Organic dairy farmer’s new role

A Waikato-based organic dairy farmer is ready to get to work as the official farming ambassador for Organic Dairy Hub.

Te Aroha farmer Gavin Fisher was one of the first farmers to supply Fonterra with organic milk and has been a key figure in creating a shift towards organic farming in the dairy industry.

He has more than 20 years of organic and regenerative farming experience, and is ready to take on his new role to educate and advise other farmers on the best practices. Fisher, who has previously spoken at length about his concerns about the risks Genetic Modified Organisms (GMO) pose to the New Zealand farming community, says he’s excited to get to work.

‘‘We [ODH farmers] have a responsibility to our consumers to deliver what they want, and that’s dairy products that aren’t full of nasties, certified organic, grass-fed, GMO free and without the traces of chemicals and pesticides,’’ Fisher said.

‘‘We want to protect our livelihood as farmers in terms of not only being able to supply our local communities but also to export dairy to other countries as well, by adhering to a global standard for organic food.

‘‘This will help to maximise the many hours of labour farmers spend on the farm, ideally resulting in higher return for the farmers.’’

Fisher’s new role is to ensure ODH has processes to support farmers and make organic farming easier.

ODH is the only farmer-owned organic co-operative in New Zealand and chief executive Clay

Fulcher said taking care of their land is a number one priority – without the use of genetic modification, chemical fertilisers, pesticides or insecticides, which can impact the quality and taste of food, and have long-term environmental effects.

‘‘These practices can make organic dairy a tricky industry to navigate, with plenty of restrictions, certifications and other hoops to jump through,’’ Fulcher said.

The demand for organic dairy products has grown immensely over the past few years. ODH expanded from selling raw milk domestically to exporting internationally through its B2B brand A3, as well as launching its e-commerce consumer products brand, Ours Truly Full Cream A3 Milk.

ODH uses AsureQuality and BioGro to certify their land and animals, both based in New Zealand. All ODH products have certified International accreditations on their stickers, so customers know they are buying from an authentic supplier.