by Dustin Skelley, Prepared Foods Category Manager
This February I was fortunate enough to visit one of Purple Cow Organics composting sites here in Dane County. I was amazed at the size and capacity of their operations and was impressed that we were able to have an operation this unique and beneficial, right here in Dane County. Willy Street Co-op has been working with Purple Cow Organics for years and at one point even took food waste there. There have been a lot of challenges with food residual recycling but Purple Cow Organics is looking for long-term solutions in the marketplace. It was apparent upon arrival that Purple Cow has grown and refined their operation over the last decade; Dane County is lucky to have such a resource within its limits.
Operation
As I pulled up to the site I was surprised at the dozens of giant wingrows that scattered the landscape. Each one a large jet-black pile placed on top of a blanket of snow. During my visit there was a giant front-end loader diligently rotating each pile. There were plumes of steam coming off each pile as it was rotated. I was lucky enough to meet up with COO, Jerod Reuter, who showed me around the site and let me know what the folks at Purple Cow have been up to and how they run their operation.
60,000 tons
At the moment purple cow produces about 60,000 tons of product each year, that’s 120 million pounds of compost! I learned that this is not just any ordinary compost; the years of development and the care their team put into their products make them exceptional. Purple Cow controls the process from start to finish; they decide what goes into their compost and they monitor that process from the moment raw material enters the facility until it arrives bagged up at Willy Street Co-op. The wingrows of composting product are monitored regularly to ensure that they’re maintaining proper temperatures and being rotated regularly. The final product is sifted and sorted to make sure it’s up to the quality standards that folks expect from Purple Cow. Each step has been thought through and refined over the years; this knowledge, enthusiasm, and care is apparent in all of Purple Cow’s products.
Purple Cow’s focus on diverse biology is another thing that really sets them apart from their competition. In addition to providing excellent nutrients to the soil, their products add additional microorganisms that help create lasting, healthy soil. Putting that biology back into the soil increases nutrient absorption, helping plants thrive. It’s almost like the difference between getting all jacked up on Mountain Dew and candy versus having a well-balanced diet. They both provide energy, but one is more sustainable than the other.
There’s a reason why Purple Cow has seen growth as a business over the years—their products work well. I was surprised to hear that their products are also available to commercial farms in the area. A lot of the farms you may recognize on the shelves at Willy Street Co-op or at the farmers’ market use Purple Cow products to grow the fruits and vegetables. So you know that if you buy Purple Cow compost from Willy Street Co-op, you’re using what the pros use! If it’s great for our local farmers, there’s no doubt it’s going to be a great addition to your home garden this spring.