Organic pioneer honored by OTA for leading the way in organic and carbon-neutral dairy farming
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 16, 2025 – The Organic Trade Association (OTA) has honored Albert Straus, founder of Straus Family Creamery and a second-generation organic dairy farmer, with its prestigious Organic Lifetime Achievement Award. A pioneer in organic dairy farming and sustainable agriculture, Straus has been at the forefront of advancing carbon-neutral dairy farming models that are shaping the future of organic food and agriculture.
Straus has dedicated more than three decades to producing award-winning organic dairy products while transforming the food system through ecological practices, farmer viability, and climate innovation. In 1994, he transitioned his family’s Straus Dairy Farm to become the first certified organic dairy west of the Mississippi and founded Straus Family Creamery, the nation’s first 100% certified organic creamery. Today, Straus Dairy Farm is developing a replicable carbon-neutral organic dairy farming model, with a goal of achieving net-neutral emissions across all 13 of Straus Family Creamery’s supplying farms by 2030.
Straus was also one of the earliest dairy farmers in California to install a methane digester and the first to implement a carbon farm plan on a U.S. dairy. His leadership and climate-first approach to farming have earned recognition worldwide, including being named one of Fast Company’s “Most Creative People in Business.”
“I am truly honored to receive this award,” said Straus. “My lifelong mission is to create a replicable organic dairy farming model that sustains family farms, fosters the next generation of farmers, and revitalizes rural communities — all made possible by producing high-quality, delicious organic products that nourish people and positively impact our planet.”
The Organic Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to individuals who have dedicated their careers to the furtherance of organic agriculture and trade, providing vision, solutions, and the leadership required to make them a reality. This year, Straus was recognized alongside David Lively of Organically Grown Company. Other honorees included Russell Redding, Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture, and leaders from Frontier Co-op, Baugher Ranch Organics, PURIS, and Vallaeys Consulting.
“Albert’s pioneering vision has helped build the foundation for today’s organic dairy movement,” said Matthew Dillon, Co-CEO of the Organic Trade Association. “His leadership in sustainability and climate innovation is inspiring not only within the organic sector but for agriculture at large.”
The recognition took place on September 15 at OTA’s Organic Week 2025 Leadership Awards in Washington, D.C., which annually celebrates individuals driving the growth of the organic sector and strengthening its positive impact on people and the planet.
About the Organic Trade Association
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is the membership-based business association for organic agriculture and products in North America. OTA is the leading voice for the organic trade in the United States, representing organic businesses and producers across the nation. Its members include growers, shippers, processors, certifiers, farmers’ associations, distributors, importers, exporters, consultants, brands, retailers and others. OTA’s mission is to promote and protect ORGANIC with a unifying voice that serves and engages its diverse members from farm to marketplace.
Media Contact:
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Mindy Fox and Olga Katsnelson
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