The Wedge Co-Op in Minneapolis, one of the oldest and largest natural food co-ops in the nation, inks a deal to buy Gardens of Eagan organic farm. The farm's owners, Martin and Atina Diffley, have farmed organically for 35 years. "Martin and I knew we didn't want to keep farming into our senior years and that our children did not want to take over the farm," said Atina Diffley. "So, in recent years, we asked, 'how can we protect the integrity of the farm without owning it?' The answer was a deal with the Wedge, which plans to run the farm as an educational center for its members and customers.
Stonyfield Farm converts its entire product line to organic, completing a 25 year dream, according to President Gary Hirshberg. The company sources its milk from Organic Valley, the dairy cooperative that has seen a huge rise in supply with the conversion of a record number of farms last year.
The Galveston County Daily News has a good read on what's driving the current price rise in conventional milk (everything from the Australian drought to demand from China). "Debbie Loman of Texas City said she stopped buying fluid milk altogether after watching prices creep up week after week. Now she buys evaporated milk and mixes it with water. 'You learn to economize,' she said."