So I see that Trader Joe's Organic butter is listed as a "Best" food in the 2009 Shopping Guide from WAPF. Does anyone know why this butter is better than my local supermarket's label Organic butter? I can't find anything on the TJ site that says that it's pastured, and I am wondering if it's worth the effort I go to get to Trader Joes.

I'd imagine that they've done research on where TJ's butter is coming from and know it's mainly pastured. I think it's really hit or miss. My general understanding is that most Organic Valley producers (it's a co-op) set up have their cows mostly on grass for example but it really just comes down to the brand.

um, the tj's butter doesn't seem all that great to me. i notice a big color difference between that and the kerry gold they also carry. we're big on the organic valley pasture butter, it's on sale from azure standard this month and next, and i can tell a huge difference between that one when i cook with it, it's this deep golden color where the tj's is very light.

fwiw, i used tj's organic butter for years before trying the ov pastured stuff.

I usually buy the TJ's butter, because TJ is really close to my house and I usually get there once a week, sometimes twice.

Once I forgot to buy butter at TJ's when we were low, and I picked some up in Shoprite instead. I purchased the store brand organic butter. The inside labels (the wrapper on each stick of butter) was EXACTLY the same. The butter was the exact same color. I'm thinking it came from the exact same supplier, and was simply packaged into two different boxes at the factory.

It's a few cents cheaper at TJ's than at Shoprite so I prefer to buy it at TJs when possible.

The TJ's butter that I've been getting has far surpassed any organic butter that I was buying before...but I've never bought kerrygold (too expensive) or Organic Valley. I'm going to try those and see what I think.

Once I forgot to buy butter at TJ's when we were low, and I picked some up in Shoprite instead. I purchased the store brand organic butter. The inside labels (the wrapper on each stick of butter) was EXACTLY the same. The butter was the exact same color. I'm thinking it came from the exact same supplier, and was simply packaged into two different boxes at the factory.This is what I'm thinking too...

The TJ's butter that I've been getting has far surpassed any organic butter that I was buying before...but I've never bought kerrygold (too expensive) or Organic Valley. I'm going to try those and see what I think.
I've tried the normal Organic Valley butter (not the cultured or Kerrygold, too expensive for now). TJ's was much darker yellow than it or the storebrand organic or 365 organic. Also, a ton better in taste. We do get salted, b/c I can't hack unsalted butter. Best thing to do is try the different brands on sourdough plain. The ones you're not as fond of can be used up for cooking. TJ's is cheaper than 365 or OV for us and more than store brand organic on sale - I still buy TJ's for taste/color.

Here (http://www.cornucopia.org/dairysurvey/index.html)is a list rating organic dairy products: rated based on criteria such as are the cows pastured, size of dairy, etc

TJ milk is rated very poorly, but that may be b/c they could not get any information about the source of the milk.

When I can't get butter from local dairies, I buy organic valley (just the regular kind) b/c it is my understanding that the cream comes from somewhat local, small farms which keep the cows on pasture much of the time. Organic Valley earned 4 out of 5 "cows" in the above rating

one thing that i found out is that TJ butter is the same butter as Organic Valley butter its just packaged in TJ's packaging

alot of my friends work for organic valley

boy that sounds cool.

i had heard that tj's organic dairy was from pretty much organic feed lot cows. now i don't feel so bad for buying their butter.

though when i made fresh butter from their cream it was pure white so maybe their liquid dairy is organic feed lot but their butter is not?

i'm going to write tj's and see if they'll tell me where their butter comes from.