By: Lia Sieler, Executive Director, Western Organic Dairy Producers Alliance, Chico, CA
It is nearly impossible to hear the word organic and not think of Albert Straus and the legacy he has created with his organic dairy farm in Tomales, California. Albert Straus was born and raised on his family farm, now home to 590 organic dairy cows, heifers and calves in the hills of Tomales, near the Pacific Ocean. These cows spend most of the year grazing, getting 135 – 140 days of 30% or more dry matter intake, but have a comfortable freestall barn to shelter them during inclement weather conditions.
All animals consistently have pasture access year- round. Calves are kept in their individual hutches until they're ready to join group pens out on the pasture. He credits a successful calf program to attentive caretakers who have the patience and skill necessary to raise his next generation of livestock replacements. Albert owns and manages the dairy, but he has a team of 4 full-time and 2 part-time employees that make the day-to-day operations happen.
Albert manages around 420 acres of pasture and crops, harvesting his own silage, and has been officially certified organic since 1994. Long before receiving certification, he was already using organic methods like no-till planting and spreading manure. His parents, Bill and Ellen, inspired his commitment to the environment as they were pioneers in community environmental stewardship groups. However, it was Albert who led the family to stop using chemical fertilizers in the mid-1980s. During his early adulthood, Albert focused on incorporating food waste into cow feed, and now successfully includes tofu in his milking cows’ diet. The farm milks 290 Jerseys and crossbreeds using a double 7 herringbone system, with an average butterfat content of 4.55% and an SNF of 9.1, which is on the higher but typical end for cows grazing on the rich grasses of the Northern California Coast.
Straus Dairy Farm uses electric fencing to manage rotational grazing for its herd but is looking to upgrade to virtual fencing in the future. The milking cows are divided into two groups, "high string" and "low string," and they graze on 1-3 acre paddocks, moving every 24 to 48 hours based on pasture growth, feed availability, and weather conditions. Heifers and dry cows also participate in rotational grazing, though they usually graze on pastures that are dual purpose, sometimes following silage harvests when grass grows too tall. Thanks to favorable rainfall and weather last year, the farm produced over 1,200 tons of silage! Albert attributes his productive fields to informal compost made from manure, rice hulls, wood chips, and other materials, which is regularly spread across the land—resulting in organic matter levels between 5% and
15%. He also reseeds almost annually with oats, annual rye, peas, and purple vetch. Inspired by a trip to Scotland, Albert is trying out an "herbal blend" field featuring California red oats, red clover, chicory, bachelor button, white yarrow, plantain, coriander, and white poppy, among other species. This method aims to introduce diversity, as different plants mature at various times, benefiting both the soil and the animals. It's his first time testing this blend, and everyone is eager to see the results!
Albert is dedicated to expanding his herd by utilizing artificial insemination with jersey sexed semen for his dairy cows, choosing not to breed for beef. He values the advantages of vaccinations, udder balms, electrolytes, and the use of blankets for calves, particularly given the cold evenings, characteristic of California’s coastal climate. Albert collaborates closely with local businesses to secure specialized support in areas such as feed supply, nutrition management and veterinary services.
In 1994, Albert made the bold choice to convert his family’s dairy farm into an organic operation and established Straus Family Creamery, which became the first fully certified organic creamery in the country. Today, the creamery sources organic milk from 12 network farms, owned by 10 different families in Sonoma and Marin Counties. Albert and his team value strong relationships with these partner farms, connecting with each one over 25 times a year. These interactions include quarterly producer meetings with Albert and Joseph Button, Straus Family Creamery’s Vice President of Sustainability & Strategic Impact, as well as individual conversations with each farm owner at least every quarter. Management members also personally deliver monthly statements, encouraging visits to the farms so everyone can gain insights before the milk reaches the plant. All this face-to-face interaction helps foster a positive, trusting relationship between the creamery and its network farms. As Joseph Button put it, “Trust is earned over time through communication and collaboration.”
Straus Family Creamery demonstrates a commitment to transparency and excellence in communication. They use a third-party consultant to conduct quarterly cost of production surveys to maintain an up-to-date understanding of the expenses involved in producing the raw milk used for their premium products, in addition to compiling an annual aggregate cost review. This data is compared with the prices paid to network farms to ensure alignment. Straus strives consistently to exceed both the cost of production and a generational viability metric, aiming to support sustainable farming for future generations. Information derived from these assessments is shared with participating farms, enabling them to benchmark their operations against other dairies within the network. Ultimately, Straus is dedicated to ensuring that its network of farmers receives fair compensation for the organic milk they provide.
Farmers in the Straus network are required to maintain only one certification: USDA Organic Certification, widely regarded as the gold standard for organic farming. This approach lets farmers concentrate on farming and running their dairy operations rather than managing multiple certifications, while also fostering trust and respect between farmers and consumers. Network members consistently express pride in being Straus shippers. All farms in the network are part of the local community, with Straus Family Dairy—located less than 20 miles from the Creamery— being the furthest away.
Straus Family Creamery is a mission-driven business and registered as a California Beneficial Corporation. This designation means Straus Family Creamery strives to balance profit with purpose, factoring in social and environmental impacts. Directors are legally protected as they pursue these goals, and the company is required to publicly report on its results. As Straus explains, “Our mission is funded by producing the highest quality organic dairy. Selling a cup of yogurt isn’t just about the product itself—it supports our farms and our values.” Beyond yogurt, Straus Family Creamery offers 12 different flavors of super premium ice cream, cream-top milk in both glass bottles and plastic jugs, chocolate milk, half & half, heavy cream, eggnog, Greek and traditional yogurts (including European and kefir varieties), sour cream, ice cream base, soft serve base, European style (85% butterfat) butter and a barista blend. The barista blend is crafted specifically for coffee because its partial homogenization creates micro foam, ideal for espresso drinks.
Albert has consistently led efforts to reduce carbon emissions in our industry. Eight years ago, he converted a feed truck to operate with full electric power. Building on this achievement, three years ago he proceeded to convert a 544E John Deere Loader to electric operation as well. His latest advancement on the farm is an electric skid steer equipped with an eight-hour lithium battery. Albert reports that his farm is currently halfway toward achieving carbon neutrality!
Albert owns a dairy and founded a processing facility. He is actively engaged in his local community, regularly advocating for its interests. He has played an instrumental role in supporting farms across the North Bay and serves as a prominent proponent of the Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT), which was co-founded by his mother in 1980. Albert's contributions have been recognized with several honors, including the Organic Trade Association’s Organic Lifetime Achievement Award and the Climate Action Champion Award from the Agricultural Institute of Marin (AIM) in 2025. Additionally, he received the Vision Leadership Award from the Specialty Food Association in 2017 for his pioneering work in advancing the organic milk movement within the United States. These acknowledgments represent a selection of his numerous accomplishments.
If you are interested in learning more about Albert Straus, his organic dairy farm and Straus Family Creamery, check out their website at: https://www.strausfamilycreamery.com/.
Posted: to Featured Farms on Sat, Jan 10, 2026
Updated: Sat, Jan 10, 2026
