The Rural Voice, 2002-05, Page 27Andres' Harmony Organic Dairy
Products began only last fall but
already markets a full line of 19 dairy
products from milk in glass bottles
and recyclable cartons to chocolate
milk, whipping cream, and half and
half. Processing is carried out by
Hewitt's Dairy in Hagersville which
processes much 'of the province's
goat milk production.
OntarBio has built a whole team
of suppliers from Pine River Cheese
which pioneered organic cheese
production to Alliston Creamery
which produces cream, to Steen
Dairy in Erin which processes fluid
milk. And with its national
distribution chain, "Nobody has the
distribution we have," says
Ackerman proudly.
And if these two processors
aren't enough, a new player
has arrived on the scene:
Sunrich Valley, a co-operative
headed by Richard Graham who is
former general manager of OntarBio,
has gone into operation at Norval.
While the three co-ops might
compete for farmer members among
the relatively small pool of organic
milk producers in Ontario, Andres
sees minimal competition for
consumers in the expanding market.
Many of the distributors want to
concentrate on the lucrative Greater
Toronto Area market where they can
drive fewer miles and make more
calls, but there are people who need
the opportunity to have organic dairy
products in smaller areas outside the
main population centre. As well, he
says, part of his co-op's philosophy
has been to keep prices low enough
that everyone can afford organic
products, though it's a difficult
accomplishment when distributors
and retailers also want their share of
the consumer dollar.
The growth of demand and
availability has been very rewarding
for Andres, the visionary who started
it all. "There's never a day you don't
have to put out fires," he admits. And
the industry is still in its infancy.
"We're short on experience but we
balance it out with enthusiasm and
commitment. People are really fired
up about it and somehow that gets
through to the consumer."
Now it just has to get through to
more producers so the increasing
demand can be met.0
1•
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