QOPC Mission Statement

“To increase profitability by adding value to crops produced through controlled and monitored processing and marketing strategies.”

Quality Organic Producers Coop (QOPC) was created for the purpose of optimizing the value in the products produced by its members in order to provide them with reasonable income security, and is on its way to becoming a highly successful farmer cooperative.

About QOPC

The first organizational meeting for the Quality Organic Producers Cooperative (QOPC) was held on April 20th, 2000 in Waukon, Iowa. Thirty producers attended, most of them being owners of organic farms. The producers were not satisfied with the marketing opportunities available to organic farmers, and all of them wanted a better way to market. From its inception, the first project the QOPC members visualized was marketing their soybeans through a soymilk project with Organic Valley. At the organizational meeting, officers were elected and directed to look into this opportunity. QOPC was formally incorporated with the State of Iowa on June 1st, 2000.

The next years were spent trying to locate proper organizations and people to work with and establishing the needed relationships. When this process was quite far along, QOPC began seeking proper financing. The financing was greatly facilitated when they received a $500,000 grant from the USDA on April 3rd, 2003. The grant money enabled QOPC to start developing its formulas and processes for a unique method of producing soy products.

This process is very close to being complete. On September 1st, 2004, QOPC will be introducing their very special soy products on the market. Please look for their soymilk under the Organic Valley name at a store near you. After you have purchased your soymilk, please visit www.organicvalley.coop/soy, enter the date on your carton, and be virtually transported to the exact farm where your beans were born!