Straus Family Creamery namesake honored for ‘vision leadership'

Albert Straus, founder and CEO of Straus Family Creamery, based in the Marin County community of Marshall, has received one of this year's Vision Leadership Awards from the Specialty Food Association.

Organizers stated the award was given 'for spearheading the organic milk movement in the United States in the early 1990s.'

The company stated the Straus family farm was the first certified organic dairy farm west of the Mississippi River. A family-owned and operated business, Straus Family Creamery was the first 100 percent organic creamery in the United States. It is supplied by family farms in Marin and Sonoma counties, including the Straus dairy.

'I am extremely honored to receive this award,' said Straus, who in addition to being CEO of Straus Family Creamery, still operates his own dairy farm. 'More importantly, I am pleased that it shines a spotlight on the important work of leveraging organic family farming to revitalize rural communities everywhere. I encourage farmers and ranchers in rural areas throughout the world to learn about the positive impact organic farming can have on protecting the environment, mitigating climate change and improving the health for future generations.'

Two awards are given in each of the three categories: Business, Citizenship and Vision Leadership. The six recipients received the awards during a special reception at the Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco. The not-for-profit trade association has 3,400 members in the U.S.