Land O'Lakes
Encyclopedia
Land O'Lakes is a member-owned agricultural cooperative based in Arden Hills, Minnesota
, focusing on the dairy
industry. The co-op
states that it has about 3200 producer-members, 1000 member-cooperatives
, and about 9000 employees who process and distribute products for about 300,000 agricultural producers; handling 12 billion pounds of milk annually. It is ranked second on the National Cooperative Bank
Co-op 100 list of mutuals and cooperatives. The co-op is one of the largest producers of butter
and cheese
in the United States.
Land O'Lakes was founded on July 8, 1921 in Saint Paul, Minnesota
, by representatives from 320 co-op
creameries as the Minnesota Cooperative Creameries Association. This organization aimed to improve marketing and quality of butter
, and thus increase the profitability of dairying.
The Association developed and implemented the systematic inspection, grading and certification of butter from member creameries, resulting in greater uniformity of product. The improved quality and uniformity, and the reliability of its grading system, were touted in advertising
materials. In 1924, the uniformly graded sweet cream butter was given the name "Land O'Lakes" after a contest, and the certificate forms used by the Association included the "Land O Lakes" marketing name (Minnesota
's state nickname is "Land of 10,000 Lakes").
The name became so popular that the organization's public identity was often confused with its product name; thus, in 1926, the organization itself adopted the name "Land O' Lakes Creameries, Inc." and became synonymous with its product.
The co-op
was often accused of unfair competition and false advertising in its early years, and compelled to defend its inspection and certification processes. Eventually, however, the sweet butter marketing strategy drove competitors either to match the quality of butter produced under the Land O' Lakes name or see their sales decline. Many competitors in the dairy products business copied the Land O' Lakes approach, and the certification of quality became a proven marketing technique in other product lines as well. Its butter has won the ChefsBest Award for best taste.
has grown through numerous acquisitions, and now has a large business in farm supply in addition to dairy. In 2001, Land O'Lakes acquired Purina Mills
, an animal feed business formerly owned by Ralston Purina.
Land O' Lakes was ordered by a federal court to pay $3 million in 2002 for patent infringement
to the inventor of a type of dairy creamer.
conducts six types of business enterprises: dairy foods, animal feed, crop seed, business development services, transport and licensing. Included among its brands are Land O'Lakes, Winfield Solutions, Purina animal feed, Alpine Lace, and Northwest Food Products Transportation.
The Land O' Lakes Indian maiden holding the butter box was painted in 1928 by Brown & Bigelow
illustrator Arthur C. Hanson, who also painted the original Old Style Lager logo. His original art hangs in the lobby of the Arden Hills office and depicts the maiden in a pastoral scene with lakes, pines, flowers and grazing cows in the background. According to Land O' Lakes, the original Indian maiden was "simplified and modernized" in 1939 by Jess Betlach and has undergone many minor modifications since as the enduring logo
of the co-op
. Red Lake Ojibwe artist Patrick DesJarlait
updated the maiden's image in the 1950s. The package image is an example of the infinite-loop motif or Droste effect
, in which the image is repeated, in theory infinitely, within itself.
(PETA) released an undercover video allegedly depicting animal abuse of dairy cows at a Pennsylvania
supplier for Land O’ Lakes, Inc. The video showed unclean conditions in the barn and milking parlor and cows with infections and illness. The supplier’s employee was found not guilty of animal cruelty charges resulting from this incident and an investigation by veterinarians hired by Land O’ Lakes revealed no mistreatment of animals, but the veterinarians suggested that bedding, hygiene, ventilation and animal disposal practices be improved. Land O' Lakes states that it is supportive of the dairy industry’s National Dairy F.A.R.M.: Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) animal care standards.
licenses the Land O' Lakes brand, selling creamers and fluid dairy products under the name.
Arden Hills, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,652 people, 2,959 households, and 2,228 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,087.3 people per square mile . There were 3,017 housing units at an average density of 339.9 per square mile...
, focusing on the dairy
Dairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
industry. The co-op
Cooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
states that it has about 3200 producer-members, 1000 member-cooperatives
Cooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
, and about 9000 employees who process and distribute products for about 300,000 agricultural producers; handling 12 billion pounds of milk annually. It is ranked second on the National Cooperative Bank
National Cooperative Bank
National Cooperative Bank is a cooperative financial institution chartered by the United States Congress in 1978, primarily to serve the financial needs of cooperatives...
Co-op 100 list of mutuals and cooperatives. The co-op is one of the largest producers of butter
Butter
Butter is a dairy product made by churning fresh or fermented cream or milk. It is generally used as a spread and a condiment, as well as in cooking applications, such as baking, sauce making, and pan frying...
and cheese
Cheese
Cheese is a generic term for a diverse group of milk-based food products. Cheese is produced throughout the world in wide-ranging flavors, textures, and forms....
in the United States.
History
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
, by representatives from 320 co-op
Cooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
creameries as the Minnesota Cooperative Creameries Association. This organization aimed to improve marketing and quality of butter
Butter
Butter is a dairy product made by churning fresh or fermented cream or milk. It is generally used as a spread and a condiment, as well as in cooking applications, such as baking, sauce making, and pan frying...
