It’s not easy! Here’s the lowdown on Real Milk and Almost Real Milk products.
Cheese: Naturally fermented raw milk cheeses from whole milk given by pasture-fed cows are still made in France, England, Switzerland and Greece. Look for the word "milk" or "fresh milk" rather than "pasteurized milk" on the label which means they are made from raw milk. Such cheeses have contributed to the good health of dairying populations for millennia. Real Milk cheeses are now being produced by a number of small independent manufacturers in America. In general, these producers own their own herd of cows, sheep or goats, and the milk is not pasteurized. For a listing of Real Milk cheeses see Cheese Primer by Steven Jenkins (Workman Publishing, 1996) or contact the American Cheese Society (414) 728-4458. Real Milk cheeses may be ordered from Zingerman’s in Ann Arbor, MI (888) 636-8162.
Yoghurt: Naturally made whole milk yoghurt from pasture-fed cows is now being produced for the commercial market by several biodynamic farms. Unfortunately it is made with pasteurized milk, but at least the enzymes are restored through the culturing process. Look for Brown Cow or Seven Stars Farm brands, among others.
Cream: Cream from pasture fed Jersey cows is now available in some gourmet markets, under the Butterworks and Organic Cow of Vermont labels. Unfortunately these creams are pasteurized, but at least they are not ultrapasteurized. Traditionally soured cream (called creme fraiche), produced by the Vermont Butter and Cheese Company, will have some of the enzyme content restored. It is becoming more widely available. Raw cream is available in California, but it does not necessarily come from pasture-fed cows.
Butter: Raw butter is available in California, under the Steuve’s label, but it is not organic, nor from pasture-fed cows. Organic butter from pasture-fed cows is available in some markets, produced by the Organic Cow of Vermont. It is made with pasteurized cream, but cultured to restore enzymes. New Zealand butter comes from pasture-fed cows. It is made from pasteurized cream, but is especially rich in fat soluble vitamins. It can be obtained in California from Stone and Associates (818) 716-0968 in Bell Gardens, or from Mangal’s (510) 352-3337 in San Leandro.
Liquid Milk: Real Milk is not commercially available in the United States--and won’t be until consumer demand increases. Raw milk can be purchased in California, but it is not organic, and not from pasture fed cows. However, in many states raw milk can be purchased at the farm and many concerned consumers are forming cooperatives designed to support conscientious dairy farmers and obtain Real Milk directly from the farm. The solution to restrictive state laws is a cow-share program in which farmers keep and milk cows owned by individuals. These are being set up in many states. For further information, including technical and legal help, contact tim Wightman (715) 462-3076.
Raw cheese available from Sweet Home Farm, Elberta, AL
Claravale Dairy (Raw milk from Jersey cows, but not pasture fed) Raw cream can be purchased from the farm. (408-939-2892)
Local Farm, Cornwall Bridge (860 572-0229)
Shepard Farm, Wodbridge CT (203 393-0174)
Cheese (and maybe butter) from pasture-fed cows from The Swiss Connection (812-939-2813) Ayeger@ccrtc.com. Will ship anywhere in the US.
Brookside Farm, Westminster (978-874-2695)
Hardwick: Gina Robinson is selling legal grassfed bottled raw milk. She is building a customer list of interested people. Sales will be on-farm, but she can help organize drive-sharing buying clubs for those who live far away. Contact her at mootopian@yahoo.com, or (413)477-0011.
Warwick: Chase Hill Farm, Mark and Jeanette Fellows, 74 Chase Hill Road, Warwick, MA 01378, (978) 544-6327, is a certified organic farm with cows fed grass as much as weather allows. They produce milk from March to November. Real Milk correspondent Chris says, "They charge $4.00 per gallon for whole milk in plastic. They also sell wonderful cheeses (camembert, cheddar, farmstead, garlic & chive). I also peeked at the dairy processing room, and it was spotless. They are certified to sell raw milk by the state, and offer great testing results from the last bunch of years."
