The time has come! TOMORROW we welcome friends and sponsors to the 2014 Blend Retreat in Park City, Utah! After months and months of planning, we can’t express how amazing this weekend will be! Stay tuned for recaps and pictures – if you’re following throughout the weekend, our official hashtag is #blend2014!
Today’s Q & A comes from our HIKE sponsor, Organic Valley!! We LOVE this company and their whole approach to organic foods and we’re especially excited about the hike! NYC Celebrity Trainer, Joel Harper (!!!) will be leading us up the mountain this year! (Go here to learn more about Joel! He’s pretty amazing!) Read on and get to know Organic Valley a little bit more! (And for Blend 2014 attendees – be sure to read below about the in-retreat GIVEAWAY that OV is hosting!)
Q: How long has Organic Valley been around? Can you tell us a little bit about how and why you got started?
A: Organic Valley began in 1988 with a group of Wisconsin farmers who shared a love of the land. Frustrated by the loss of nearly 2,000 family farms each week and the staggering number threatened with extinction, these farmers banded together to create a solution: organic agriculture. 
Today, Organic Valley is America’s largest cooperative of organic farmers with more than 1,800 farm families across the country. We still operate as a “big bunch of little guys” to keep farmers on the land.
Q: What products does Organic Valley specialize in?
A: Our farm families make farm fresh products that are as nutritious as they are delicious. Organic Valley offers organic cheese, butter, spreads, creams, eggs, soy and produce, but we’re best known for our organic milk. With our regional model, milk is produced, bottled and distributed right in the region where it is farmed to ensure fewer miles from farm to table and to support our local economies.
Q: What sets Organic Valley apart from your competitors?
A: Organic Valley is always organic, farming without antibiotics or synthetic hormones and pesticides, pasturing animals, and ensuring the land is preserved for future generations. This results in great tasting products people feel good about feeding themselves and their families. Recent scientific research confirmed our milk is healthier, too.
Beyond that, being farmer-owned and independent has allowed us to stay true to our original mission. Our farmer-owners pay themselves a stable, sustainable pay price, which is set by a farmer board of directors elected by the membership – true democracy in action!
Q: We are SO excited to have Organic Valley at Blend Retreat. How will you be involved this year?
A: Organic Valley is launching the first-ever organic milk protein shakes made from real organic milk—no chalky powders—and simple fair trade ingredients. Organic Balance is ideal for a quick meal or snack on the go, and Organic Fuel, with 26 grams of protein, is powerful post-workout nutrition. 
We are excited to preview these new products to Blend attendees, so we’ll be hosting the Saturday morning hike with NYC celebrity trainer Joel Harper. Bloggers and friends will receive product samples (before the new products hit store shelves!), DVDs from Joel and other Organic Valley goodies throughout the weekend.
Q: We are excited to try your products at the retreat! But maybe we don’t want to wait.. so tell us, where can we find your products for purchase?
A: Organic Valley products can be found in supermarkets, natural foods stores and food cooperatives nationwide. Our new organic milk protein shakes will be available at these retailers in June!
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Blend 2014 Attendee GIVEAWAY!!
We are giving away a 6-month supply of Organic Valley products to two (2) lucky winners. Blend attendees who snap a photo during the Organic Valley hike, tag #purededication and @organicvalley, and share it via Twitter or Instagram will be entered to win!
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