McCarty Family Farms, located in northwest Kansas, is owned and operated by fourth-generation dairy farmers Mike, Clay, Dave and Ken McCarty. As Danone’s first cost-plus managed farm, McCarty Family Farms helped create the model for how we work with farmers.
More than 100 years ago, the McCarty family milked cows by hand in a small barn without electricity in northeast Pennsylvania. Now, the family business includes five dairy farms across Kansas, Nebraska and Ohio, as well as a milk condensing plant in Kansas.
From the beginning, the McCartys wanted to continually improve and innovate to take better care of their cows, their land and their people to bring dairy foods to consumers’ tables. It’s this shared commitment to purpose and business performance that’s the foundation of McCarty’s now 10+ years of partnership with Danone North America.
McCarty Family Farms was Danone’s first cost-plus managed farm and continues to produce the high-quality milk that goes into many of our yogurts, including Oikos and Dannon. They’re also our first dairy farmer partner to achieve B Corp certification – a recognition of their efforts to meet high standards of environmental and social performance while using their business as a force for good.
Other ways McCarty Family Farms is making a difference:
Producing 30% more milk with fewer resources from cows who are living longer, healthier lives
Becoming the first farm in the world to achieve the highest animal welfare status from Validus
Using water collected from the condensing plant to irrigate nearby crops
Creating continuous improvement plans in soil health, carbon sequestration, water conservation and biodiversity
Improving milk quality and production without increasing methane emissions
Paying all employees at least 25% more than the living wage
Donating 250,000 servings of yogurt each year
Donating $65,000 to community groups
Opening a Community Learning Center
We’re proud to call McCarty Family Farms a trusted partner as we build sustainable food systems together.
Learn more about McCarty Family Farms.