Spiritual Food for the New Milenium (Milk from pasture-fed cows) (301-654-4899)
Hart-to-Hart Farm, Albion (207-437-2441)
Nexinscot Farm, Turner (207-225-3231)
White Orchard Farm, Frankfort (Their milk is also sold in several stores in the area) (207-223-5525)
Brian Johnston, near Kansas City (785-937-2440)
Morningland Dairy Cheese, Mountain View (417-469-3817)
Lifeline Farms Cheese, Victor (800-679-8735)
Jubilee Farms, Friend (402-947-6221) jubileefarm.homestead.com
Susanne Lupien, Cornish Flat (Raw milk cheese by mail order) (604-542-8635)
Rancho Las Lagunas, near Santa Fe (Retail and on farm sales of raw milk and cream.)
Butternut Farms, Gilbertsville (607-783-2392)
Hawthrone Valley Farm, Ghent (518-672-7500)
Meadowsweet Farm, Ithaca (Sells raw milk from pasture-fed Jersey cows)
Natural by Nature, Brooklyn (Retail sales of pasteurized milk products from grass-fed cows.) (718-257-7600)
Young’s Dairy, Yellow Springs
Minerva Maid Products Minerva, OH 44657 (330) 868-4196 Natural Cheeses, old fashion, fine quality, Amish butter. Can also be purchased at Krieger's Health Foods Market 615 Graham Road, Cuyahoga, Falls OH (330) 929-2929
Daily Blessing Organic Farms, Nyssa (541-753-7331)
Echo Spring Dairy, Eugene (541-753-7331)
Kimberton Hills Farm, Kimberton (610-935-0314)
Mark Nolt Farm, Newville (717-776-3417)
Springwood Farm, Kinzers (610-593-2415)
Majesty Farms, North Garden (804-293-5514)
Lexington, VA: Briar Patch Farm, Jersey Cow Shares from pastured, chemical, antibiotic and hormone free cows. www.Briarpatchfarm.weebly.com (540)570-0542
Butterworks Farm, Westfield (Sells wonderful thick yellow cream, low-temperature pasteurized, from pasture-fed cows both on farm and in stores) (802-744-6855)
Green Mountain Organic, Hardwick (802-472-5763)
Organic Cow of Vermont, Chelsea (Retail sales of pasteurized milk, cream and butter from grass-fed cows.) (802-685-3123)
Young’s Dairy, Mansfield (802-426-3234)
Greenbanks Farms Cheese, Preston (425-222-5500)
Raw milk can be purchased at a Benedictine Nunnery located on Shaw Island (360-468-2321)
Cedar Grove Organic Cheese, Plain (608-546-5284)
Raw Milk Swiss Aged Cheese is distributed by North Farm Cooperative of Madison
Clearview Acres, Hayward, WI 54843 (715) 462-3076. Raw milk from pasture-fed cows is available in a cow-share program.
East Troy, Zinniker Dairy, (262) 642-5923 Biodynamic farm with cow sharing arrangements.
Organic Valley, La Farge (Retail sales of pasteurized milk products from grass-fed cows.) (608-652-2602)
Ranovael Organic Dairy, DePere (920-336-2820)
Walsh Dairy, Spencer (On farms sales of raw milk products from pasture-fed cows "for pets and livestock")
Fromagerie L’Ancetre, Saint-Gregoire, Quebec (819-233-9157)
Pinehedge Farms, St. Eugene, Ontario (613-674-5739)
Information on raw milk is available through Consumer Health of Canada. (416-490-0986)
Sainsbury's and Tesco sell Roquefort made frm raw sheeps milk and Camembert made from raw cows milk.
www.WorldOfCheese.com
Fromages.com (Raw artisanal cheeses)
Raw goat milk shipped frozen anywhere in the US. White Egrit Farm (512) 276-7408 egretfarm@aol.com
