Farm Fresh Milk

Farm Fresh Milk is safe for our Bodies and our Communities!

Farm fresh milk is a natural and beneficial alternative to processed milk. The pasteurization and homogenization process destroys important vitamins, enzymes, and fatty acids, and alters proteins and immune factors that are inherent components in farm fresh milk. Farm fresh milk also creates healthy connections between farmer and consumer, stronger ties within our community, and a local sustainable economy.

Why you should be interested in farm fresh milk:

• Many people swear by its rich, fresh taste!
• Some folks believe there are health benefits associated with it
• It helps farmers get a fair price for their milk

How to find farm fresh milk in your area:

Farmers have begun to advertise their sales of raw milk as of March 2008; many have not yet gotten their advertisements out. If you are interested in purchasing farm fresh milk, begin by asking other members of your community about how they purchase it and/or visit a local farm in your area and ask the farmer if they have farm fresh milk available for sale. Bring your own clean container to fill.

When you are visiting a farm to purchase farm fresh milk be sure that:

• Cows graze on pasture and are fed hay when in barns during winter.
• Cows receive minerals as supplements or from mineralized soils and plants.
• Grain feeding is a minor dietary component.
• Teats of cows are clean and dry before milking.
• Cows are milked in a clean barn or milking parlor.
• Milk is kept chilled.
• Farmers are working “in tune with nature” to ensure the absence of pathogens – cows are not pushed to produce large quantities of milk, soil is fertile, and cows live in a low stress environment.

Get Involved!

If you are interested in getting involved in spreading the word about the benefits of farm fresh milk and the belief that farm fresh milk would contribute to thriving farms and a healthy community, please email us at shelby@ruralvermont.org.

Download a fact sheet for consumers of farm fresh milk (doc)
Download a fact sheet for farmers producing farm fresh milk (pdf)

Visit the website for Dairy Bacterial Testing, LLC - a farm fresh milk/product testing company in VT that is run by a Rural Vermont member