Naturally Iowa’s Dairy and Packaging History: A Source-Based Overview
A source-based timeline of the historical Naturally Iowa dairy and its PLA bottles, 2002 to 2011, marking what is reported, claimed or unknown.
What this article covers
This overview traces the historical Naturally Iowa dairy of Clarinda, Iowa, from its early years through the 2011 redesign of its water bottle, using dated press reports and archived company pages. For each event it notes the source, what is confirmed and what remains unconfirmed.
Covered
- Dated events from about 2002 to 2011, each tied to a named source
- The difference between press-reported facts and statements made by the company
- Points where the sources conflict or are silent
Not covered
- Clarinda dairy-plant operations after 2010; the separate water-bottle record extends to November 2011
- The history of DeltaSpark or this publication, which is covered on the About page
- Reasons for business decisions or outcomes that no source states
What this page is
This is a historical overview of a business that once used this domain: Naturally Iowa, a dairy based in Clarinda, Iowa. Naturally Iowa Packaging Review wrote it from dated press reports and archived company web pages. It is not our company history: our publication is operated by DeltaSpark and has no affiliation with the dairy. For the current publication, see the About page.
Each event card keeps its date, source and evidence limits together. The labels below describe the documentary record, not an independent verification of the underlying events.
Scroll horizontally for any hidden columns →
| Label | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Recorded | A dated press report or archived company page says so |
| Unverified | The cited record leaves a gap or claim that we have not independently checked |
The historical subject
Per a November 2004 BeverageDaily report, Naturally Iowa’s products “get their start on the farms of southwestern Iowa,” and the report called it a “co-op dairy.” A June 2005 Dairy Foods article described Naturally Iowa, LLC as “a consortium of Midwest dairy farms.” By September 2007 the company had completed a reverse merger and become publicly traded. The archived company site later listed the ticker symbol NLIA.
The company stood out for its packaging. Its milk was sold in bottles made from PLA, a corn-derived plastic, and the company’s slogan, as reported in 2004, was “We milk the cows and grow the bottles.”
Timeline
2002 or 2003 — Co-founders partner; company organized
Source: Company about page (captured 2007); Dairy Foods, May 2008; company management page (2007 capture).
Recorded: Dairy Foods lists 2002 as founded.
Unverified: The sources differ: the about page says the two partnered in 2002, the management page says 2003.
March 2004 — USDA value-added grant presented
Source: Company partners page (2007 capture).
Recorded: Company says USDA presented a check in March 2004.
Unverified: Amount and terms not in our sources.
Spring 2004 — Plant construction begins in Clarinda
Source: Company plant page (2007 capture).
Recorded: Company says construction began in a 28,500-square-foot building.
Unverified: No independent report of construction.
November 2004 — Natural and organic milk in NatureWorks PLA bottles announced
Source: BeverageDaily, Nov. 2004; Packaging World, Dec. 2004.
Recorded: Both trade reports describe the announcement and half-gallon bottles.
Unverified: Resin partner is named differently across sources.
June 2005 — Dairy Foods calls the company “a consortium of Midwest dairy farms”
Source: Dairy Foods, June 2005.
Recorded: The description appears in print.
Unverified: How the business was legally structured.
Fall 2005 — Clarinda plant begins milk processing; organic milk in PLA bottles in stores in October 2005
Source: Company plant and about pages; Dairy Foods, May 2008.
Recorded: Dairy Foods reported the October 2005 shelf date.
Unverified: Originates with the company; the trade press repeated it.
June 2007 — Radio Iowa reports 20 employees and decomposition claim
Source: Radio Iowa, June 2007.
Recorded: The report exists; employee figure given.
Unverified: “About 100 days” is a claim, not a measured result.
September 2007 — Reverse merger; company becomes publicly traded
Source: Food Ingredients First, Sept. 2007; Dairy Foods, May 2008.
Recorded: Both report the public listing.
Unverified: Terms and counterparties not in our sources.
May 2008 — Dairy Foods: company makes PLA bottles for other processors
Source: Dairy Foods, May 2008.
Recorded: The statement is in the profile.
Unverified: Which processors, and how many bottles.
September 2008 — U.S. House dining facilities switch to Green Bottle Spring Water
Source: Omaha World-Herald via IATP, Sept. 2008; Packaging Digest.
Recorded: Two reports describe the switch.
Unverified: Duration of the arrangement.
Undated, after Sept. 2008 — USDA headquarters chooses Green Bottle Spring Water; “BioPreferred Supplier” status
Source: Packaging Digest item sourced to the company.
Recorded: Company release says so.
Unverified: Date, and any independent confirmation.
October 2010 — Naturally Iowa, Inc. renamed Totally Green, Inc.; ORCA machine acquisition
Source: GlobeNewswire, Oct. 2010.
Recorded: The release states both.
Unverified: What the renaming meant for the dairy.
November 2011 — Green Bottle bottle changes from green to transparent; cap “not yet compostable”
Source: Food Ingredients First, Nov. 2011.
Recorded: The report states both.
Unverified: Why the change was made.
From dairy to PLA bottles, 2004 to 2008
The November 2004 announcement is the best-documented event. BeverageDaily quoted president Bill Horner: “The natural bottle is our hook - without it, we would only have half the story.” Packaging World, on December 31, 2004, said the company was bottling “at its own plant under two brands,” Naturally Iowa all-natural milk and Rolling Hills Organic Farms organic milk, and that the half-gallon bottles were made by Liquid Container/Plaxicon using stock molds.
