of membership decision process and not from any fear of competition or disapproval of raw milk. 

We welcome your input, concerns and questions.

In Cooperation,

CROPP Board of Directors