Røros butter is the best-known product from Rørosmeieriet. Photo: Trond Andersen
Organic dairy products – in tune with nature Focusing on craftsmanship and keeping in tune with nature, Rørosmeieriet is Norway’s only fully organic dairy, offering a varied selection of high-quality products originating from the profound food traditions of the Røros region. By Ingrid Opstad | Photos: Rørosmeieriet
Located in one of Norway’s leading regions for locally produced food, with long traditions when it comes to dairy, Rørosmeieriet is a company with a rich history. Its facilities at Røros date back to 1970 but have been renovated several times to keep up with modern technology and requirements. From 1977, the dairy was run by the largest Norwegian dairy product cooperative, Tine, but when the company was threatened with closure in 2000, four of its employees decided to join local eco farmers and founded a new 24 | Issue 134 | March 2020
dairy. Rørosmeieriet opened its doors in January 2001, with a new approach and newfound enthusiasm. “Back then, the aim was to create more jobs than there previously were, while at the same time proving that it was worth having a dairy here at Røros. The goal was to provide a financially sustainable operation, not least to help utilise all the organic milk created on farms around the region,” says Trond V. Lund, CEO at Rørosmeieriet. In 2013, all of these goals
were reached, and today the dairy boasts 40 employees and impressive growth. “The goal was to process 1.5 million litres of milk, which we exceeded by 13 million litres last year,” Lund says proudly.
Products favoured by chefs The people behind Rørosmeieriet are passionate about producing high-quality products originating from the profound food traditions in the Røros region, offering a range of organic dairy products such as milk, cream, sour cream, butter, sour milk, fresh cheese and yoghurt. “You can tell that our products are the result of craftsmanship because of the flavour, and many of them are favoured by chefs all around the world because of it,” says Lund.