The distribution of raw milk through herd share agreements is legal by policy in Ohio¹; Kremer thinks that distribution capability is key to success and that this hinges on restoring the tradition of the milkman–the raw milkman.

In 1995, there were 6,800 dairies in Ohio; today there are about 2,000. In recent months, the average price of milk conventional farmers receive is around 30 percent (30%) below the cost of production. Dairy cooperatives are sending suicide hotline numbers along with milk checks. Organic dairies can’t compete with the certified organic mega-dairies in Texas and Colorado that are flooding the market with “organic” milk while violating federal regulation on the amount of time their herds should be out on pasture.

Kremer says, ”Many in the industry consider the disappearance of the family dairy farm as inevitable. We do not. In fact, we are convinced that this crisis event is an opportunity to strengthen the economic base of this demographic and re-establish it under its own branding.”

“To continue in dairy, the farmers will need an alternate market. We are encouraging them to consider the real or raw milk market. It would mean having direct and independent access to the public, a sufficient margin for their family’s economic viability, and the opportunity to work collaboratively with those of us they would serve to ensure the integrity and safety of their product. Most importantly, it will mean restoring the direct relationship between us and them.”

The first milkman in the U.S. was a raw milk man; home deliveries of raw milk began in Vermont in 1785^2,3. In the 1950s over half of the milk sales were made through home delivery; even though these sales were mostly pasteurized milk there were still home deliveries of raw milk. By 1963 29.7% of milk sales were made through home delivery⁴; the growth of supermarkets and other factors contributed to the decline. By 2005 only 0.4% of milk sales were made through home deliveries.⁵

Since 2005 home deliveries from the milkman have started to make a comeback. Distributors are delivering not only pasteurized milk but other foods such as meat, eggs and produce.

Deliveries of raw milk and raw milk products have been on the rise for a while as well but these deliveries mainly take place at a central drop-site and not door-to-door. It is the hope of Kremer that he and others will have enough demand to start home deliveries of raw milk to individual shareholders who request it.

American consumers like their convenience; door-to-door raw milk delivery fills this need and tries to give raw milk drinkers no reason not to order the product. Home delivery is becoming an increasingly important part of the overall competition for the food dollar; chains like Whole Foods are using the delivery service Instacart to drop off food orders at customers’ homes. Instacart claims it can make deliveries in as little as an hour after the customer places the order. Raw milk sales can help dairies currently producing only pasteurized milk remain in business; the easier the dairies make it for the consumer to obtain their products the better their chances of success.

Many baby boomers who grew up in the 50s and 60s nostalgically recall the milkman as someone who was part of their community or as someone who was like an extended family member. There’s no reason that can’t happen for the raw milkman; a familiar face in the neighborhood can bring on additional demand.

Kremer is starting a campaign to grow consumer demand for raw milk through increased participation in herd share programs. He hopes increased demand will encourage more dairy farmers to make the transition to producing raw milk for distribution through herd shares; bringing back a piece from our cultural past and restoring the tradition of the milkman–is part of the path to success.

———-
[1] In Darke County herd shares are legal by judicial decision thanks to a 2006 court ruling in the case of Daley v. Schmitmeyer
[2] Drink Milk in Glass Bottles. “The Day the Milkman Went Away: A History of Home Milk Delivery” [Blog post]. Last retrieved 12/5/2018 from http://www.drinkmilkinglassbottles.com/a-quick-history-home-milk-delivery/
[3] Stanpacnet. “Brief History of Home Milk Delivery Service” [Blog post]. Last retrieved 12/5/2018 from
http://www.stanpacnet.com/a-brief-history-of-home-milk-delivery-service/
[4] Eve Tahmincioglu, “Remember the Milkman? In Some Places, He’s Back”, New York Times, December 16, 2007. Last retrieved 12/5/2018 from https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/16/business/yourmoney/16milk.html
[5] Ibid.

The post Return of the Milkman in Ohio appeared first on Real Milk.

The event was free and open to families of all ages. Attendees sipped the Farm of Milk & Honey’s creamy, delicious raw milk and nibbled on homemade cookies while musician John Holland strummed his guitar in the background. Everyone was invited to tour the barnyard and beeyard and visit the “mini farmers market” which features fresh products from local farms.

Learn more about this fun event, Raw Milk Barn Party.

The Campaign for Real Milk is a project of the Weston A. Price Foundation, a nutrition education non-profit based in Washington, D.C. To learn more about raw milk and other nutrient dense foods, attend one of the upcoming Wise Traditions conferences.

The post Raw Milk Open Barn Party Held in Vermont appeared first on Real Milk.

The law does not allow the sales of raw milk at farmers markets; it only allows buyers to pick up the milk they have previously purchased. Furthermore, the law requires that potential customers first make one visit to the farm they’ll be buying from – after the first visit, the customer can purchase from the farm without going in-person.

Allowing delivery (and, hopefully in the future, sales) at farmers markets is an important opportunity for small farmers looking to expand into larger markets. One state dairy farmer expressed disappointment in the law, saying he had hoped it “…would allow him to pick up new customers at the farmers market, not just at his farm.” Still, he recognized the law as “…baby steps for making raw milk more easily accessible to consumers in Vermont.”

The Campaign for Real Milk is a project of the nutrition education non-profit, The Weston A. Price Foundation. Donate to help fund research into the benefits of nutrient dense foods.  westonaprice.org/lab

The post Vermont Farmers Can Now Deliver Raw Milk at Farmers Markets appeared first on Real Milk.

After a morning welcome and review, Mark McAfee of the Raw Milk Institute gave the keynote address. He spoke of his dairy farm in California, of the challenges they’ve faced in his home state, and how the growing demand for raw milk is creating jobs and increasing health. What he emphasized the most, though, is the need for education. “Don’t fight, teach,” he told the farmers at the summit. Educated customers create and strengthen the raw milk market, and so it is important for raw milk producers to connect and educate—to be allies, not competitors.

Over sixty cow and goat milk producers came together to share their experiences of selling raw milk under the current law and what they are hoping the new bill will address. During the afternoon work session, great discussion was had on aspects of a new bill, giving farmers a chance to speak on what is important when it comes to raw milk legislation. Consensus was reached on many topics, giving Rural Vermont solid ground to stand on as we continue to reach out to farmers and consumers across the state as we prepare for the legislature.

Why work for raw milk legislation? It’s not just because it is a live food that supports our digestive health, because people deserve the right to make their own choices about what they consume, or because in our fragile economy it is a growing market. Raw milk creates a community where customers know their farmer, where, as Mark McAfee puts it, customers walk up and give farmers a hug and a kiss on the cheek for the milk they produce. By design, raw milk creates a system of farming rooted in animal and environmental health, which in turn creates a healthy community.

In the spirit of community, the summit ended with a milk mixer complete with apple pie and homemade raw milk ice cream. Farmers and community members ended the day with delicious dessert. As we move forward on raw milk legislation, we look forward to hearing from more farmers across Vermont so we can introduce a comprehensive bill with the biggest benefit for the most people.

Participants at the Rural Vermont Raw Milk Summit

Mark McAfee addresses participants in the Rural Vermont Raw Milk Summit.

The post Rural Vermont’s Raw Milk Summit a Success! appeared first on Real Milk.