Dairy Foods wrote in June 2005 that the first dairy application for NatureWorks PLA was an organic milk bottled in Iowa. According to the May 2008 Dairy Foods profile, that milk reached store shelves in October 2005. The company’s own about page said it “became the world’s first dairy to use PLA bottling.” That is a company claim, and we have not verified it.
By 2008 the company was making bottles for others. The same Dairy Foods profile said it “currently manufactures PLA bottles for sale to other processors.” For more on the packaging format itself, see our modern guide to PLA food packaging, and for dairy-specific container questions, milk packaging. The company’s own statements are collected in the historical FAQ.
Green Bottle Spring Water, 2008 to 2011
In September 2008 the Omaha World-Herald reported that the U.S. House of Representatives’ dining facilities would switch to Virginia spring water packaged in Naturally Iowa bottles. Packaging Digest described it as the only bottled water in the Longworth Café. A later, undated company release said the U.S. Department of Agriculture had chosen the water for its headquarters.
In October 2010 GlobeNewswire reported that the company would now be known as Totally Green, Inc. The release said the company had acquired Totally Green LLC, maker of the ORCA machine, which it said could turn bottles into “compost tea” within 48 hours. That is a company claim about a machine, and we have not evaluated it. In November 2011 Food Ingredients First reported that the Green Bottle Spring Water bottle had changed from green to transparent. President Nate Baker was quoted: “Although the Green Bottle Spring Water cap is still not yet compostable.” The full case is in the Green Bottle Spring Water case study.
What the record does not tell us
- Founding year: sources give 2002 (the about page and Dairy Foods) and 2003 (a management page that says “founded in 2003” and “organized in 2003”).
- Resin partner naming: the 2004 reports refer to Cargill Dow. The company’s about page refers to a “partnership with Cargill, Inc.” Later sources name NatureWorks, and the 2008 World-Herald story said the resin came from a plant run by a subsidiary of Cargill. The sources do not reconcile these names.
- Decomposition claims: Radio Iowa (2007) said bottles disappear “in about 100 days.” The World-Herald (2008) said “less than a year.” The company’s about page said the plastic “biodegrades in the compost bin or local landfill,” while its FAQ and Packaging World (2004) tied composting to commercial facilities. These do not agree, and we do not choose among them.
- Business structure: the record uses “co-op dairy,” “consortium,” and later “publicly traded company.” We have not found a source that explains the transitions.
- After 2010: we found no source on what happened to the Clarinda dairy operations after 2010.
- Green Bottle’s end: we found no source on when or why Green Bottle Spring Water ended.
- Dates: Packaging Digest pages display migration dates from 2014; the USDA item is undated.
We do not fill these gaps with inference.
Editorial analysis
This section is our own reading, not a statement from the sources.
The record shows a small processor that placed its packaging at the center of its brand, then extended that into bottles for other processors and a water product. The company’s environmental language also varied from page to page. A modern reader can take a procedural lesson from this: ask which claim comes from a supplier, which from a trade publication, and which from a certificate. Our guide to compostable packaging explains how current claims are assessed.
Coverage of the historical company by trade outlets does not imply that those outlets know, endorse or recommend this publication. The reports cited here concern a different business in earlier years.
Sources and method
This article is based on documentary research of the sources listed. It is not a hands-on equipment test. Supplier statements and editorial judgement are identified in the text.
- Brand awareness driven by natural packaging Supports: November 2004 PLA milk bottle, farm origins, 'co-op dairy', president's quote.
- PLA 'milks' new market Supports: November 2004 announcement, two brands, bottle supplier, composting statement. Read via a Wayback copy.
- Wrap it Up! Supports: 'consortium of Midwest dairy farms' and 'first dairy application' statements.
- Iowa company uses milk bottles made from corn Supports: 20 employees and the 'about 100 days' decomposition claim.
- Naturally Iowa, Inc. completes reverse merger and becomes a publicly traded company Supports: September 2007 reverse merger and product list.
- DFR Snapshot Supports: October 2005 shelf date, 2002 founding, plant size, bottles for other processors, public listing.
- About Naturally Iowa (company about page) Supports: the company's own account of its start, product line and PLA wording.
- Management team (company page) Supports: the company's statements that it was 'founded in 2003' and 'organized in 2003'.
- Partners (company page) Supports: the company's statement that the USDA presented a check in March 2004.
- Our plant (company page) Supports: construction beginning in spring 2004 in a 28,500 sq. ft. building and milk processing beginning in fall 2005 (company statements).
- U.S. House uses Iowa bottles made from corn Supports: September 2008 House switch, resin source, 'less than a year' claim.
- U.S. House of Representatives Chooses Eco-Friendly Bottled Water Brand Supports: Green Bottle Spring Water as the only bottled water in the Longworth Café. Real publication date approximately September 2008.
- USDA Chooses 'Green' Bottled Water Brand for Headquarters Supports: the company release on USDA headquarters and 'BioPreferred Supplier' status.
- Naturally Iowa, Inc. Becomes Totally Green, Inc. Supports: October 2010 renaming and ORCA acquisition.
- New Green Bottle Spring Water Bottle and Label Supports: November 2011 bottle redesign and cap statement.
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