Sunrise Family Farms

Rating
Farm/Brand HeadquartersNorwich, NY
ProductsFluid milk, cheese, yogurt, kefir, buttermilk
Websitewww.fiveacrefarms.com/farmers/sunrise-family-farms/
Market AreaNJ, NY
Total Score1375
CriteriaPointsComments
TOTAL (possible score is 1600 plus extra credit) 1375
4-Cow Rating | Excellent
Farmstead dairies earn the most points. Corporations that have a history of skirting the organic rules receive the fewest.
Ownership structure
90Family business; close contact with all farmers
Farms that produce 100% of their milk receive the most points. Milk from "open market" or known confinement dairies receive the fewest.
Milk Supply
80Own patrons from small family farms with some milk from other highly-rated suppliers on an as-needed basis
100% organic farms receive the most points. Split operations with conventional dairy on the same property receive the fewest.
Organic Production
90Markets both organic and conventional products, including non-GMO (split operations)
Farms that completed the survey in detail received the most points.
Disclosure of Information for Verification
90Good disclosure
Points determined by integrity of the brand’s organic certifier.
Organic Certification
100EcoCert ICO
Animal Welfare Approved and Biodynamic certifications receive the most bonus points. Producers are not penalized for not having additional certifications beyond organic.
Other Labels/Standards
20Some of the milk supply is PCO 100% grassfed certified
100% grass-fed with independent verification of standards
Grass-fed
80Markets grassfed; exceeds USDA percent intake requirements
No points are given for this but the information may be useful to certain consumers looking to avoid soy.
Soy Free Ration?
No (some farms, including Evans Farmhouse are soy-free, others are not)
Sliding scale based on policies, enforcement, acreage/cow, days/year on pasture, and permissible exemption.
Pasture
90Superb pasture compliance; average 2 acres per cow
One time/day receives the most points. Two times per day is standard.
Times Milked
90Two times a day (standard protocol on legitimate organic dairies)
Lower cull rate scores better, with under 10% receiving the most points.
Cull/death Rate
90Low average cull and death rate
Farms with closed herds receive the most points. Farms that sell organic calves and buy conventional replacements receive the fewest.
Replacements
100Closed herds (all replacements raised in-farm)
Standard practice is removing calves shortly after birth, with extra points given for unique ways of managing calves
Calves
75Removed shortly after birth (standard practice)
Farms that prohibit antibiotics receive the most points. Farms that allow young stock to receive antibiotics (under one year), receive the fewest.
Antibiotic Use
100No antibiotic use
No hormones is the standard, however some farms do use oxytocin for therapeutic purposes.
Hormone Usage
100No hormone use
Farmstead dairies (owner lives on-site) receive the most points. Fewer points are given as oversight declines.
Farm Support
90All farms visited regularly by staff
All ingredients sourced from inside the organization or on the farm receives the highest points. Ingredients from confinement factory farms and/or imported ingredients receive the fewest.
Procurement of Ingredients
90Outside ingredients (fluid milk) from trusted sources
Various levels of extra credit given for 1) providing full organic systems plan, 2) providing details on all farms (multi-farm brands, details on largest five required), and 3) sourcing feed on-farm or domestically.
Extra Credit
0None