Organic Dairy Initiative

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Funded with a grant from the New York FarmViability Institute

Supported by the Small Farms Program

Consumer Education

New York Organic Milk for New York’s Consumers

Project 36 is a consumer education initiative that evolved out of farmer and consumer concern over an influx of milk entering New York grocery stores from thousands of miles away. Part of the Organic mandate is to reduce our carbon footprint.

Project 36 helps concerned consumers to locate milk processed in New York State on store shelves. The "36" refers to the first two digits of a code stamped on each milk carton that traces the milk to a New York processor. New York plants process mostly New York milk in addition to some milk from neighboring states depending on the plant’s location. Therefore, choosing the “36” carton assures consumers that the milk they are buying is local.

States and their processing Codes

Help spread the word about supporting NY State dairy! Down load these post cards to hand out to interested consumers. Click here to print a PDF of the Post Cards.

Organic Dairy in the News:

New choices mean controversy for milk - features Project 36
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, March 11, 2008

Market Spotlight: Organic Milk
CNN Money, March 4, 2008

Higher milk prices and skyrocketing grain costs may be causing fewer dairy farmers to make the switch to producing organic milk -- a phenomenon that could mean higher prices for organic milk lovers.

Organic Trade Association Opposes Utah's Proposed Action on Dairy Labeling
The Earth Times, February 26, 2008

Aurora Dairy threatens suit against critics
Organic Consumers, October 12, 2007

Organic Dairy Agrees to Alter Some Practices
New York Times, August 30, 2007

Raw Milk - Should this Milk be Legal?
New York Times, August 8, 2007

Organic Milk Supply Expected to Surge as Farmers Pursue a Payoff
New York Times, April 20, 2007

Survey Ranks 'Organic-ness' at Dairies
New York Times, March 22, 2006

British Study Shows Health Benefit from Organic Milk

A British study publicized by The Ecologist in November showed that infants who were fed organic dairy products, and whose mothers consumed organic dairy products during pregnancy, had a 36-percent lower incidence of eczema than those who consumed conventional dairy products. The research was accepted for publication in the peer-reviewed British Journal of Nutrition.