Produce is becoming more fertile ground, he said. “Even though produce is a small part of our business, it grew 30 percent last year,” he said.

The company built a refrigerated warehouse near Hillsboro that has attracted 150 producers, notably Amish in Vernon County, Newman said.

The co-op also is seeking more exports to Asia, the Mideast and Europe, Siemon said.

“The world is changing rapidly,” he said, noting that organic foods once were sold only in co-op stores but have made major inroads in mass markets.

“Grass-fed beef is becoming a big, big deal now,” Siemon said.

Helping meet that demand is one of Organic Valley’s new member groups, Australia-based OBE Organic, Siemon said.

Dalene Wray, OBE’s general manager who traveled with a group from Down Under to attend the meeting, said her co-op supplies 500,000 pounds of trimmings to Organic Valley. That can include every meat part of the animal except steaks, she said.

The United States is the only country in the world where the trimmings can be processed into products such as organic hamburger and meatballs, she said.