Befitting a year of great success, growth and change, Horizon Organic (Nasdaq: HCOW) was presented with the 2000 Socially Responsible Business Award at a special breakfast during the Natural Products Expo in Baltimore on Sept. 23, 2000. The award recognizes businesses and individuals in the natural products trade that have shown exemplary effort in promoting and practicing socially responsible business. Charles "Chuck" Marcy, President and CEO, accepted the award on behalf or Horizon Organic's employees, farmers and the many company stakeholders who work to build organic and sustainable agriculture.
Commenting on the award, Marcy said, "I know I speak for all Horizon Organic employees when I say that it was an honor to receive this award. It is a tangible reminder that we are on the right path in our mission and vision of furthering organic agriculture, and bringing excellent organic choices to consumers worldwide."

Criteria for the Socially Responsible Business Award include strong performance in six different areas including environmental stewardship, education, employee empowerment and community involvement. Horizon Organic, as the nation's leading organic brand, supports a stakeholder network of more than 200,000 organic acres. This network includes company-owned farms and resources, contracts with co-ops and small family farms, and suppliers that provide organic ingredients ranging from fluid milk to raspberries and chocolate. All efforts to promote the Horizon Organic brand further the company's deeper mission of converting land from conventional to organic methods.

In the area of environmental stewardship, Horizon Organic has restored abandoned conventional dairies in both Idaho and Maryland, converting them to organic practices. Improvements were made to both land and structures at these dairies, including major changes in farming methods to improve the soil. In Maryland, the Horizon Organic facility is located in the heart of the threatened Chesapeake Bay watershed, and the improvements there constitute a major success story for the local aquatic ecosystem.

Horizon Organic was also recognized for its commitment to organic education. This fall, the company is opening the Horizon Organic Farm & Education Center, an outstanding new facility dedicated to the teaching of organic agriculture. This center, located on the site of the historic 875-acre Naval Academy Dairy outside Annapolis, Maryland, is designed to use a working dairy farm environment to educate children, teachers and parents about the benefits of organic dairy, and organic agriculture in general. The centerpiece of the center is its "Discovery Barn," which houses fun, interactive exhibits designed to teach visitors about organic dairy farming, cow care and soil management. The Horizon Organic Farm & Education Center is expected to host tens of thousands of children, teachers and parents during the 2000 school year.

Another recognition for Horizon Organic was high quality of its employment practices and the diversity and openness of its work environment. The company maintains a policy of "Open Book Management," making all published company financial information available to both employees and investors. In the area of community involvement, Horizon Organic makes non-profit contributions to worthy institutions and donates organic food to homeless shelters and food banks. The company also contributes to the cause of educating consumers, retailers and industry members about the benefits of organic agriculture.

The Socially Responsible Business Award follows another significant honor, the Corporate Conscience Award for Environmental Stewardship, given to Horizon Organic earlier this year by the Council on Economic Priorities. The Corporate Conscience Award for Environmental Stewardship is presented annually to companies that have demonstrated a significant mission of environmental stewardship and sustainability.

Horizon Organic Holding Corporation

Horizon Organic Holding Corporation

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