Horizon Organic has introduced a program to help New York dairy producers transition to organic. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton joined with the company in late January to unveil the Horizon Organic Producer Education (HOPE) Program.

The statewide initiative is said to offer comprehensive support services including technical assistance, personalized organic certification support and financial support. Horizon Organic is also expanding its organic milk processing capabilities in-state. Horizon is investing $5 million in a planned $18 million expansion of Steuben Foods, Elma, N.Y, which is one of Horizon’s co-packers.

A subsidiary of Dean Foods, Horizon works with 119 certified organic dairy farmers and an additional 79 farmers in transition in New York State. A new website, www.horizonorganic.com is designed to provide consumers a one-stop source of information about organic dairy products.