Milk choices

[Guest guest]

Hi, all!

There is a person in our co-op who bought raw milk a couple of times.

However, when she found out the farmer vaccinates annually (state reg) and

also supplements with grain (doesn't know any better) she refused to buy the

milk anymore. It wasn't " good " enough. So what does she do now? No raw

milk or raw butter or raw yogurt - just buys pastuerized organic. And

that's OK.

I tried to explain that even though I'd prefer 100% grassfed, sometimes I

just have to do the best I can. For me, right now, that means raw milk that

isn't organic or 100% grassfed.

Our dairy farm is at a crossroads with the state. The farmer is planning to

implement the changes required for Grade A Raw Milk certification which

includes building a 2 cow milking parlor with a refrigerated holding tank,

etc. $10,000-20,000 project. I suspect DHEC isn't going to make it easy

for him because they really don't want any raw cow milk dairies in SC. They

grudgingly allow raw goat milk dairies. The dairy farmer only has 3 cows

and they are more like pets than " milk machines " . Anyway, I keep hoping

that all will go well. If DHEC closes him down, we will have the

alternative of 100% grassfed low temp pastuerized milk that is not

homogenized from another local dairy that is not selling off the farm yet.

If that doesn't happen, the next alternative is Natural By Nature

unhomogenized milk which is a whopping $26 for 3 gallons wholesale or

Natural By Nature pasteurized for $3.83 per gallon.

So back to the topic at hand - sometimes you just have to do the best you

can. For me, raw milk with all the beneficial bacteria, enzymes, and other

" live " factors is a good choice even if it isn't 100% grassfed.

ine