Aurora Organic Dairy is a vertically integrated organic dairy company based in Boulder, Colorado. Founded in 1976, the company operates as both a producer and processor of organic dairy products, managing its own farms and processing facilities. The company is one of the largest producers of private-label organic milk and butter in the United States. The company maintains multiple dairy farms in Colorado and Texas, where they raise and milk organic dairy cows. Their farming practices adhere to USDA National Organic Program standards, which prohibit the use of antibiotics, synthetic hormones, and pesticides. Aurora Organic Dairy operates processing facilities in Platteville, Colorado, and Columbia, Missouri, where they produce fluid milk, butter, and other dairy products. Aurora Organic Dairy supplies organic dairy products to major retailers, wholesalers, and distributors throughout the United States, primarily under private-label arrangements. The company has been certified organic since 2003 and has implemented various sustainability initiatives, including water conservation programs and renewable energy projects at their facilities. They have also developed a comprehensive animal welfare program that exceeds organic certification requirements. The company has faced scrutiny and legal challenges regarding its organic practices, particularly in 2007, leading to strengthened compliance measures and increased transparency in their operations.