“Upländer” Farmers’ Dairy in Hesse is 10 years old

The Chairman of the Board, Josef Jakobi, and the Managing Director, Karin Artzt-Stein brink (picture) celebrated the tenth anniversary of the Upländer Dairy - for a decade in the hands of organic farmers - as a resounding success. Well above 300 visitors came to the celebrations last weekend to offer their congratulations and to join in the festivities. However, the organisers were not content with just celebrating - an extremely interesting day of seminars providing information on genetic engineering was attended by around 50 participants.

Picture: Josef Jakobi and Karin Artzt-Steinbrink

The dairy that is located in Usseln on the border between Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia has a long tradition. After closing, it was started up again a year later in September 1996 by a new operating company. At that time, organic farms in northern Hesse were looking for a processing plant and they risked taking over the dairy in Usseln. The farmers are both suppliers of the raw material and the main shareholders in the dairy. This means that “farmers’ dairy” is not just a name but the concept underlying the enterprise.  In the early days, 18 farmers supplied a million litres of organic milk a year to the new Upländer Farmers’ Dairy; today 95 producers supply 17 million litres of organic milk a year, the major contribution coming from Hesse.

(Picture: the Upländer Farmers’ Dairy’s milk shop in its own building)

The state of the milk market is problematic but the Upländer Farmers’ Dairy has established itself by creating new ideas and by developing the rather unusual structural concept that is implemented by its committed employees. The dairy is the biggest employer in the town (30 permanent jobs, 10 temporary jobs) and, with a whole range of activities, it is fully integrated in the region. From the outset, various methods of financing the enterprise were used: as well as farmers investing capital, other private shareholders are involved. There is also an Organic Dairy Investment Fund run by the Association for the Protection of the Environment and Nature and an Organic Farmers’ Investment Company and a lot of people take advantage of one of these opportunities to invest in the dairy.

In the spring of 2005 “Fair Milk” was “invented” by Upländer Farmers’ Dairy. Since then, five cents per litre have been transferred direct to the farmers. Since 1 October 2006 new packaging with the “Fair” label and “No GM” stamp has been used. Although experts predicted a drop in turnover of 10-15 %, the initiative has been a complete success. Up to 30 % more milk is being sold in each shop. In the meantime, Tegut and Alnatura have followed suit. The positive response may well be due in part to wide coverage in the media.

The company appeals to customers by means of various activities, and constantly rising sales are proof that consumers have understood the company’s concept and give it their support. In addition to the high quality of the products, projects have been conducive to the growth in sales. With its museum of milk, where there are lots of things for visitors to do, and the organic information centre the company appeals to  all age groups. Coaches bring schoolchildren and tourists in their thousands every year to find out about milk processing in the past. Interesting presentations and tasty samples leave the company’s guests in no doubt that Upländer milk products are a real treat.

A milk café on a raised level has been incorporated in the museum of milk and here visitors can enjoy a whole range of milk drinks, coffee and juices together with waffles, apple strudel and herb bread.

The Organic School Milk Project, Milk Without Genetic Engineering and the Project Producer-Fair Milk are a source of background information and help people to understand the origin of food and the state of the country’s agricultural industry. Other demonstration projects for school children and tourists are the Upländer Milk Garden and the Upländer Milk Trail. Brochures are available containing information on both activities that involve people following a trail through the surrounding area that illustrates the basis of milk production in the natural environment.

The Upländer Farmers’ Dairy celebrated its tenth anniversary with a variety of events. While Friday 29 September 2006 was for the official speeches, Saturday concentrated on the topic “Genetic Engineering in Food”. On Sunday, a harvest festival was held in the church, followed by an organic regional market and party.

(Picture: Detailed documentation ensures that visitors are well informed)

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