LA FARGE, Wis., March 8, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Organic Valley, America's largest cooperative of organic farmers and one of the nation's leading organic brands, today announced that Logan Peterman, a Madison-based agricultural research analyst, will be leading organic research initiatives for Organic Valley. In his role as agricultural research & analytics manager, Peterman will lead on-farm data collection and analysis for farm advisory staff, while simultaneously serving as the liaison to the organic agricultural research community. Peterman also serves on the board of trustees for The Organic Center, a non-profit research and education organization in Washington D.C., and chairs the board's scientific sub-committee.
"Whether it's land-grant universities, extension agencies, local veterinarians, or other agronomic advisers, the science of organic agriculture needs to be leveraged now more than ever," said Peterman. "The organic sector continues to mature and needs to legitimize best practices and share findings to usher in substantial agricultural change, within our cooperative as well as in the sustainable agriculture community at-large."
Peterman formerly served as farmer resource manager for Organic Valley for the past four years, functioning as liaison to the farmer-owned cooperative's in-house team of professionals in veterinary care, ruminant nutrition, agronomy, and animal care who serve the 1,800 members across the country. No stranger to organic soil and animal care himself, Peterman has run his own organic farm in the past, as well.
"Cynics and skeptics have for decades put pressure on the organic community to 'prove it,'" commented George Siemon, CEO and a founding farmer of Organic Valley. "And now, with more peer-reviewed studies emerging, as well as internal data gathered from our own farmer-owners, we can confidently say organic has the science to back it up. We are pleased that Logan will help us lead the charge."
Recent scientific studies on organic foods include a peer-reviewed study of organic milk by Washington State University, a meta-analysis of research on organic crops and produce by Newcastle University, and most recently, two meta-analyses also by Newcastle University which found that organic milk and meat contain up to 50% higher levels of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids.
On behalf of Organic Valley, Peterman will address two groups at the upcoming Natural Products ExpoWest Conference in Anaheim, Calif. On Thursday, March 10 at 10:30 a.m., Peterman will serve on the "Organic & Carbon: The Climate Change Connection" panel in the Marriott Grand Ballroom F as part of the Cultivating Organic Track. On Friday, March 11 at 4:00 p.m., he will speak on the National Cooperative Grocers Panel, "Regenerative Agriculture" at the Hilton, room TBD. Additionally, Organic Valley will have a brand and product presence at booth #2831.
Organic Valley: Independent and Farmer-Owned
Organic Valley is America's largest cooperative of organic farmers and one of the nation's leading organic brands. Organized in 1988, it represents more than 1,800 farmers in 36 states. Focused on its founding mission of saving family farms through organic farming, Organic Valley produces a variety of organic foods, including organic milk, soy, cheese, butter, spreads, creams, eggs, and produce, which are sold in supermarkets, natural foods stores and food cooperatives nationwide. With its regional model, milk is produced, bottled and distributed right in the region where it is farmed to ensure fewer miles from farm to table and to support our local economies. For further information visit www.organicvalley.coop. Organic Valley is also on Twitter @OrganicValley and Facebook www.facebook.com/OrganicValley.
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SOURCE Organic Valley
