Food and Beverage organisation Dean Foods Company has associated with an independent farmer cooperative, CROPP, in a joint venture to provide organic milk to retailers.

The firms aim to achieve this through Dean Foods' processing plants and refrigerated direct store delivery (DSD) distribution system.

The join venture will be a 50/50 growth platform for the firms. Dean Foods will offer processing services and distribution through its refrigerated distribution network.

"This partnership reinforces Organic Valley's mission to support more organic farmers and grow our business."

Organic Valley will offer a select portfolio of brands and products, marketing expertise, and access to the cooperative's organic milk supply. Both the firms will unite their sales expertise to enhance distribution.

Dean Foods has experience in channels such as large format, dollar store and C-store, while Organic Valley has exposure to natural channels, emerging markets and specialty distributors.

Dean Foods chief executive officer Gregg Tanner said: "Adding Organic Valley to the current lineup of Dean Foods branded dairy products enables Dean Foods to offer retail customers the largest and most comprehensive dairy offering across multiple segments with national brands that consumers know and trust.

"It also allows us to further leverage our manufacturing and distribution network.

"We believe the dynamic and growing Organic Valley brand of organic milk is the perfect complement to our own category-leading DairyPure and TruMoo brands and gives Dean Foods a strong position in the organic dairy segment."

Organic Valley chief executive officer George Siemon said: "This partnership reinforces Organic Valley's mission to support more organic farmers and grow our business.

"Consumers will enjoy the same Organic Valley quality they've come to know and trust: the same farmers will supply the same organic milk. But now more Organic Valley organic milk will be on more grocery shelves across the country."

It is estimated that the firms will begin processing and shipping Organic Valley products in mid-to-late 2017.