Organic Farming

Fonterra Organics is more than a product category. It’s a promise.

A promise of the most natural quality created in the most natural way. Where everything we do is in harmony with nature, and what you get is closer to it. An end product that protects and restores the environment it came from.

It starts with this place. Because New Zealand is the best place in the world to produce organic dairy. We’ve got the perfect climate, location and environment. And we’ve got the very best farmers too.

Farmers who are passionate about the principles of organic farming and preserving our natural environment for future generations. Who understand that a lightness of touch is essential.

What does organic dairy mean?

365 days pasture grazed

Non-GMO & antibiotic free

Pesticide and herbicide free

Organic dairying and how it's different

New Zealand’s natural environment and farming practices are ideally suited to creating certified organic dairy products just the way nature intended. We have over 70 farmers across the North Island who supply our factories certified organic milk.

Farming organically to produce natural organic dairy starts with a commitment to soil, animal and crop health, and ensuring it’s sustainable for generations to come.

The free-range cows graze outdoors on grass 365 days a year and 99% of their diet is fresh green pasture. The small top-up is natural, grass-based hay and silage with a small amount of organic feed crops. We are proud of the farmers in our co-operative who have gone that step further to achieve organic certification.

Globally and here in New Zealand, the demand for organic dairy is growing fast. The demand for organic is being driven by a growing awareness and interest in our food, the impact it has on our health and the health of our environment. People are keen to increase purchases of products and brands that are more sustainable, support animal welfare as well as promoting food safety and employee welfare.

Having all our consumer products and ingredients certified to organic standards provides confidence to our consumers on what they are purchasing.

Janet and Stephen Fleming

Our Organic Farmers

Janet and Stephen Fleming are two of our original organic famers in the Taranaki. They have two farms, milking 540 cross-bred cows a day. They started on their journey to convert to organics in 2004, with the process taking on average 3 years to become fully certified.

They turned to organics because they wanted to be proud of the milk they produced and because it brought benefits to the environment, to their own health and to the health of their herd.

Farming organically is a lifestyle, a passion for the Flemings. Their farming is similar to what other people do, but they’re using sustainable, natural products. While all farming businesses must be profitable this was not the driver for their conversion.

Since the introduction of the Independent Organic Milk Price, this has seen the value of organic milk truly recognised and encouraged conversations with other farmers on the benefits of converting to organic. The Fonterra organic milk price pay out for the FY19/20 season is NZD 9.80 kgMS.

Fonterra organic products and ingredients

By drawing on the rich resource of high-quality organic milk and using state of the art practice, we supply a wide choice of quality certified organic products and ingredients to the world.