, and thus increase the profitability of dairying.
The Association developed and implemented the systematic inspection, grading and certification of butter from member creameries, resulting in greater uniformity of product. The improved quality and uniformity, and the reliability of its grading system, were touted in advertising
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
materials. In 1924, the uniformly graded sweet cream butter was given the name "Land O'Lakes" after a contest, and the certificate forms used by the Association included the "Land O Lakes" marketing name (Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
's state nickname is "Land of 10,000 Lakes").
The name became so popular that the organization's public identity was often confused with its product name; thus, in 1926, the organization itself adopted the name "Land O' Lakes Creameries, Inc." and became synonymous with its product.
The co-op
Cooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
was often accused of unfair competition and false advertising in its early years, and compelled to defend its inspection and certification processes. Eventually, however, the sweet butter marketing strategy drove competitors either to match the quality of butter produced under the Land O' Lakes name or see their sales decline. Many competitors in the dairy products business copied the Land O' Lakes approach, and the certification of quality became a proven marketing technique in other product lines as well. Its butter has won the ChefsBest Award for best taste.
Recent history
The Land O' Lakes co-opCooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
has grown through numerous acquisitions, and now has a large business in farm supply in addition to dairy. In 2001, Land O'Lakes acquired Purina Mills
Purina Mills
Purina Mills, LLC, is the animal feeds unit of Land O’ Lakes. It was previously part of Ralston Purina, but the animal feeds portion was sold in 1986.- History :...
, an animal feed business formerly owned by Ralston Purina.
Land O' Lakes was ordered by a federal court to pay $3 million in 2002 for patent infringement
Patent infringement
Patent infringement is the commission of a prohibited act with respect to a patented invention without permission from the patent holder. Permission may typically be granted in the form of a license. The definition of patent infringement may vary by jurisdiction, but it typically includes using or...
to the inventor of a type of dairy creamer.
Brands
The co-opCooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
conducts six types of business enterprises: dairy foods, animal feed, crop seed, business development services, transport and licensing. Included among its brands are Land O'Lakes, Winfield Solutions, Purina animal feed, Alpine Lace, and Northwest Food Products Transportation.
Butter packaging
Brown & Bigelow
Brown & Bigelow is a publishing company based in Saint Paul, Minnesota that produces advertising specialties, or promotional products, such as clocks, pens, cocktail spoons with corkscrew and cap-lifter, and advertising calendars...
illustrator Arthur C. Hanson, who also painted the original Old Style Lager logo. His original art hangs in the lobby of the Arden Hills office and depicts the maiden in a pastoral scene with lakes, pines, flowers and grazing cows in the background. According to Land O' Lakes, the original Indian maiden was "simplified and modernized" in 1939 by Jess Betlach and has undergone many minor modifications since as the enduring logo
Logo
A logo is a graphic mark or emblem commonly used by commercial enterprises, organizations and even individuals to aid and promote instant public recognition...
of the co-op
Cooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
. Red Lake Ojibwe artist Patrick DesJarlait
Patrick DesJarlait
Patrick DesJarlait, Sr. was an Ojibwa artist, known for his watercolor paintings and his commercial art work.- Background :Born to Solomon and Elizabeth Blake Desjarlait, he was the fourth of seven children. He is a member of the Red Lake Ojibwa. As a child Patrick spent a lot of his time...
updated the maiden's image in the 1950s. The package image is an example of the infinite-loop motif or Droste effect
Droste effect
The Droste effect is a specific kind of recursive picture, one that in heraldry is termed mise en abyme. An image exhibiting the Droste effect depicts a smaller version of itself in a place where a similar picture would realistically be expected to appear. This smaller version then depicts an even...
, in which the image is repeated, in theory infinitely, within itself.
Allegations of animal mistreatment
In September 2009, People for the Ethical Treatment of AnimalsPeople for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is an American animal rights organization based in Norfolk, Virginia, and led by Ingrid Newkirk, its international president. A non-profit corporation with 300 employees and two million members and supporters, it claims to be the largest animal rights...
(PETA) released an undercover video allegedly depicting animal abuse of dairy cows at a Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
supplier for Land O’ Lakes, Inc. The video showed unclean conditions in the barn and milking parlor and cows with infections and illness. The supplier’s employee was found not guilty of animal cruelty charges resulting from this incident and an investigation by veterinarians hired by Land O’ Lakes revealed no mistreatment of animals, but the veterinarians suggested that bedding, hygiene, ventilation and animal disposal practices be improved. Land O' Lakes states that it is supportive of the dairy industry’s National Dairy F.A.R.M.: Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) animal care standards.
Licensing
Dean FoodsDean Foods
Dean Foods is an American food and beverage company with two operating divisions: Fresh Dairy Direct and WhiteWave-Morningstar. The company maintains plants and distributors in the United States and the United Kingdom. Dean Foods products are sold throughout the USA.-History:In 1925, Samuel E...
licenses the Land O' Lakes brand, selling creamers and fluid dairy products under the name.
External links
- Official consumer site
- Company site
- WinField Solutions, LLC -- A Land O'Lakes company
- Company history, accessed July 31, 2006