Vitamilk Qualifies for the American Humane Association Free Farmed™ Logo

American Humane Association
Tuesday, 26 March 2002

Washington, D.C. – The American Humane Association (AHA) and Farm Animal Services (FAS) today announced at a press conference in Seattle that Vitamilk is the first dairy in the Pacific Northwest to qualify for the Free Farmed program logo. The program certifies that farm animals are raised in a humane manner. The Free Farmed logo assures consumers that Vitamilk's dairy products come from dairy cows that were treated according to AHA's Animal Welfare Standards.

"We are pleased that Vitamilk is the first business in the Pacific Northwest to qualify for the Free Farmed logo," said Adele Douglass, executive director of FAS, which administers and monitors the Free Farmed program. "Consumers across the country currently have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of farm animals by purchasing Free Farmed eggs, dairy, beef and pork products. With the addition of Vitamilk to the program, we add the Pacific Northwest to this growing consumer movement."

"The quality of our dairy foods has always been our top priority. We were the first to have refrigerated storage at our farms and one of the first to transfer milk with refrigerated transports. We are obsessed with freshness and that's more important now than ever with some milk brands sitting in warehouse for weeks before they are delivered to the store. Now we have the best of both worlds with the Free Farmed™ program in place. The better the dairy cow's life and treatment, the better the milk. We believe this completes the circle nicely. We are proud of our farmers and the way they have risen to meet these new challenges. And, we're all proud to be accredited as the first Free Farmed dairy producer in the Pacific Northwest," stated Larry Burns, vice president of Vitamilk.

AHA launched the Free Farmed program in September 2000. The certification program is administered by FAS, a nonprofit organization created by AHA. FAS oversees the inspection, certification, and compliance of producers and other businesses that have applied for the Free Farmed logo. The U.S. Department of Agriculture verifies the FAS inspection process.

Certification is awarded based on Animal Welfare Standards developed by AHA's Scientific Committee. The standards outline housing and environmental conditions for farm animals, and include education standards for farm management and staff. The Scientific Committee includes animal care, veterinary, animal behavior and animal welfare professionals with experience in ethical and humane treatment of animals. Currently, standards are in place for egg-laying hens, broiler chickens, dairy and beef cattle, and pigs. For more information, go to www.freefarmed.org.

Founded in 1877, the American Humane Association is the only national nonprofit dedicated to protecting children and animals from cruelty, abuse and neglect. With headquarters in Colorado, AHA also works in Washington, D.C., as a voice for children and animals before government, and in Los Angeles to protect animals used in film and television.

For more information, or to contact American Humane Association, see their website at: www.americanhumane.org