Horizon Organic dairy products will be pulled from shelves next month at Washington State's PCC Natural Markets in the latest "battle for the soul of the organic movement." The grocery chain's management alleges that Horizon's heifers are kept in confined spaces without adequate access to pasture. Several other food co-ops nationwide have stopped selling the company's milk, yogurt, butter and other products for the same animal-rights reasons, and a campaign launched in June by the Organic Consumers Association urges shoppers to boycott the brand.

The Cornucopia Institute's photos of the Horizon herd are certainly depressing, especially next to images of happy cows munching grass on family farms. Sure, maybe Cornucopia lays it on a little thick in this photo essay (and mentioning that farmworkers live in mobile homes on nearby land seems a tad unnecessary), but they've pointed to a truly important issue for eco-foodies: The organic label used to guarantee that farm animals were raised in the most humane and environmentally sensitive way possible, and now it doesn't. While I have no doubt that Horizon treats its cows as gently and humanely as any large-scale dairy operation could, studies have shown that feeding cows grain (as the company does) causes them pain and leads to disease; keeping them packed into enclosed spaces, meanwhile, causes them discomfort and damages the environment.
 
Funny thing is, Horizon's large-scale operations don't even make it more affordable than other organic brands; at my local supermarkets and natural-foods stores, its products are equally expensive as or even pricier than the ones made with milk from organic family farms. If the company takes the recent boycotts to heart and considers options for reducing potential stress on its animals, it will be commendable. If not, then Horizon products won't be worth their premium price.

Posted by Christy Harrison on Aug 25, 2006 at 4:43 PM
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