Jan 17, 2007 9:44 AM, from staff and wire reports

Humboldt Creamery, a family dairy farm cooperative in Northern California, has received the American Humane Association's Free Farmed certification. The Free Farmed program provides independent verification that livestock and poultry are raised humanely, in accordance with animal welfare standards set forth by American Humane.

Producers certified through American Humane's Free Farmed program must ensure that their animals have ready access to fresh water, a nutritious diet, and medical care. Producers also must provide their animals with a comfortable environment that limits stress and enables them to freely express their normal behaviors. Accordingly, Humboldt's dairy cows typically roam and graze freely in open pasture for most of the year.

Humboldt Creamery, based in Fortuna CA, was founded in 1929 as a cooperative of local dairy farmers. With more than 60 member dairies, Humboldt is one of the largest ice cream and milk producers in the western United States.