How to know your raw milk source is reputable and clean?

[dbsam]

I’ve searched and didn’t see this addressed previously – feel free to re-direct me if this has been covered…


How do you know if your raw milk source is reputable and clean? A helpful MDC mom gave me information about raw milk in my area. (Thank you GoddessKristie!)

Is there any sort of peer review or approval stamp – like organic? Prior to contacting the farm I wasn’t sure if there were specific things I should ask. Should I visit the farm? What do I look for if I do visit?
(Until now we’ve always purchased commercial organic milk.)

Thanks

[snowbunny]

The best way is to physically visit the farm, see the animals and talk to the farmers. Ask them how and why they do things the way they do. It's insightful and educational.

[Gale Force]

I am really jaded about this right now because of Organic Pastures' outsourcing. He says he won't anymore, but he did for at least 18 months from animals not on grass in those seasons even though the label claims otherwise. You could visit the farm, see the cows grazing, and still not know he was sourcing product from confinement systems. We should expect better from a leader of the raw milk movement. I wrote in ridiculous detail about it a few weeks ago on my blog.

[durafemina]

I met the kids that had grown up drinking the family's raw milk. That was good enough for me (but it's a very small family operation).

[tempestjewel]

I visited the farm before purchasing mine, and found them to be very honest and transparent about why/how they do things. They showed me everything but the processing room, because it requires special footwear per state laws. They do have pictures of the processing rooms on the internet though. They also had all their license information posted on the wall.

It was neat to meet the cows, see how where they live, see the milking stalls, etc. Everything was clean and orderly and the people were very warm, friendly, and honest. That is what sold me

[pampered_mom]

This issue is actually one of the ones that makes me happy I live in a state that raw milk is a little bit more difficult to get. It's not available on store shelves and you can just buy it on a whim. You actually have to track down a source (sometimes publicized and sometimes not) and trek on out to the farm.

From there you can tour the farm, ask you questions, etc. You have to become a "member" and pay a membership fee. Then, and only then, can you buy milk. From that point you don't have to fill out the paperwork again, but every time you want to buy milk or raw milk products you have to trek out to the farm again.

We buy ours from a semi-local Amish farmer. After interviewing him and seeing the farm we were confident in his practices. He's up front about things - that the butter comes from another relative that lives just up the road and that the eggs come from another relative. And of course, when they run out of milk - that's it. It kind of stinks when you drive over an hour to get there only to discover it, but I'm glad in many ways that's the case.

It's most definitely an issue of integrity - I think I'd much prefer the way things end up being done in my state than having raw milk sold on store shelves.

As for what to do - make several visits, if there are certain days that the "farm store" or whatever is open try visiting on a non-farm store day. Ask lots of questions and take a tour periodically. It all comes down to trust, really.

[homewithtwinsmama]

My source is the same source used by the author of the TF book, so I feel pretty safe! But, I have also been to the farm to see the operation and ask questions. The man has 8 children raised on the stuff and they are all hale and hearty as well.

[Bensmommy]

Besides taking the tour and obvious cleanliness questions, ask about how much they are on pasture, how much grain they get in proportion to the body size, the grain source, any GMO?, what they eat during winter (if in colder place), how often they breed (will give you insight into how they are sustaining the milk flow- no cheating with growth hormones, etc), if the calves are with mammas, etc. Also ask if he/she has children and if they drink it in their household. If the farmer says his kids don't like milk, walk away----somethin's fishy.

HTH

[dbsam]

Thank you for all the replies and the suggestions.

Pampered Mom, I also live in a state where selling raw milk on the shelf is not allowed. Similar to your membership, we need to purchase a cow share. I am definately planning on visiting the farm and am more comforatble having an idea of what to say/look for before going.

Bensmommy, Maybe I should make the farmer drink his/her milk in front of me!

Thanks.

[PeggyinNC]

"And of course, when they run out of milk - that's it. It kind of stinks when you drive over an hour to get there only to discover it, but I'm glad in many ways that's the case."
We drive about an hour each way to get our milk from the farm, but we always call ahead (Thursday evening for a Saturday midday pickup) and they just reserve our milk...we get there, and in the fridge are 4 gallons tagged with our names, it is great!
But it is a fairly small family operation, so maybe not all of them allow that....

edit: duh...Amish probably don't even have telephones....? oh, well, they make great butter!

[pampered_mom]

PeggyinNC - they have a phone and electricity (obviously) for their farm store. I don't know how that all fits in with being "Amish", but I figure that's their issue not mine. :0) They can't really "save" milk for us per se because you have to bring your own containers. That being said, it's only happened once thankfully and we just chalked it up to experience!

[Sasha_girl]

We're in Old Order Amish territory and many have electricity. They're just generator-powered.