Organic milk from Alberta will be available in grocery stores in the province in November.
Organic milk shipped from other provinces previously supplied the province’s organic milk market.
In 2007, eight certified organic dairy producers in Alberta agreed to switch to organic production from a traditional dairy to supply Saxby Foods, an organic dairy processor supplying a growing Alberta market.
The milk will be available through Safeway under its O Organics brand.
It takes three years for land to become certified organic and one year for cattle so it is a big commitment for producers to change to organic milk production.
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Arnold Van Os of Wetaskiwin, Alta., saw a good future in organic milk when he made the switch to organic milk production.
“We really see organic sales growing in Alberta,” said Van Os. “I’m excited about organic as a whole.”
Switching to organics has had its challenges. He cannot use antibiotics to treat his mainly Jersey milking cows when sick.
He also cannot spray weeds in the fields with chemicals or use chemical fertilizer. Instead, Van Os tries to compost manure and manage weeds using other control methods.
“We’re managing but it’s a new learning curve.”
Saxby will be processing skim, one percent, two percent and whole milk varieties. Next year, chocolate milk, sour cream, cream cheese and yogurt will be added to their production.
Saxby received $417,648 from the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency to help expand its facilities to process organic milk and products.
