LA FARGE, WI "“ November 11, 2008 - This holiday season, Organic Valley Family of Farms is holding "Celebrate Organic", a national recipe contest that calls on individuals to share their favorite holiday recipes featuring organic ingredients. On behalf of each participant, the farmer-owned cooperative will donate $1 to an environmental organization.

Deadline of submissions is Dec. 31, 2008.

Organic Valley has selected four non-profits "“ all focused on earth stewardship "“ as the contest benefactors: Bioneers, Ecotrust, Environmental Working Group, and Waterkeeper Alliance. As part of Celebrate Organic, Organic Valley will donate up to $5,000 to each organization.

Organic Valley Awards Top Recipe Entrants

To be eligible to win, entered recipes must include one or more ingredients from Organic Valley, such as dairy, eggs, juice, soy milk, or produce, and/or meat products from Organic Prairie, the meat brand from the same organic farmers’ cooperative. Detailed contest rules can be found at www.organicvalley.coop/celebrate.

Recipes may be selections for holiday meals, parties or food gifts. Organic Valley encourages entrants to share details on the recipes’ origins, what it means to the entrant, and when or how the entrant shares it with others. Categories include appetizers and snacks, side dishes, main courses, holiday sweets, and breads and baked goods. In January 2009, a panel of Organic Valley employees and farmers will taste and select their favorite recipes from each category. Winning entries will be announced and posted after March 1 at www.organicvalley.coop/celebrate.

Among the prizes:

Grand Prize: Celebrate Organic Culinary Experience, a one-day local food adventure specially designed for the grand-prize winner and up to three guests. An Organic Valley farm family will host the winner on his or her farm for a tour and special organic meal presented by a local, organic chef.

First Prize: Butter for a Year, in which winners in each of the five categories will receive 52 coupons for any Organic Valley butter.

"Holiday food is meaningful fare "“ it connects us to each other and to our roots. By choosing organic ingredients, we can also celebrate our connection with the earth," said Sarah Bratnober, Marketing Director at Organic Valley. "We're hoping food lovers nationwide will celebrate their holiday traditions with a special recipe, delicious organic ingredients, and the opportunity to support a cause that truly gives back to the earth."

Organic Valley Family of Farms: Independent and Farmer-Owned

Organic Valley is America's largest cooperative of organic farmers and is one of the nation's leading organic brands. Organized in 1988, it represents 1,296 farmers in 35 states and one Canadian province, and achieved $432.5 million in 2007 sales. 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, produce and juice, which are sold in supermarkets, natural foods stores and food cooperatives nationwide. The same farmers who produce for Organic Valley also produce a full range of delicious organic meat under the Organic Prairie Family of Farms label. For further information, call 1-888-444-MILK or visit www.organicvalley.coop, www.organicprairie.com and the cooperative's farmer website, www.farmers.coop.

Organic Valley

Organic Valley

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 1,766 farmers in 35 states and three Canadian provinces, and achieved $715 million in 2011 sales. 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, produce and juice, 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. The same farmers who produce for Organic Valley also produce a full range of delicious organic meat under the Organic Prairie label. For further information, call 1-888-444-MILK or visit www.organicvalley.coop, www.organicprairie.coop and the cooperative's farmer website, www.farmers.coop. Organic Valley is also on Twitter @Organic_Valley and Facebook www.facebook.com/OrganicValley.

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