Farmers seek to resurrect MOO Milk
PHOTO / COURTESY MOO MILK
The MOO Milk brand could be resurrected after its untimely death last week.
Stephen Morrison, co-owner of Clovercrest Farm in Charleston, told the Portland Press Herald that farmers impacted by the folding of Maine's Own Organic Milk would like to continue using the brand if they find a new buyer. He said said they are optimistic a deal could happen soon.
However, the farmers would have to secure naming rights before they could revive the brand.
"At this point, it's too early to tell," Morrison told the newspaper. "We would love to be able to continue under our own name."
The dozen farms that were producing for MOO Milk will have access to an emergency relief fund from the Maine Farm Bureau, a nonprofit organization, while they seek new buyers. The funds were authorized this week.
"It is to administer fast-delivery emergency funds to farmers in the wake of natural disasters or other hardships," Jon Olson, executive director of the Maine Farm Bureau, said in a press release. He said the fund is financed by fundraisers and individual donations.
David Bright, a member of both the Maine Farm Bureau and Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association who helped start MOO Milk in 2009, said in a prepared statement that farms are currently in talks with major brands like Oakhurst Dairy, Organic Valley and Stonyfield.
Stonyfield's yogurt facility in Londonderry, New Hampshire, currently has a wholesale agreement to purchase all of the farmers' milk, but it's set to expire within the next two to three months.
Bright said in a prepared statement that this situation is reminiscent of the one that led to the creation of MOO Milk — which happened as result of farmers losing contracts with Hood.
But there's one major difference this time, he said.
"One big advantage we have now is that we've proven there's strong consumer demand for organic milk, we've established a brand, and the farmers are associated with that brand," Bright said. "Whoever picks up this effort can make a big deal out of working with the MOO Milk farmers."
Bill Eldridge, CEO of MOO Milk, told Mainebiz last week the decision to shut down production was immensely difficult. It happened after a company assessment determined its equipment had a strong likelihood of a "catastrophic failure," and after it determined it could not build a new facility in central Maine fast enough to sustain production. Eldridge said the temporary agreement between farmers and Stonyfield was a key element in moving forward with the shutdown.
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