Press Release
Hannaford becomes first major supermarket to join Northeast Organic Family Farm Partnership
Sep. 20, 2023
Description
Hannaford “Local Matters” campaign highlights, supports local organic dairy farms in New England and New York
Details:
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, September 20, 2023
Hannaford becomes first major supermarket to join Northeast Organic Family Farm Partnership
Hannaford “Local Matters” campaign highlights, supports local organic dairy farms in New England and New York
CONCORD, N.H. - Hannaford Supermarkets has become the first supermarket to join a major effort to support organic dairy farms facing challenges in New England and New York.
The Northeast Organic Family Farm Partnership came together in 2021 when cancellations of major supply contracts, impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, and other economic factors created unprecedented pressure onorganic dairy farms across the region. Vermont saw 62 organic dairies close between January 2020 and August 2023, with similar impact across all New England and New York.
For the coming year, Hannaford is committing to promote four brands that are part of the Northeast Organic Family Farm Partnership. The Hannaford “Local Matters” campaign will highlight local organic dairy and make it easier for customers to find organic dairy offerings in store. The focus of the partnership is translating consumer support for local farms into more decisions to buy local organic products.
“We know our customers value the local family farms that make organic dairy possible,” said Sue Till, healthy living and sustainability marketing manager for Hannaford Supermarkets. “Our goal with this partnership is to emphasize the many benefits – preserving rural agriculture, availability of unique local products, and more – that local organic dairy farms make possible. We are pleased to join the Northeast Organic Family Farm Partnership in helping to create a strong foundation for organic dairy in our region.”
Customers will see four organic dairy partners highlighted at Hannaford:
- Organic Valley receives milk from more than 250 farms in New England and New York with an average herd size of 70 cows.
- Stonyfield Organic receives all of its raw milk from farms in New England and the Northeast; 80 percent of its milk from Organic Valley and an additional 36 New England farms direct supply totaling 16,000 acres of organically-managed farmland.
- The Milkhouse supplies yogurt made with organic milk from its 380-acre farm in Monmouth, Maine.
- Butterworks, the oldest certified organic dairy in Vermont, makes 100% grass-fed yogurt, kefir, and buttermilk with milk from its 400-acre farm in Westfield, Vermont.
Gary Hirshberg, co-founder and Chief Organic Optimist at Stonyfield Organic in Londonderry, N.H., announced the founding of Northeast Organic Family Farm Partnership in January 2021. According to Hirshberg, retail partnerships like the one with Hannaford open the way for consumers to support local organic dairy through their decisions.
“Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and New York are blessed with an extraordinary group of committed, often multi-generational family farmers and processors who work tirelessly to provide organic dairy products,” said Hirshberg. “When consumers buy brands committed to sourcing organic milk from these farms, it sends a strong message that we value their role in our communities and we want them to stay in business.”
Travis Forgues, Executive Vice President of Membership at Organic Valley, also cited how customer-facing partnerships such as this one support the long-term sustainability of small organic family farms in the Northeast.
“By choosing to shop at retail partners such as Hannaford and selecting brands such as Organic Valley, customers are not only bringing nourishing food to their family's table, but also helping to sustain the long-standing tradition of small organic family farms in the Northeast,” said Forgues.
“By choosing to shop at retail partners such as Hannaford and selecting brands such as Organic Valley, customers are not only bringing nourishing food to their family's table, but also helping to sustain the long-standing tradition of small organic family farms in the Northeast,” said Forgues.
The Northeast Organic Family Farm Partnership is active with other initiatives to support organic farmers. In addition to ongoing efforts to promote more than 30 brands with consumers, the partnership announced a project in August that will supply bulk organic milk from a local dairy to four Vermont public schools.
About Hannaford Supermarkets
Hannaford Supermarkets operates 186 stores in the Northeast, most with full-service pharmacies. Stores are located in Maine, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. All are committed to offering great fresh food, convenient experiences and everyday low prices. Hannaford also is an active and committed community partner—focusing on fighting hunger, supporting youth development, and helping people live healthier lives. Hannaford is an industry leader in sustainability with a strong commitment to reducing waste and protecting the environment. Hannaford diverts or donates all food at risk of going to waste—sending no food to landfills. In 2022, Hannaford donated 25 million pounds of food to hunger relief organizations and prevented 65 million pounds of food waste from reaching landfills. Hannaford employs nearly 30,000 associates and is based inScarborough, Maine. Additional information can be found at Hannaford.com.
About the Northeast Organic Family Farm Partnership
In 2021, 135 organic family farms across Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and eastern New York received the sudden news that Horizon and Maple Hill Creamery were terminating their purchase contracts, effective in early 2023. This news put these farms, many of whom have been in business for generations, at serious risk of closure unless they find alternate outlets. The Northeast Organic Family Farm Partnership, a first-of-its-kind collaboration of farmers, processors, retailers, activists, and government agencies, invites consumers to pledge to purchase at least one-fourth of their weekly organic dairy purchases from brands that have committed to sourcing their dairy from Northeast organic family farmers. A central goal of the effort is to increase demand for dairy produced in our region, creating market stability to help organic farms and build greater food system resilience for the future. For more information about the Northeast Organic Family Farm Partnership, visit www.saveorganicfamilyfarms.org.
In 2021, 135 organic family farms across Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and eastern New York received the sudden news that Horizon and Maple Hill Creamery were terminating their purchase contracts, effective in early 2023. This news put these farms, many of whom have been in business for generations, at serious risk of closure unless they find alternate outlets. The Northeast Organic Family Farm Partnership, a first-of-its-kind collaboration of farmers, processors, retailers, activists, and government agencies, invites consumers to pledge to purchase at least one-fourth of their weekly organic dairy purchases from brands that have committed to sourcing their dairy from Northeast organic family farmers. A central goal of the effort is to increase demand for dairy produced in our region, creating market stability to help organic farms and build greater food system resilience for the future. For more information about the Northeast Organic Family Farm Partnership, visit www.saveorganicfamilyfarms.org.
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Media Contact:
Caitlin Cortelyou
External Communications Manager, Hannaford Supermarkets
207-885-3132
Carmelle Druchniak
Scout PR, on behalf of the Northeast Organic Family Farm Partnership
Scout PR, on behalf of the Northeast Organic Family Farm Partnership
603-785-8027
carmdru@gmail.com