Supply Chain Director, Kalona Organics
A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Kalona Organics with Phil Forbes | Milk Chats
In this episode of Milk Chats, Emily had the opportunity to sit down with Phil Forbes, the Supply Chain Director at Kalona Organics. As an integral part of the company, Phil’s work ensures that the milk from Kalona’s farms is of the highest quality when it reaches your fridge. With nearly 18 years of experience in the organic farming industry, Phil offers a unique and insightful perspective on the challenges and triumphs of keeping an organic supply chain running smoothly.
The Role of a Supply Chain Director at Kalona Organics
Phil’s role at Kalona Organics is multifaceted, but his primary responsibility lies in managing the link between the farms and the creamery. As the person overseeing the supply chain, he ensures that the milk is of the highest quality when it leaves the farm and ultimately reaches consumers in the best condition. His work involves regular communication with farmers, quality checks, and constant problem-solving to maintain the standard of Kalona’s organic milk. In his words, “The link between the farm and how it gets to the plant is critical.”
Farmers, particularly those in the Amish community, often face the challenge of turning raw animal products into something safe for human consumption. Phil’s role is to offer guidance, support, and mentorship to these farmers, helping them maintain high standards while ensuring that their methods remain rooted in organic practices. The relationship between Kalona SuperNatural and its farmers is built on trust, with Phil offering both praise and constructive feedback to support their efforts.
Training and Trust: The Key to Organic Farming
Many of Kalona’s farmers come from Amish backgrounds, where organic practices are often second nature. Since they were raised in farming families, they already understand the basics of organic farming, such as avoiding chemical pesticides. However, there are still plenty of details to work out, and that’s where Phil comes in. He works with the farmers on specific organic practices, helping them navigate challenges and offering advice on everything from seed selection to maintaining organic certification.
Phil explains that much of what the farmers do has been handed down through generations. His job is not to start from scratch, but to fine-tune their processes to ensure everything aligns with Kalona’s high-quality standards. Whether it’s tweaking equipment or providing feedback on a rising bacteria level in the milk, Phil is there every step of the way.
The Miracle of Fresh Organic Milk
One of the most fascinating parts of Phil’s role is ensuring that the milk remains fresh and high-quality, even as it travels across the country. Kalona’s milk is unique because it’s not pasteurized to a point where everything is killed off. This means that the milk still contains live bacteria, which gives it its signature fresh taste. Maintaining this level of freshness is no small feat.
Phil often finds himself on the farms, troubleshooting any issues that may arise in the production process. The key to the milk’s quality starts with the farm, and Phil’s role is to ensure that the process runs smoothly. He relies on daily feedback from the lab, which tests milk samples for components like butterfat, protein, and bacteria. If something’s off, Phil takes swift action, visiting the farms to investigate and correct the problem.
Regenerative Agriculture: The Future of Farming
During the chat, Phil also touched on regenerative agriculture, an emerging concept that’s gaining momentum in the farming world. Regenerative agriculture goes beyond simply maintaining the soil and environment—it’s about creating a system that actually regenerates and improves while producing crops. It’s the next level of sustainability and is closely aligned with the organic practices Kalona promotes.
Phil explained that, unlike conventional agriculture, which extracts from the land, regenerative farming works to give back. It’s a holistic approach to farming that ensures both environmental and economic sustainability, and it’s a philosophy that Kalona is actively adopting. This forward-thinking approach is helping to make farms more resilient and sustainable for future generations. Kalona Farms are verified regenerative by Land to Market.
Challenges and Opportunities in the Organic Dairy Industry
The organic dairy industry has faced several challenges in recent years, but there are also plenty of positive developments. Phil mentioned two major changes that are having a significant impact on the industry: the decline in the sales of plant-based milk alternatives and a regulatory shift in organic dairy farming practices.
The first change relates to the decreasing demand for plant-based beverages like almond “milk,” which Phil points out is not technically “milk” at all. As consumers increasingly return to traditional dairy, the organic dairy industry is seeing a boost. The second change is a new USDA regulation that prohibits large organic dairies from buying conventional cows and transitioning them in the last trimester. This has led to more demand for small farmers, giving them an opportunity to thrive in the current market.
The Winter Months on the Farm
As the conversation wrapped up, Emily asked Phil about the winter months and how the cows are doing in the cold Iowa weather. Contrary to what some might think, cows are actually quite comfortable in the cold as long as they have protection from the wind. In fact, they prefer the cold to the heat. However, farmers do need to be careful to ensure that cows are properly cared for during the winter months, with clean and dry udders and access to shelter when needed.
During winter, the cows are primarily fed hay, baleage, and other forages. Interestingly, there’s a growing trend in organic farming to move away from grain-based diets, focusing more on forage, which is both cheaper and healthier for the cows.
The Future of Organic Farming
Phil’s long tenure at Kalona Organics has allowed him to witness firsthand the transformation of the organic dairy industry. With a commitment to high-quality, sustainable farming, Kalona is paving the way for future generations of farmers. Phil is particularly hopeful about the younger generation’s involvement in organic farming, with many of them seeing opportunities for growth and innovation.
In his 18 years with the company, Phil has not only seen the challenges of organic farming but also its immense potential for growth and sustainability. It’s clear that Kalona’s approach to both quality and community is helping the industry thrive—one farm at a time.
Conclusion
Phil Forbes’ deep knowledge of the organic supply chain and commitment to maintaining quality at every stage of the process make him an invaluable asset to Kalona Organics. In this Milk Chat, we gained a greater understanding of the intricate details that go into producing high-quality organic milk and how Kalona’s focus on sustainability, education, and innovation is helping shape the future of farming. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the world of organic dairy—and it all starts with the hardworking farmers who keep the process running smoothly.
If you’re passionate about organic farming and the future of sustainable food production, Phil’s insights are a must-hear!