General Mills in dairy deal with Organic Valley

General Mills announced a new partnership with Organic Valley that will help 20 dairy farms add 3,000 acres of organic production over the next three years. Organic Valley, the nation’s largest organic cooperative, is already an ingredient supplier for mac and cheese made by Annie’s, which General Mills bought in 2014 for $820 million. The company says it is now the third largest manufacturer of organic foods in the US.

The partnership between General Mills and Organic Valley is intended to increase the organic ingredient supply needed to better meet rising consumer demand for organic products. General Mills plans to source organic ingredients from 250,000 acres of organic farmland by 2019, up from 120,000 in 2015.

The Company is also set to launch the Organic & Regenerative Agriculture Transition Council, which will bring together sustainable agricultural leaders, farmers and industry stakeholders with the mission of advancing organic and regenerative agriculture practices.