More Farmers Will Sell More Raw Milk

More Farmers Will Sell More Raw Milk By Hannah Becker

Stuart Osha of Randolph Center has been selling raw milk on his farm for years, but now he will be able to sell twice as much to meet customer demand.

On July 1 the Fresh Milk Restoration Act went into effect, allowing farmers to sell 50 quarts a day of unpasteurized milk, up from the previous limit of 25 quarts a day. At the same time the law created new sanitary production standards.

Raw milk is milk that does not undergo any anti-microbial treatment, heat treatment, or pasteurization. It is left whole, therefore retaining all of its natural components.

Consumer demand for raw milk has grown in recent years as consumers become more aware of health issues and begin to seek alternatives. This new demand creates an economic opportunity for Vermont farmers.

Osha runs the Turkey Hill Farm in Randolph Center with his wife Margaret. They sell only raw milk—about 180 quarts a week—from two cows, which provides their main milking income. The milk is sold for five dollars a gallon.

The Turkey Hill Farm sells their milk mostly to regular customers. Most customers order their milk ahead of time, although some stop by the farm to make a last minute purchase.

Another farm that intends to take advantage of the new law is Brotherly Farm in North Randolph.

Angela Russell said this week that the farm has been selling raw milk to individuals and restaurants but will try to expand the business to 40 gallons a day.

The Russells will charge $6 a gallon for their organic milk. They hope the direct sales will make up for the fact that their organic processor is asking for less milk.

Brotherly Farm also hopes to establish delivery routes if groups of customers can be found. Russell noted that establishing a customer base for milk may have other advantages.

“We hope we will benefit by being able to sell more of our meats and vegetables directly to consumers also,” she said. “We’re in it for the added area of diversification.”

The New Rules

The Fresh Milk Restoration Act allows farmers to sell 50 quarts of raw milk a day, or up to 160 quarts if farms register with the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, and adhere to their testing and inspection policies. Farmers who register may also deliver milk to customers, through delivery of milk beyond state borders is prohibited.

Because the raw milk is sold directly from the farm, it gives customers an opportunity to see where their milk comes from, the bill’s advocates argued. According to the bill, customers are permitted to tour the farm and any area associated with the milking operation. Customers are also permitted to return to the farm at a reasonable time to re inspect any areas associated with the milking operation.

The debate over whether or not Vermont farmers should be allowed to sell raw milk is mostly concerned with the health risks that can be associated with unpasteurized milk. The Vermont Agency of Agriculture says the 50-quart limit is low enough to reduce the risk of food-borne illness from unpasteurized milk.

There is much debate about the health benefits and risks from consuming unpasteurized milk. It can be healthier because it contains the enzymes and proteins that die during the pasteurization process. Raw milk can however, also contain harmful bacteria such as e. coli and listeria that are killed during the pasteurization process.

A major reason that many consumers choose to drink raw milk is because of its positive effects on the digestive system, according to the Weston A. Price Foundation, a nonprofit advocacy and research group in Washington D.C. Many people who are lactose intolerant are able to digest raw milk.

“Lactase is the natural amino acid in milk. Lactose is the amino acid that results after the pasteurization process. So people who are lactose intolerant are able to digest the raw milk because it does not contain the amino acid lactose,” said Rob Howe of the Howevale Farm in Tunbridge.

He sells raw milk from his farm for four dollars a gallon. He feels the sale of raw milk is important to local farmers because demand is high.

“If consumers want a good product, they should be able to get it,” Howe said.

He sells only the 50 quart a day limit, which provides a minor percentage of his farm’s income. Howe has regular customers who travel to his farm from as far away as White River Junction and New London, N.H. to purchase the raw milk, as well as neighbors and local customers. Although Howe is in favor of the new law, he will not try at this point to increase his sales.

“The bill passed this year is a huge step forward,” Osha said. He emphasized that for now the law is in a good place, and he won’t lobby for any new changes in the near future.