AMU Oakhurst Dairy: Operations Management and Sustainability Case Study Paper

Review the case entitled : Oakhurst Dairy: Operations Management and Sustainability” in the Sustainable Business Case Book.  Analyze the case responding to the following questions:

1. What challenges face Oakhurst in 2011 and beyond? How do Oakhurst’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions through operation changes help address the challenges?
2. The Natural Resources Defense Council’s November 2007 Report (see http://www.nrdc.org/policy) stated, “Although there are some exceptions, in most cases, locally produced food proves the best choice for minimizing global warming and other pollutants. In fact, another study showed that when you combined all locally grown food, it still produced less carbon dioxide emissions in transport than any one imported product. The effects all this pollution can have on our health may be reflected in high rates of asthma and other respiratory symptoms, as well as increased school absence days for children.” How does Oakhurst’s sustainable business model help to support the Natural Resources Defense Council’s findings that buying local not only helps Maine farmers but also helps the environment?
3. What can people do to reduce their own carbon emissions? Could this reduce their own costs and help them to save money? How?